Business-First Creatives

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.

If you’re ready to get your money’s worth from the CR...

I have a special surprise for you in this week's episode! Over on the Shoot It Straight podcast, I join my dear friend, Sabrina Gebhardt every quarter to debrief our businesses with a business best chat. I decided that it's time to bring that conversation to Business-First Creatives too! I’m giving you full access to the internal workings of my business alongside Sabrina’s: from rebrands and website redesigns to offer launches, cap...

Most system struggles aren’t tech problems — they’re communication gaps. In this episode, I’m unpacking what I learned from hosting the Client Email Glow-Up Challenge and why clear client communication has to come before you start automating anything.

You’ll hear the biggest wins from participants, the ah-ha moments that changed how I teach Email Like You Mean It, and the one shift that makes every workflow easier to build and actua...

I’m wrapping up week one of my Sales Parade, and Systems in Session 2025 is officially sold out! 🎉

But here’s what I’ve noticed after working with dozens of clients inside the program—there’s a moment when everything changes. I call it the confidence shift.

It’s when your systems stop feeling clunky or chaotic and finally start feeling like you. You understand how everything fits together, you’re no longer afraid to make changes...

Not sure where to start with your systems? In this episode, I’m breaking down three smart places to begin if you’re DIY-ing your setup—your proposal, your contact form, or your delivery phase. I’ll walk you through how each one works, share real client wins, and help you decide which step makes the most sense for your business right now.

Want to work together on your systems? Check out Systems in Session and grab one of the 2 remai...

The Parade is back, y’all—and I’m jumping in for another 14-day sprint of talking about my offers. In this episode, I’m sharing why the Parade isn’t about instant sales, but about building the habit of showing up consistently.

You’ll also hear about:

• The wrap-up of the Client Email Glow-Up Challenge
• A $100 discount on Email Like You Mean It through October 7th
• Four new openings for Systems in Session in 2025 (get in before I close...

If you don’t know when your clients should come back, neither will they. Most creatives deliver the final product and send one last email — and then it’s crickets. But if you want repeat bookings, referrals, and glowing reviews, you’ve got to make rebooking the obvious next step.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• The rebooking window every creative needs to define
• How to plant the seed for future sessions at delivery
• Automating cli...

If you're someone who thinks systems just aren't for me—creative chaos is a part of my identity, this episode might change your mind. Roxanne Engstrom joins me to share about her experience inside of Systems in Session. We talk about how getting clarity in her systems not only grew her profit fast but also gave her confidence, reduced her anxiety, and let her show up as the boss she is.

Find It Quickly

00:24 - Meet Roxanne

01:22&...

It’s time to break the vicious visibility cycle. You know the one, where you disappear for weeks, then expect everything to fall back into place on social media. In this episode, Maddie Peschong joins us to dive deep into what visibility really means (and why it matters more than you think).

We talk about what happens when you drop off the map, the lag‑effect of silence, and how even if you’re visible, your strategy might still be s...

What if raising your prices didn’t mean adding more stress to your plate? In this replay from Maddie Peschong’s Take It Personally podcast, I’m sharing how proposals, automations, and smart systems can help you deliver a high-touch client experience that actually makes it easier to charge more.

We talk about:

• Why proposals are the secret to booking faster (and with less friction)
• How automations can make your process feel more per...

What happens when a creative business owner finally finds the systems support she didn’t know she needed? Absolute magic.

In this episode, I’m joined by Erin Belles, a custom framer and photographer who discovered my work through a two-year-old podcast episode. Three days later, she was a Systems & Session client. We dive deep into how she went from barely using Dubsado to confidently running a luxury client experience from star...

Today I’m sitting down with one of my long-term clients and friends, Meg Mosher, a lifestyle family photographer out of New York who has been in business for over 10 years. We’re diving into her unexpected journey from engineering into photography, her early experiments with Google Ads, and her renewed passion for documentary family sessions.

In this episode, Meg shares how she transitioned from portraits to documentary, why backyar...

You don’t actually need big, complicated systems to make money in your business — and yes, I’m the Systems Professor saying that out loud. Hitting six figures and building a sustainable, ease-filled business are two very different things. In this episode, I’m breaking down what I call “bare bones systems”: the absolute minimum setup every creative business needs to book clients.

I’ll walk you through the anchor activities that matte...

Think your most engaged followers are the ones double-tapping your latest Reel? Think again. 👀

In this episode, I’m breaking down why your actual hottest leads—the people most likely to refer, rebook, or rave about you—aren’t hanging out in your DMs. They’ve already paid you. And most of y’all are leaving them out of your marketing entirely.

We’ll talk about:

✅ The difference between email marketing and client communication (they are...

I’ve been shouting from the rooftops about using video in your client experience—and today, I’ve got backup. In this episode, I’m joined by Carolyn Leasure, a website evolution expert who turns scrappy Squarespace sites into smooth, branded systems. We’re diving into the magic of asynchronous video and how it can transform the way you connect with leads and clients.

Carolyn shares how she first implemented asynchronous video for a c...

When Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement, the internet went wild. But instead of just scrolling through memes, I started thinking about the photographer who actually booked that session — and more importantly, what would have happened if that inquiry landed in your inbox.

Here’s the hard truth: if your systems aren’t set up to respond quickly, guide people clearly, and book smoothly, you could miss out on dream ...

If you’re not tracking it, you’re winging it. That's why it's important to have a system in place to help keep you accountable. In this episode, Melissa Arlena joins us to discuss the power of airtable and accountability. Listen in as we discuss systematizing recurring revenue and keeping clients from slipping through the cracks. Whether you’re running a course, a coaching program, or a service-based business—this episode unpacks t...

What if your next five clients aren’t on Instagram, but actually sitting across from you at an in-person event? Tiffany Crenshaw is a former teacher turned photographer turned educator, and she’s sharing her unconventional but highly effective strategies for growing your email list in person. We’re talking QR codes at mom events, blog post reuse, and making real-world connections convert to real income.

Find It Quickly

00:28 - M...