Shows
This Can't Be That Hard361 - Eliminate your Marketing SpeedbumpsPicture this: you're cruising down the highway, passing billboard after billboard without really registering any of them. Then hunger strikes, and suddenly that McDonald's sign is the only thing you can see.That's how marketing works: you're not introducing yourself once and hoping for the best. You're showing up again and again, so that when your client's _"I need a photographer!"_ moment finally hits, yours is the name that comes to mind.But here's the catch: even when someone is ready to pull off at the next exit and book, their brain starts throwing up...
2026-03-2438 minThis Can't Be That Hard344 - Advice to Your Past Self (Reset)Earlier this year, at the Reset Conference, Dayna asked a handful of photographers one simple question: What advice would you give to your past self?Their answers were honest, funny, and full of hard-won perspective. The exact kind of reminders you need when you’re tired, busy, and maybe in need of a little encouragement. From pricing and boundaries to burnout and balance, these short conversations offer a dose of wisdom from people who’ve been right where you are.So queue this one up while you’re editing, driving to a session, or cooking Thanks...
2025-11-2515 minThis Can't Be That Hard342b- Better Than Black Friday: 5 Days of Deals from This Can't Be That HardBig news… next week our ONLY sale of the year is dropping! Each day a different deal will go live... for 24 hours ONLY so if you want it, you have to hop on it!In this special episode of the podcast Dayna and I are walking you through all five days of deals so you can plan ahead, shop smart, and start 2026 feeling calm, organized, and ready. We’ll share what’s included each day, who it’s best for, and how to make the most of the sale without the overwhelm. Whether you’ve had your eye on a c...
2025-11-1330 minThis Can't Be That Hard287 - Including Fido with Monica AdalsteinssonIn the never-ending battle to stand out from other photographers in your niche, you may have tried many different tacks - whether in your editing style, your locations, or your business model. But have you ever considered that the thing that could push you to the top of your ideal client's list might already be living in their home? Over 66% of US families have a pet that they consider part of the family, and yet most family photographers don't specifically encourage pets in their sessions or feature pets in their marketing. Today I'm talking with Mo...
2024-10-2228 min
The Simple Sales System™️ for PhotographersEpisode 1 - Welcome to the Simple Sales System™️ for Photographers!Most portrait photographers are accidental entrepreneurs - they're talented artists who wake up one day and think, "Hey... maybe I could actually make some money doing this thing I love!"Fast forward a few years and the vast majority of those artists have closed up shop, not because they didn't have the talent, but because running a business - no matter how small - can be super-challenging.If any of this resonates, I'm excited you're here. My name is Annemie Tonken, and I've been a portrait photographer in Chapel Hill, NC since 2010. I feel incredibly lucky...
2024-01-0605 minThis Can't Be That Hard218: Business Tip Road TripTypically on this podcast, I deep dive on one topic per episode, sometimes with a guest and sometimes solo. But as we head into road trip season, I wanted to shake it up and give you something exciting and different to enjoy the next time you've got some extra time in the car (or on a walk or wherever else you listen to your podcasts)!For today's show, I reached out to a handful of my favorite photography podcasters and asked them to share their #1 business tips - and the response was amazing! Seven incredible podcasters jumped...
2023-06-271h 16This Can't Be That HardBONUS Episodes: The Power of One (Consistency Club - April 2023)Welcome to the Consistency Club, a monthly bonus feature of the podcast dedicated entirely to marketing your photography business.This month Annemie and Dayna talk about the power of finding your smallest viable market - and how, when you learn to speak directly to them, your marketing really starts to shine. 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 Si...
2023-04-0612 minThis Can't Be That HardBONUS EPISODES: Show, Don't Tell (Consistency Club - Mar 2023)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 t...
2023-03-0220 minThis Can't Be That Hard200: Ask Annemie Anything200 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...
2023-02-2144 minThis Can't Be That Hard198: SEO for Photographers with Meredith's HusbandFinding 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 f...
2023-02-0743 minThis Can't Be That HardBONUS EPISODE: Adding Value (Consistency Club - Feb 2023)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 pho...
