Feeling overwhelmed by scattered systems, lost inquiries, and clients who ghost before booking? You're not alone. In this episode, systems strategist Colie James breaks down exactly how to build a client experience that runs on autopilot while still feeling personal and professional.

Colie is a Dubsado Certified Specialist, HoneyBook Educator, and the host of Business-First Creatives podcast. After spending 12 years as a family photographer, she discovered her passion for helping creative service providers streamline their businesses through automated systems and workflows.

In this comprehensive conversation, we cover the entire journey of building client experience systems that actually work. From deciding when to invest in your first CRM to creating automated workflows that still feel personal, Colie breaks down the exact strategies she's used to help hundreds of photographers book more clients while working less.

We dive into the nitty-gritty: which CRM to choose and why, the three microsystems you need to build first, how to create a booking process that converts in minutes instead of days, and the secret to writing client emails that build trust instead of confusion. Colie also shares her 3 P's framework for client communication and explains the "confidence loop" and why keeping clients informed at every step is the key to preventing ghosting and increasing bookings.

If you've ever felt like you're drowning in admin work, losing track of where clients are in your process, or watching potential bookings slip away because your systems are too complicated, this episode will give you a clear action plan to fix it.

Whether you're just starting out or you've been photographing for years with messy backend systems, you'll walk away knowing exactly what to implement first and how to build a client experience that books itself.

When to Invest in a CRM

1. The moment you can afford $40/month and have worked with about 5 clients, you should start
2. Why building systems early prevents overwhelm as your business grows
3. The hidden cost of scattered information across multiple platforms

Choosing the Right CRM

1. Colie's top two recommendations: Dubsado and HoneyBook for photographers
2. How to decide between platforms based on your business needs
3. Why starting with something is better than waiting for the "perfect" choice

The 5-Minute Booking Process

1. Why making it easy for clients to book quickly dramatically increases conversion rates
2. The three essential components: service selection, contract signing, and payment
3. Real results: clients reporting their fastest bookings ever after implementing this system

The Three Essential Microsystems

1. Instant inquiry response: What to include and why it matters
2. Booking proposal: How to present your offer in a way that builds confidence
3. Confirmation email: Setting expectations and creating...

If you feel like you know what you should be doing in your business...but your calendar is still empty, this episode is for you.

In this solo episode, I speaks directly to one of the most common and frustrating patterns I see after coaching pet photographers.

You’re not lacking information. You’re stuck between knowing and doing.

Between consuming content and seeing results.

Between trying “all the things” and still feeling like nothing sticks.

I share real conversations from inside my community, reflections from my own journey building my business while working full time, and the uncomfortable truth about the hidden cost of staying stuck.

This isn’t about finding a magic strategy.

It’s about building a system you can actually follow.

If you’ve been stuck consuming content, second guessing yourself, or hoping something will finally click, this episode is your wake up call.

You don’t need more information.

You need a plan you’ll actually implement.

WHAT'S INSIDE THE WORKSHOP:

Workshop 1 (29 Jan): The Foundation

We'll identify your ideal client, craft messaging that attracts them,

Workshop 2 (5 Feb): The Marketing Pillars

Strategic Campaign Planning, pillars and identify which suits your business best

Workshop 3 (12 Feb): The System

Learn to map out your next 90 days of marketing priorities

Plus you get:

• Ideal Client Clarity Toolkit with custom ChatGPT bot

• Brand Compass Custom GPT for writing in your voice

• 12-Month Marketing Calendar Template

• 3 Weeks Voxer Access (6 weeks if you join before 9am tomorrow)

• Pre-Workshop Prep Kit

• Private community access

• 30-day money-back guarantee

INVESTMENT:

$529 USD or $790 AUD

Payment plans available: 3 payments of $210 USD or 3 payments of $314 AUD

SIGN UP NOW

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' collective, it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

1. Practical marketing tips
2. Business lessons and mindset shifts
3. Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠Apply here⁠

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

What do you do when you've been in business for 13 years, you can take beautiful photos, but you just can't seem to get the clients? Do you give up, or do you get help?

In this honest and vulnerable episode, Sydney-based dog and equine photographer Allira Fontana shares her journey from event photography burnout to building a sustainable private session business. Allira opens up about the moment she nearly threw in the towel, the game-changing decision to invest in business coaching with Mark Rossetto, and why the old "do free sessions for a few months" approach simply doesn't work anymore.

If you've ever felt stuck in your business, struggled with marketing, or questioned whether you should keep going, this episode is for you.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

1. How to know when it's time to invest in business coaching (and how to find the right coach for you)
2. Why marketing was the missing piece in Allira's business puzzle
3. The importance of finding accountability partners in your photography journey
4. How to navigate burnout without giving up on your dream
5. Why it's okay to pivot, pause, or change direction in your business
6. The real timeline for building a profitable pet photography business (spoiler: it's not 3 months)

About Allira Fontana:

Allira Fontana is a Sydney-based dog and equine photographer with almost 13 years of experience in the industry. After starting with event photography and experiencing significant burnout, Allira pivoted to private sessions and invested in business coaching that transformed her approach to marketing and client acquisition. She's passionate about supporting other photographers on their journey and is an accountability partner to Ina.

Instagram: @allirafontanaphotography

Website: https://www.allirafontana.com/

Allira's Social Media Pet Photographers Facebook Group

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' collective, it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

1. Practical marketing tips
2. Business lessons and mindset shifts
3. Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future...

