Claim OwnershipThis Can't Be That Hard
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© 2025 This Can't Be That Hard
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You love photography, but running a business? That's a different story. If you've ever thrown up your hands trying to figure it out yourself and said "This CAN'T be that hard!!!" you've come to the right place. Host Annemie Tonken's secret superpower is cutting through the confusion to give you actionable, step-by-step strategies and systems that will help you build a business that reflects your values, serves your needs, and thrills your clients. Tune in to find out why thousands of photographers around the world love Annemie's simple, you-can-do-this approach to everything from pricing to marketing to customer service... and so much more! Whether you're still just dreaming of starting a photography business or have years of experience under your belt, you'll find ideas and inspiration every week to help you run a profitable, sustainable business you love.
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For a lot of photographers, the idea of public speaking is a… ✋ hard pass. Maybe you’re not interested in getting on a big stage (maybe you’re not interested in teaching at all!) but in this episode, you'll hear why showing up and speaking - whether that’s at a local PTA meeting, a community fundraiser, or on your Instagram stories - can be one of the most powerful ways to build trust, authority, and connection with your ideal clients. In this conversation, I’m joined by Laylee Emadi - speake...
Some years, we roll into busy season with a calendar full of sessions… and other years, not so much. It can feel a little scary to stare at a mostly empty fall calendar, especially after all the work you’ve put into filling that calendar. If you’re in that spot right now, take a deep breath: a slow season doesn’t mean you're failing. What it means is one of two things: either you have a visibility issue (not enough people know you’re available) or a conversion issue (people are inquirin...
There are two kinds of marketing strategies most photographers think about: the kind that happens online, and the kind that - well - doesn’t happen at all. But there’s a third option, and it might just be the fastest, most effective way to build trust, get referrals, and create buzz around your business (without spending a dime on ads or fighting the algorithm). I’m talking about in-person events - IRL. Real people. Same room. Hold up now! Before you introverts scroll on by, hear me out... Th...
Search algorithms are changing fast, but for once, the shift is in our favor. With Google rolling out AI summaries and clients turning to Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest for answers to their questions, the playing field is leveling in a way that creates huge opportunities for photographers. If you’ve ever wished the SEO game felt more fair - or that you didn’t have to post on social media quite so much - your wishes are coming true... but you have to understand the new rules in order to play...
In a world where we can market our businesses from behind a screen, it’s easy to believe that in-person networking is optional. But the truth is, nothing replaces the connections you make face-to-face. Meeting someone in real life makes you stand out in a way no post or DM ever could. People remember your energy, your personality, and the genuine conversation you shared. And those moments can turn into opportunities you’d never find online. In this episode, photographer, business coach, and a...
Have you ever looked up from your inbox and wondered how the whole day slipped away? When you're a one-woman show, it’s easy to get buried in admin work, replying to leads, and coordinating schedules instead of doing the more meaningful work that lights you up. In this episode, I’m joined by Melissa Rich, a former wedding photographer turned systems and workflow consultant, to talk about automation strategies that save hours each week without making your business feel robotic. Melissa shares ...
When it comes to running a profitable, sustainable business, it’s not just about booking more sessions… it’s about building more value into the ones you already have. In this episode, I’m sharing four creative, (semi) low-lift ways to do exactly that, layering thoughtful, high-impact offers into your existing workflow. These aren’t gimmicky upsells or pushy pitches. They’re smart, strategic solutions that solve real problems for your clients... sometimes before they even know they have them. ...
When AI first came on the scene, I was skeptical, and my early interactions confirmed my suspicions: when it came to content, AI's attempts were generic and easy to spot. But AI has evolved, and so have my opinions. I’ve come to believe that when used well, AI doesn’t take over your voice... it helps you amplify it. It doesn’t steal your creativity... it gives you time to actually use it. In this episode, I’m talking with Kinsey Soderberg of Authentic AI about how creatives (even skeptical on...
What happens when someone who's spent 15 years hiring photographers for brands like Netflix, Masterclass, and AARP writes a book about how the photo industry really works? You get The Photo Hustle, a straight-talking, wildly helpful roadmap to booking clients, getting paid, and actually making a viable career out of commercial photography. In this episode, I’m chatting with author, photo editor, and creative director Karen Williams about what she’s learned on the inside of the brand and edito...