2023-02-0216 minThis Can't Be That HardEp 181: How who we are shapes what we do, with (my brother) Evan BerdingEvan Berding is an incredibly talented custom furniture maker who happens to also be my one and only brother. What's funny is that for all our similarities (siblings, artists, entrepreneurs), there are also a lot of big differences. Evan and I take very different approaches to our work, and I always love chatting with him about how who we are has shaped the paths we've taken. Today I'm sharing our conversation about the challenges and benefits of being an artist in business - how some of those are specialty-specific, and how others are universal.Links:
2022-10-1140 minThis Can't Be That HardEp 180: VIP Days for Photographers with Jordan GillVIP Days have been gaining popularity over the last few years as a way for business owners to offer high-touch, high-value services that deliver fast results to their clients. If you've ever wondered how you could expand your photography business, either to increase revenue, stand out from the other photographers in your area, or to allow for more flexibility in your schedule, today's conversation about VIP Days with Jordan Gill of Systems Saved Me is going to get your wheels turning! We're covering:What VIP days areWho they're perfect forHow photographers can create VIP o...
2022-10-0440 minThis Can't Be That HardEp 179: Keep Your Eyes OpenMost of the time on this podcast I give you ideas for how to refine your business, streamline your systems, and improve your workflow. But today I want to talk about WHY doing those things is important. One of the (many) reasons it's good to have a well-run business is so can keep your eyes open for the golden opportunities that are all around you. Sometimes as soloprenuers, we're so busy juggling the many hats we have to wear that we can struggle to see the forest for the trees (especially during the busy season)... and that h...
2022-09-2712 minThis Can't Be That HardEP 178: Avoiding Data Disasters with Ryan HamicIf you’ve been a photographer for any amount of time, you’ve probably had a card malfunction, or a drive corrupt, or watched as Lightroom choked in the middle of exporting a session. Oh 💩, right? In those moments, I always wish I could just pick up the phone and call my own personal IT department to make THEM fix it. This past spring, in the wake of the worst data nightmare that I have personally experienced, I was connected with Ryan Hamic of Zen Flow tech, who - it turns out - is exactly that: on...
2022-09-2038 minThis Can't Be That HardEp 177: Booking Clients WITHOUT a Phone Call (Student Success Stories)For years, I've encouraged photographers to talk to prospective clients on the phone. For a variety of reasons, I believe it's the best way to not only book more clients, but to start the process of working together off on the right foot.But these days, more and more people - photographers AND their clients - are reluctant to pick up the phone... which has led some of my students to explore different ways to initiate contact.Sabrina Jill and Melissa Arlena are students of mine who've been using a different strategy that's been very...
2022-09-1335 minThis Can't Be That HardEp 176: Unusual Marketing Strategies for Photographers with Raymond HatfieldOne of the most common questions that I get asked here at This Can't Be That Hard is: “How do I get more photography clients?"Right? It's the photography marketing magic bullet (say that 10 times fast!) that we are all looking for.But as you know by now, I’m a believer that there is no one-size-fits-all strategy for your marketing. It’s about trying different things, seeing what sticks, and above all, staying consistent. That said, I sure do love sharing fun, interesting strategies when I hear about them....Today’s guest, Raymond...
2022-09-0643 minThis Can't Be That HardEp 175: The Path to Profitability as a New PhotographerWhen your first start your photography business, you need to make a plan for a period of time where you're building your client base up. It's normal to run at a loss for a year or two, but you need to have a plan in place for moving from that deficit into the land of profit. (If your profitability runway is too short, you’ll risk feeling like a failure. If it’s too long, you may never get off the ground)There are so many things to think about when you run your own small business that...
2022-08-3033 minThis Can't Be That HardEp 174: Seven Strategies to Reduce Business Stress with Heather LahtinenAs the busy season creeps up on us, often our stress creeps up right along with it. While some stress is inevitable (more clients = more work to do), it’s important to remember that at least part of the reason we chose to be photographers was to have freedom, flexibility, and control over our schedules and lives, so we need to run our businesses accordingly!This week, my guest is Flourish Academy founder Heather Lahtinen. With over 20 years of experience as a wedding photographer, Heather's got a lot of wisdom to share on finding balance in your bu...
