This Can't Be That Hard

Annemie Tonken
  • 5,0 (1)
  • MARKETING
  • WÖCHENTLICH

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.

  1. VOR 2 TAGEN

    355 - External Organization: The Secret to Client Confidence with Erin Wissig

    Organization isn’t just about tidy desks and color coded planners… it’s about how your business feels to your clients. This episode is part two of our organization series, and we’re digging into external organization… the systems, workflows, and processes your clients experience from inquiry to delivery. I’m joined by systems strategist and photography specific VA Erin Wissig, whose work helps photographers take their workflows out of their heads and turn them into clear, repeatable systems. We talk about the difference between being organized behind the scenes and creating a client experience that feels confident, professional, and intentional. Erin breaks down why friction at any point in the booking process can quietly cost you clients, how to think about your website as the first step in your workflow, and why automation doesn’t have to mean losing the personal touch. We also talk about booking calendars, follow ups, invoices, and the emotional weight photographers carry when systems aren’t doing their job. If your business feels a little duct taped together, or if admin work is eating up time you’d rather spend shooting or resting, this conversation will help you see where a few strategic changes can make everything feel lighter and more sustainable. Stick around until the end, because Erin shares a generous free resource that gives you a chance to talk through your own systems and pain points one on one. LINKS: Book your coffee chat with Erin Connect with Erin on Instagram Try The Consistency Club today and lock in your rate for the lifetime of your membership before the prices go up on Sunday, Feb 15th! 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!

    47 Min.

  2. 3. FEB.

    354 - The Importance of Organizing your Business with Ashley Pendergraft

    What if the secret to a calmer, more creative business isn’t another color-coded planner or a prettier desk, but a system that actually works for you - quirks, chaos, and all? If you’ve ever felt like organization is just another thing on your to-do list (or that you’re “bad” at it), today's guest has a message you're going to want to hear. Ashley Rose of Systems Over Stress joins us to share her refreshingly real approach to organization - one that supports your creativity instead of adding clutter to it. Ashley’s journey from feeling overwhelmed by the “little things” in business to building sustainable, ADHD-friendly systems is both relatable and inspiring. She’s proof that you don’t have to be naturally organized to run a smooth, thriving business. Here’s what we’re diving into: Ashley’s simple, game-changing tip for spotting friction in your workflow (and why those tiny annoyances are actually goldmines for improvement)The difference between “fun” organization (hello, new planners!) and functional systems that actually move your business forwardWhy having a single “source of truth” for your clients and projects can save you hours - and your sanityHow to stop chasing shiny new tools and start building systems that flex with your business as it growsAshley’s perspective is especially valuable if you’ve ever felt scattered, distracted, or like you’re constantly reinventing the wheel. She breaks down how to create organization that fits your real life - not some Instagram-perfect ideal. Ready to reclaim your time, energy, and peace of mind? This episode is your permission slip to let go of perfection and start building systems that truly support you. LINKS: Connect with Ashley on InstagramCheck Ashley's WebsiteSign up for Ashley's Free Masterclass and learn the one system you need to double your client roster, work less hours & get better results. Try The Consistency Club today and lock in your rate for the lifetime of your membership before the prices go up on Sunday, Feb 15th! 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!

    31 Min.

  3. 27. JAN.

    353 - Building a Repeat and Referral System That Creates Consistent Income

    If you’ve been following along with our systems theme, you’ve already worked through marketing, sales, and fulfillment, the three core systems that can absolutely run your business. But even with those dialed in, many photographers still feel stuck on the income rollercoaster… great months followed by scary quiet ones. In this episode, we focus on the final piece of the puzzle: building a repeat and referral system that turns great client experiences into steady, predictable income. Instead of crossing your fingers and hoping happy clients send people your way, we’re talking about how to support referrals intentionally and make repeat bookings feel easy and natural for your clients. I break down how to ask for referrals in a way that feels aligned with your brand, why reminders matter more than incentives, and how to reduce friction so clients actually follow through. We also dive into repeat clients, why they’re often your most reliable source of revenue, and how to design simple systems that help clients come back without relying on memory or motivation. Strong systems don’t box you in. They give you freedom. And when referrals and repeat business are supported on purpose, your business starts to grow with far less effort. LINKS: Revenue on Repeat - Step by step course on building a client membership or recurring offer for predictable incomeThe Consistency Club - Marketing system for attracting leads consistently without burning outThe Simple Sales Blueprint - Course covering sales and fulfillment systems that turn inquiries into confident bookings Try The Consistency Club today and lock in your rate for the lifetime of your membership before the prices go up on Sunday, Feb 15th! 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!

    20 Min.

  4. 20. JAN.

    352 - Inquiries → Bookings → Happy Clients: Your Sales & Fulfillment System

    Last week, we talked about building a marketing system that helps you consistently attract new leads without burning out, but great marketing alone isn't enough. If inquiries aren’t converting into bookings, or bookings aren’t turning into great client experiences, your whole business starts to wobble. That’s why this week I’m zooming in on sales and fulfillment. Instead of chasing yeses or worrying about being pushy, I walk you through how to design a sales process that helps the right clients feel informed, confident, and excited to book. From there, we move into fulfillment… the systems that ensure every client gets a great experience every single time. Marketing brings people to the door. Sales invites them in. Fulfillment makes them want to stay. When all three of these systems are working together, your business feels more stable, more predictable, and far easier to run. Go listen to this week’s episode, then head into the Darkroom to get your Action Items for the week. I’ve laid out simple next steps to help you strengthen these systems one small improvement at a time. LINKS: Watch the Simple Sales Masterclass to fine-tune your Sales SystemLog in The Darkroom, to get your free weekly action items Try The Consistency Club today and lock in your rate for the lifetime of your membership before the prices go up on Sunday, Feb 15th! 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!

