This Can't Be That Hard

When most of us think of school portraits we think about those awkwardly-posed artifacts of our youth, complete with plastered-on smiles and fake-laser backgrounds. And as a photographer, those are probably not the kind of photos that inspired you to get into business, right?

Fine art school photography is gaining traction as an alternative to those cheesy school portraits, and Lindsey Turner is one of the lifestyle family photographers who has added it to her repertoire with great success. Today she joins me to talk about how and why she made that decision, the logistics behind it, and how in just 2 years it has grown to account for over 40% of her yearly revenue. 

If you are looking to grow your photography business, this episode just might inspire you to go-back-to-school and do just that. 

Links: 

• Download Lindsey's School Prompt Ideas 
• Follow Lindsey on Instagram

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

When I think about what really helped me gain traction and success in my photography business, it wasn't any one program, tool, or even system. At the end of the day, what really helped me go from hobbyist to business owner was the willingness to bet on myself, over and over... even when it felt scary. 

Confidence (not to be confused with arrogance or irresponsible decision-making) is the unsung hero of small businesses, and it's something that a lot of artists - particularly female artists - struggle with. Today I'm chatting with my good friend Sabrina Gebhardt about why confidence is so important and how to cultivate it in your own business. 

Links: 

• Get on the waitlist for Sabrina's next Mastermind Group
• Join The Round Table membership group
• Find Sabrina on Instagram
• Listen to Sabrina's podcast

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

Welcome to the Consistency Club, a monthly bonus feature of the podcast dedicated entirely to marketing your photography business.

This month Annemie and Dayna dive into the psychology of marketing to talk about the importance of showing vs. telling and how you can utilize your best clients' stories to attract new clients.

Don't forget! These episodes expire, so be sure you're subscribed to the podcast so you never miss an episode.

Links: 

• Purchase access to this month's templates or subscribe to get early access and special savings: www.thiscantbethathard.com/club

• Watch the Simple Sales Masterclass where Annemie teaches the 6 steps to running a profitable, sustainable photography business you love.
• Join the TCBTH Facebook Group - a supportive, business-focused group for photographers.
• Leave a review!

If you've ever heard of the 100 Days of Light Challenge, then you know today's guest, Caro Cuinet Wellings. Caro started this challenge 7 years ago, and in that time, it has become a worldwide phenomenon. 

Caro's a source of constant inspiration to me as both an artist and a businesswoman, and I think the artist in you is going to sincerely enjoy this conversation about photography, art, publishing, and the human connection we find across continents and languages while pursuing similar goals. 

Links: 

• Listen to TCBTH's first episode with Caro  (#27 - Fixed vs. Growth Mindset)
• Follow Caro's on Instagram 
• Buy Caro's book, Voir la lumière: #100daysoflumière
• The PR Book Caro read to pitch her book is "Hype Yourself" by Lucy Werner
• Want to do the 100 Days Challenge? Get on the email list here to be notified when it's starting in April.
• Join the 100 Days of Light Facebook Group for support and guidance

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

200 episodes of the podcast is a big milestone, so I wanted to do something a bit different! Today I'm answering all kinds of listener-submitted questions on everything from dealing with unhappy photography clients to the ins and outs of the education side of my business, to the scoop on my upcoming nuptials. 

Thank you to everyone who submitted questions - I was truly overwhelmed by the response! - and thank you for being a listener these last 3 years. I (literally) couldn't do it without you. 

A few things I mention in this episode: 

• Follow us on IG: @thiscantbethathard_
• Get on the email list (it's fun!)
• Check out Colie James if you need someone to set up your CRM 
• The Consistency Club for Monthly Marketing Templates 
• The company where I got the jumpsuit is Marine Layer

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

Most of the time on this podcast, I give you practical, actionable strategies to improve your photography business. Why? Because I know that when your business is succeeding, you are not only reaping the rewards of that success, but you are also (hopefully) feeling the joy that comes with doing something you truly love for a living.

But once in a while, it's important to take a quick break from the nitty-gritty details of running a business to check in with yourself and see if what you are building is actually bringing you the happiness you hoped it would. So today's episode is very heart-focused as we dive into how you make sure you are building a business you L-O-V-E. 

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

Finding new clients can feel like an uphill battle. You put yourself out there on social media, ask your clients for referrals... and sometimes it's crickets. If only there were a way that people in your area could find you with a simple search.... OH WAIT! 

Today's interview is with Chris Dawkins (aka Meredith's Husband), a decades-long veteran of the SEO business (so he really knows his stuff!) and the host of "Meredith's Husband," a podcast dedicated to SEO for photographers. SEO may not be a quick-fix type of strategy, but it is one of the very few actions you can take that will bring guaranteed eyeballs to your website, which is invaluable to your marketing efforts.

LINKS: 

• The SEO Roadmap Workshop - use code "ANNEMIE" to get 10% off
• Listen to the Meredith's Husband Podcast 

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

Welcome to the Consistency Club, a monthly bonus feature of the podcast dedicated entirely to marketing your photography business.

This month Dayna and Annemie talk about how adding (ahem) consistent value to your marketing materials is a surefire way to keep your clients coming back for more. 

Don't forget! These episodes expire, so be sure you are subscribed to the podcast so you never miss an episode. 

Links: 

• Get this month's templates at www.thiscantbethathard.com/club

• Watch the Simple Sales Masterclass where Annemie teaches the 6 steps to running a profitable, sustainable photography business you love.
• Join the TCBTH Facebook Group - a supportive, business-focused group for photographers.
• Leave a review!

I'll be the first to say this episode is a departure from the usual for This Can't Be That Hard. While I tend to stick to practical, actionable steps for your photography business, I also always like to keep an eye out for areas where I can push myself (and you!) to try new things that may help us grow. 

Natalie Jennings has an unconventional way to help her students get unstuck, make decisions, and crush self-doubt - Tarot card readings. If you've been in business for any amount of time, you know how easy it is to get lost in the mire of uncertainty... and that's where Natalie comes in. The way she talks about Tarot is unlike anyone else I've heard, so whether this feels right up your alley, or a little too out in left field, I encourage you to listen in with an open mind and see what happens!

Links: 

• Check out the Photo Business Help Podcast 
• Subscribe to Natalie's weekly newsletter on substack
• And click here to book a 1:1 Tarot reading
  
  

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

If it hasn't happened already, at some point in your photography business, something is bound to go wrong. From corrupted cards to unhappy clients to issues with your gallery software, s%*t happens, and how you deal with it is going to ultimately determine how catastrophic - or not - it ends up being to your business. 

Today I am sharing an anonymous but real-life story that happened to one of my students, and sketching out a game plan for you to follow next time something goes sideways in your business. It's never fun to plan for the worst, but I'm hoping you'll earmark this one to come back to if (ahem *when*) it does!

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!