2022-08-2349 minThis Can't Be That HardEp 173: Marketing in Hard TimesFor many photographers, self-promotion can feel a little painful even in the best of times. But what about those days (and weeks and months) when there are much bigger events (rightly) dominating our headlines and headspace? How do you send out a sales email or post about your upcoming mini sessions when those things seem trivial at best compared to what's happening in the world?Balancing the need to book work with our genuine sensitivity can be tricky... no one wants to be an insensitive jerk, but we all have bills to pay, too...
2022-08-1622 minThis Can't Be That HardEp 172: Check Your Tech with Colie JamesEvery photographer uses technology to some degree or another. In this day and age, tech is required for everything from bringing new clients in to giving them a good experience to editing, backing up, and delivering the images themselves.And if you're not careful, it's far too easy to let your “tech stack” get away from you. Today, Colie James and I are having a conversation about the tech you absolutely need, the places where you may be able to consolidate, and strategies for not letting technology overwhelm your brain or your budget.
2022-08-0940 minThis Can't Be That HardEp 171: Preparing for the Economic Storm AheadWhen the economic forecast looks dark and stormy, it’s easy to get panicked about whether your photography business is up to the challenge. Panic, though, doesn't help... a plan does. Even in boom times, it's smart to keep our businesses ready for whatever storms may come. In today's episode, Annemie shares four important ways that you can sure up your strategy and take some of the fear out of the unknown. If you are feeling apprehensive about the next few months, or just want to bulletproof your business plan, then this episode will be...
2022-08-0228 minThis Can't Be That HardEp 170: Purposefully Part-Time with Erin BrownIn the world of photography education, there seems to be an assumption that everyone is after the same goal: to make 6 figures and have a completely full roster of clients that’s booked out 3 years in advance. But there’s a very large subset of photographers for whom that doesn’t resonate… because that’s not in alignment with what they want or need from their businesses. Erin Brown artfully dubs herself a “purposefully part-time photographer,” and in this episode, she's sharing some of the specific challenges that part-time photographers face, as well as how to stay true to y...
2022-07-2636 minThis Can't Be That HardEP 169: An Idea for Capturing IdeasHave you ever had a brilliant idea while driving or walking the dog that felt so clear and exciting at the moment, but then even a few minutes later when you try to write it down… it’s gone? This has happened to me so frequently that I actually created a system (shocking, I know!), not only to capture the ideas that occur to me (even at the most inopportune times), but actually get them into my workflow so I can act on them later. Today, I’m sharing that system with you in a short but actiona...
2022-07-1917 minThis Can't Be That HardEP 168: Preventing Problems with TheLawTog® Rachel BrenkeDealing with the legal side of running a business is complicated, confusing, and can feel like an overwhelming item on your to-do list... but the cost of NOT addressing it can be enormous. Luckily for us, Rachel Brenke - better known as The Law Tog - has spent the last 10+ years using her expertise as both a lawyer and a photographer to make the legal side of things accessible to us as creatives. Today on the show, Rachel and I talk about the importance of creating a great client experience, and how taking a thoughtful approach to e...
2022-07-1243 minThis Can't Be That HardEP 167: Breaking the RulesIt's not uncommon for my new Simple Sales students to have lots of questions about the "rules" of the system. If they change this thing or tweak this step, will the system still work?Today I want to discuss the three modifications I most commonly get asked about in our Facebook group - how I have seen them work (or not work) for other photographers, and why I think that is. If you are new here and haven’t yet learned the 6 steps to the Simple Sales System, you may want to save this one unt...
2022-07-0531 minThis Can't Be That HardEP 166: The Business of Filmmaking with Courtney HolmesAdding films to your photography business can be a great way to up-level your client experience, and can be rewarding both artistically and financially. That doesn’t make it an easy transition, though! The business of offering films to your clients is totally different from the business of offering still images. If you've ever considered adding films to your repertoire - or if it's something that you've tried and had a hard time making it work - then today's conversation is going to be a great one for you.LINKS:Download Cou...
2022-06-2852 minThis Can't Be That HardEP 165: When Should You Raise Your Prices?We all get to the point in our business where we need to raise our prices. But if you aren’t taking the time to understand why your prices need to go up (and even more importantly, how you're going to align that price increase with your overall business model), you're setting yourself up to fail. Today I'm covering 5 questions you should ask yourself before you increase your prices and walking you through the exact steps you should take to successfully raise your prices. Links: Sign...
2022-06-2124 min