Pricing might just be the hardest piece of the business puzzle, and not because most of us don't love math. Sure, you need to know your numbers, but there's so much psychology involved in pricing, too: it's one of the most powerful ways you communicate your value, your brand, and your confidence. In this episode, I’m walking you through the five key building blocks of a strategic pricing system - the pieces that take your rates from guesswork to a rock-solid reflection of what you really offe...
What if your next senior session didn’t just capture once-in-a-lifetime memories… but created them as well? In this episode, I’m joined by Kellie Llewellyn, a North Dakota-based photographer who has carved out a unique (and wildly appealing) niche in her business: destination senior sessions. Kellie has traveled with seniors, their best friends, and even their families to locations like Joshua Tree, the Oregon coast, and beyond, turning traditional photo sessions into unforgettable experience...
When you're deep in the thick of running a business, it’s easy to feel like you should be further along. But just because you haven’t “made it” yet (whatever that means) doesn’t mean you’re not making real, meaningful progress. In this episode, I’m sharing three often-overlooked signs that you’re doing better than it may feel like you're doing. We’ll talk about how to recognize sustainable growth, why rest isn’t a setback, and how efficiency quietly signals your evolution as a business owner....
Ever wonder what makes some photographers get tons of referrals and repeat business while others struggle to generate that kind of buzz? Hint: it's probably not the quality of their images. In this episode, I’m talking with wedding and commercial photographer Miles Witt Boyer about what it looks like to be the most valuable person in the room, and why that matters more than ever in today's competitive landscape. This is a conversation about client experience, pricing, creative fulfillme...
We all know that small, consistent actions pay off over time… but when it comes to marketing our photography businesses, too many of us are still chasing quick wins and big bursts of effort that - let’s be honest - often lead to burnout and disappointment. When things slow down, it’s easy to fall into the trap of panic marketing… throwing out a flurry of posts, sending a couple of emails after months of silence, maybe even dreaming up a last-minute sale to get the calendar moving again. But t...
Just because something works doesn’t mean you have to keep doing it. Today, I’m joined once again by my brilliant friend Sabrina Gebhardt for a conversation that’s all about letting go... of offers, expectations, even identities that no longer serve you. Sabrina shares three major decisions she made in 2024 to release things that were still generating revenue (and still “made sense” on paper), but that no longer felt aligned. We talk about the fear of quitting, the mental weight of drag...
There’s this idea floating around that unless you’re all-in on your photography business—fully booked, full-time, aiming for six figures and beyond—what you're doing doesn't really count. But over the years, I’ve worked with countless photographers who are intentionally building part-time businesses, whether that's because they’re just getting started, running a household, or working another job that they can't or don't want to give up. And in many cases, those "limitations" lead to mor...
You don’t have to dance, lip sync, or post every day to make Instagram work for your photography business, but you do need a strategy. This week, I’m joined by food photographer, educator, and author Kimberly Espinel who literally wrote the book on Instagram strategy. We're diving into what’s actually working on Instagram in 2025, whether you’re trying to attract more clients, stay top-of-mind, or stop second-guessing your content. With her refreshing approach, Kimberly highlights three...
Most photographers build their businesses around one signature offer—and that’s a great place to start. But if that’s the only offer on your menu, your business may be more fragile than you think. In today’s episode, I’m breaking down the three types of offers every photography business should have: your core offer (aka your bread and butter), an entry offer (for those not quite ready to go all-in), and an expansion offer (for the people who already love you and want more). When these three w...
Your website might look great—but is it actually doing the work of turning curious browsers into paying clients? In this week’s episode, I’m joined by web designer and strategist Caitlin Teixeira (aka Catie Means Business), the mastermind behind my current website and one of the most insightful, strategic creatives I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Caitlin shares why a website isn’t just a digital business card—it’s a credibility engine, a trust builder, and a strategic tool that should ...
If you’ve ever said yes to a last-minute request you didn’t really have time for, or delivered more than you promised because you were afraid of disappointing someone, this one’s for you. In this short solo episode, I’m talking about boundaries: not just as a form of self-protection, but as a powerful way to communicate your brand, serve your clients well, and build trust in your process. Saying no can be hard, but boundaries create clarity. And clarity builds trust. We’re digging into why bo...
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