Business-First Creatives
Every creative deserves to turn their craft into a business that brings them joy and profit. Here you'll find a no-BS approach to what it takes to put the business first, prioritizing the systems and strategies that will actually move the needle and ensure your creative business is profitable rather than an expensive side-hustle. Your host is Colie James, a Disney-loving family photographer, and filmmaker turned Workflow and Automations Guru who helps creative service providers automate their sh*t, reclaim their time and get back to living!
Episodes
In this end-of-year episode, I’m breaking down how I spent money inside my business in 2025 — and more importantly, how I made those decisions.
This isn’t a profit report or an expense spreadsheet walkthrough. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at what I chose to invest in, what I outsourced, why the podcast is my biggest marketing expense, and how warm-up offers completely changed the way I decide who to work with and where to put my mo...
Today’s episode is a replay from a conversation that originally aired on the Capture the Chaos podcast with Brittnie Renee—and it perfectly captures this client communication shift I’ve been talking about more and more lately.
We’re diving into why clear client communication should be non-negotiable if you want to deliver a truly high-touch experience. Not luxury for the sake of luxury—but an experience that feels intentional, profe...
In 2026, I want you to stop fixing your emails last—because it’s costing you money.
The last two case study episodes of this podcast prove it.
In this episode, I break down why “broken workflows” are usually a communication problem, not a tech problem, why client communication has to come before workflows, and what finally clicked for me after recording those two case studies.
There’s a shift coming to Email Like You Mean It in 2026—a...
Wouldn't it be nice to automate 80% of your client communication, while still sending personalized emails and booking high-ticket clients? That’s exactly what Geneviève Masioni did after going through my program, Email Like You Mean It!
Today, Geneviève is joining me to break down how she revamped her entire client communication system using the exact tools, templates, and strategies I teach inside the course.
She went from rewriting...
If you still think that a system for booking and onboarding new clients has to be complicated, this is the episode for you. What if you could take a potential client from inquiry to payment in under five minutes? In this episode, I sit down my copywriter Kara Duncan to show exactly how a fast, thoughtful, and human booking process changed her business.
You’ll hear how a simple CRM, a quick Loom video, and thoughtful follow-up emails...
If you think the key to business growth is chasing website stats, are you considering the fact that those numbers may not tell the full story? In this episode, metrics and data specialist Zoë Dew shares how tracking behaviors, not just clicks, can transform your revenue and clarity.
Zoë explains how she helps creative entrepreneurs grow by using data already sitting in their business, and not by chasing fleeting “industry-standard” ...
Do you dread the word launch, because you think that "doors open/doors close” structure feels icky? We're flipping the script in today's episode with Samantha Hoillett! She's showing us how to build urgency into our launches that doesn’t feel pushy, but it does feel aligned.
Listen in as we explore what urgency normally means in marketing, why so many of us do it the usual way (limited spots, price‑going‑up soon, and hurry), and the...
What if you could create just one piece of content and let it do the work of fifty? That’s exactly what we’re unpacking in today’s episode. Latesha Lynch joins us in today's episode to introduce us to her concept of inception marketing—the idea that you don’t need a million pieces of content to drive engagement, conversions, and trust. Through smart structure and intentional seeding, one high-value piece can become the engine of yo...
So many photographers swear their workflow is “the exception” — too many what-ifs, too many touchpoints, too many edge cases to fit inside any kind of universal framework. But here’s the truth: every single client journey still moves through the same five phases… and that’s exactly why the CRM Blueprint works for every photographer.
In this episode, I’m breaking down how weddings, births, branding, newborns, seniors — all of them — ...
Have you been wondering what's the best way to set up your CRM? Today’s session is going to be a mix of a case study and answers to some specific questions I’ve been getting lately about Systems in Session. I thought Megan Norman would be the perfect person to bring on because she’s been part of my world for a while—first as a Blueprint student, then as a one-on-one client when she hired me for an audit. After that, she joined Syst...
Dubsado 3.0 is officially here… and y’all, the internet is having feelings.
In this episode, I’m breaking down what’s new, what’s missing, and what photographers actually need to pay attention to. No fluff. No hype. Just the real talk you need before jumping into the new version.
Read the full breakdown here → https://coliejames.com/dubsado-3-0-whats-new/
Work with me inside Systems in Session → https://coliejames.com/systems
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You’re never going to find time to fix your workflows — you have to make the time. And today, I’m giving you the exact place to start.
In this episode, I’m breaking down the three microsystems every creative needs before building a full workflow: your instant inquiry response, your five-minute booking proposal, and your booking confirmation email.
These simple assets become the anchor activities for your inquiry, booking, and onboard...
If your workflows act like needy toddlers—constantly breaking, needing approvals, or demanding supervision—you’re not alone. Over the last few weeks I’ve heard the same frustrations on repeat: “I don’t trust my workflows unless I’m watching them,” and “I’ve tweaked things so much I think I broke something.”
In this episode, I’m breaking down why so many creatives end up with workflows stuck in the toddler stage… and how to finally b...
She was homeschooling her kids, charging less than $300 a session, and running her photography business on pure hustle—until she realized that passion alone wasn’t enough to build the life she wanted. Erin Vestal is one of my former students from the CRM Blueprint, and her journey is one that so many creatives will relate to.
Erin shares her story—from pricing family sessions under $300, to more than doubling her rates, to surpassin...
Are you ready to seriously level up your email marketing this Black Friday season? I sat down with Dawn Richardson from Flodesk, where we unpack everything from plan changes to new automation features, and why now is the time to leverage your email list.
Listen in as we explore the integration options available, how you can use ManyChat to grow your email list, and what features to take advantage of within Flodesk to make the most o...
What happens when you’re no longer struggling to get clients, but you still feel like your business has hit a ceiling? If you’ve got inquiries rolling in, your conversion rate is solid, yet you’re still not satisfied, this episode is for you.
Emylee Williams of Sold Out Services and I unpack the business moment when “capacity full” meets “what’s next?” We dig into the strategy behind productizing your service, building an offer eco...
If you’ve ever found yourself juggling too many offers, too many audiences, or just feeling like your message got a little… fuzzy — this one’s for you.
In this episode of Business-First Creatives, I’m sharing the story behind my own full-circle moment: why I’m returning to my roots as a Certified Dubsado Specialist for Photographers, and how refinement — not expansion — is the real growth strategy.
But first, I want to invite you to ...
If you’ve ever felt like traditional business advice just doesn’t fit you, this episode is your permission slip to stop trying to follow someone else’s blueprint and explore one that works for you. In this episode, Breanna Owen joins me to unpack what it actually means to run your business in alignment with your human design.
Turns out, I’m a 3/5 Emotional Manifestor, and before today's conversation I had no idea what that meant. Li...
Kelly Bullock was the very first Systems in Session client — before the offer even had a name. In this episode, we dive into how she turned her high-touch, luxury photography experience into an organized HoneyBook system that doesn't feel impersonal.
As a full-time CRNA, mom of three, and family photographer, Kelly shares how systems helped her balance it all, delegate confidently, and reclaim time for both her clients and her life....
Thinking about ditching your CRM after the latest price increase? Before you rage-cancel Dubsado, HoneyBook, or whatever tool’s testing your patience, listen to this episode.
In this episode, I’m breaking down what your CRM actually does behind the scenes, why Google Workspace isn’t a true replacement, and how to decide if your CRM just needs a tune-up instead of a total breakup.
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