    34 Min.

  5. 13. JAN.

    351 - Showing Up Without Burning Out: Build a Marketing System

    If there is one thing that burns photographers out faster than almost anything else, it’s marketing. What is supposed to feel like connection often feels more like an endless cycle of posting, scrolling, and second guessing… all while the rules keep changing. In this episode, I’m kicking off our Systems Theme by talking about how to build a marketing system that actually feels like connection (and supports your business instead of draining it). We look at why chasing trends and algorithms isn’t the answer, and how focusing on trust, local connection, and clear priorities leads to more sustainable growth. You’ll hear more about  why your marketing goals are much more achievable than you’ve been led to believe how real life connection can do more heavy lifting than constant online visibility what a "good enough" marketing system actually looks like when you stop trying to do everythingWhen you’re done listening, log into the Darkroom to get this week’s To Dos and resources, so you can turn these ideas into action! LINKS: Get weekly action prompts + resources from each episode inside The Darkroom; your free podcast companion space. Try The Consistency Club today and lock in your rate for the lifetime of your membership before the prices go up on Sunday, Feb 15th! 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!

    29 Min.

  6. 6. JAN.

    350 - Reflections, Milestones, and the Path Forward

    We're kicking 2026 off with some big milestones around here! At the time this goes live, we're crossing the six year anniversary of the launch of Simple Sales and the almost six-year anniversary of the podcast. On top of that, we recently crossed half a million downloads AND this is episode 350! With all these stars aligning, it felt like the right time to pause, reflect, and make some intentional decisions about what comes next. In this special episode, I'm share why the mission behind This Can’t Be That Hard hasn’t changed, even though the industry and the way we consume information absolutely has. Photographers don’t need more ideas or more content… they need clarity, focus, and support turning good information into real action. That realization is shaping a new direction for the podcast, one that treats each episode less like passive listening and more like a weekly business workout. Tune in to hear more about the changes you’ll be seeing this year, including themed content, a more direct and transparent approach, and the launch of The Darkroom… a brand new, free companion app I designed to help you take action, find exactly what you need inside the podcast archive, and play a more active role in shaping our future episodes. This isn’t an ending… it’s a new beginning, and I’m excited to build what comes next together! LINKS: Click here to join The Darkroom, our free podcast companion app that gives you searching superpowers, next step guidance, and a direct line to helping us plan future content! Try The Consistency Club today and lock in your rate for the lifetime of your membership before the prices go up on Sunday, Feb 15th! 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!

    22 Min.

  7. 30.12.2025

    349 - Finding Freedom with Better Sales and Pricing

    If you’ve ever felt stuck between pricing models or frustrated by sales systems that don’t quite fit, this episode will hit home. For our final episode of the year, I’m resharing a conversation I had with Jill Smith on The Business Focused Photographer Podcast about the story behind Simple Sales, how it came to be, and why it’s still the system that completely changed the way I run my photography business. We talked about bridging the gap between all inclusive and in person sales, how to raise your prices with confidence, and what it looks like to use creativity not just in your art, but in the way you build your business. I wanted to share this one now because January is such a natural time to revisit your systems and pricing. My hope is that this conversation gives you clarity and confidence to build a business that feels sustainable, balanced, and uniquely yours. Try The Consistency Club today and lock in your rate for the lifetime of your membership before the prices go up on Sunday, Feb 15th! 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!

    53 Min.

  8. 23.12.2025

    348 - Smarter, Simpler Marketing for Photographers with Kim Box

    Marketing can feel like a mystery sometimes… especially when you’re trying to figure out what actually works versus what just burns time. This week, I’m resharing a conversation I had with Kim Box on The Motherhood Anthology Podcast where we talked about one of my favorite topics… marketing that actually moves the needle. We got into the difference between marketing tactics and marketing systems, how to balance consistency with creativity, and how to make your marketing feel more like flow and less like force. I also shared a new metaphor for planning your strategy that I call the marketing windmill… a simple framework for building a marketing plan that’s balanced, sustainable, and actually enjoyable. And because I can’t talk about marketing without bringing up AI, we also explored how photographers can use tools like Custom GPTs to create authentic content faster and easier. If you’ve been rethinking how to show up in your business and want your marketing to feel lighter, smarter, and a whole lot more sustainable, this one’s for you. LINKS: Learn more about the Consistency Club and our AI powered blog builder.Follow along on Instagram: @thiscantbethathardTry The Consistency Club today and lock in your rate for the lifetime of your membership before the prices go up on Sunday, Feb 15th! 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!

    53 Min.
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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.

Informationen

  • Erstellt von
    Annemie Tonken
  • Jahre aktiv
    2020 - 2026
  • Folgen
    355
  • Bewertung
    Unbedenklich
  • Copyright
    © 2026 This Can't Be That Hard
  • Sendungswebsite
    This Can't Be That Hard

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