What actually makes a pet photography business sustainable long term?

In this episode, Ina sits down with Tatum from The Social Dog Company for a raw, honest conversation about what it really takes to build a profitable pet business without burning out or relying on paid ads.

Tatum shares her journey from running dog-friendly events and rescue fundraisers to rebuilding her business from absolute rock bottom and growing a multi six-figure marketing company serving pet businesses around the world. This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s a real look at resilience, business models, and the unglamorous work that actually moves the needle.

Together, they unpack why so many talented photographers struggle to book clients, why “just posting on Instagram” isn’t a strategy, and how simplifying your offer and messaging can completely change how people respond to your business.

This episode is a must-listen if you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed by marketing, or frustrated that your work isn’t translating into consistent bookings.

1. Why incredible photography alone doesn’t build a successful business
2. The biggest mistake pet photographers make with marketing
3. Why organic marketing foundations matter before running ads
4. How to stop confusing potential clients with too many offers
5. What “hustle” actually means in the early stages of business
6. Why going viral doesn’t always help your business
7. How to attract the right clients instead of more followers
8. The difference between awareness, consideration, and conversion
9. Why email marketing still outperforms social media for sales
10. How to think like a business owner, not just a creative

1. Simplify your offers and sell one core service clearly
2. Use stories to sell through pain point, solution, and outcome
3. Stop waiting until everything feels perfect before putting yourself out there
4. Focus on consistent action instead of chasing quick wins
5. Build marketing systems that support your life, not consume it

Instagram: @thesocialdogcompany

Website: https://www.thesocialdogcompany.com

Tatum also offers free social media audit and regularly runs practical social media challenges for pet business owners who want better visibility and clearer messaging.

Season Two of The Pet Photographers’ Journal is officially here.

In this solo episode, Ina kicks off 2026 with a grounded, honest reset for pet photographers who want more clarity, more momentum, and a business that actually supports their life.

Ina shares what she’s seeing across the industry, what the data is telling us, and where photographers should focus their energy this year. This isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what works.

If 2025 felt noisy, overwhelming, or unpredictable, this episode will help you cut through the chaos and start the year with intention.

The state of the photography industry heading into 2026

1. Why the technical side of photography is easier than ever
2. Why the business side feels harder and noisier
3. What industry reports are revealing about revenue, client behaviour, and sustainability

How to actually win in 2026

1. Why connection and client experience matter more than gear or trends
2. What photographers doing In-Person Sales (IPS) are earning compared to digital-only studios
3. Why print is far from dead and how it continues to drive long-term revenue

Two simple January action steps to build momentum

1. The Friction-Free Client Audit
2. How to secret shop your own website and remove the small points of friction that quietly kill bookings.
3. The Warm Circle Wake-Up
4. Why your next bookings are likely already in your world and how three short voice notes can restart engagement without selling.

How to choose the right level of support for where you’re at

1. The difference between needing a roadmap, a reset, or an engine
2. When to plan, when to refine, and when to take action
3. Why predictable bookings come from systems, not algorithms

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' collective — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here →

It is officially the Season Finale! Whether you are wrapping presents, driving to visit family, or taking a well-deserved break, join me, Ina for this short, special solo episode to wrap up 2025.

In this episode, I pull back the curtain on my first full year of coaching. From the surprise success of launching The Pet Photographers Journal after the closure of The Pet Photographers Club, to the very real battles with imposter syndrome, this is an unfiltered look at what it takes to grow.

Plus, we celebrate YOU. I break down the incredible Spotify Wrapped stats that made this show an "Instant Hit," reveals the most-played episode of the year, and I share exactly what is coming up in January 2026 (including something you won't want to miss).

A Personal Note from Ina: "Thank you to the 6 superfans who had this show as their #1 podcast this year, and to everyone who has listened, shared, and reviewed. I’m taking a short break to be with family in Bali, but I’ll see you in January for an incredible 2026!"

Review & Subscribe: Don't miss the 2026 season launch! Subscribe and leave a review to help other pet photographers find the show.

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' collective — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠Apply here⁠

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: Learn More

This episode is a deep, honest look at what it really takes to run a photography business with multiple moving parts.

I’m joined by equine and pet photographer Louise Sedgman, who has spent more than a decade refining a business that holds two very different models at once. High-volume seasonal Santa sessions, and slow, boutique fine-art equine portraiture.

We talk through how her Santa sessions evolved over 11 years, from unstructured walk-ins and four-hour queues to a mostly smooth, booked system photographing over a thousand families each season. Louise shares the practical decisions she made around pricing, bookings, team support, client education, and workflow to make that volume manageable.

But this conversation goes further than Santa sessions. We also dive into her equine work, in-person sales process, pricing expectations, lead generation through trade shows, and why boundaries became non-negotiable after experiencing burnout.

This episode is for photographers navigating growth, complexity, and energy management. If you’re trying to balance income, creativity, and sustainability without pretending it’s easy, Louise’s story will resonate.

• A single business can hold both high-volume and boutique work
• Systems and education matter more as volume increases
• Pricing clarity filters the right clients before the session
• Burnout leads to better boundaries, not failure
• Sustainable growth comes from refining, not constantly adding

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠Apply here⁠

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: Learn More

If you love this podcast, you’ll love the conversations happening inside the Pet Photographers’ Collective on Skool — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

This episode is your gentle reset before we step into a brand new year. If you’ve been feeling the pressure of feast-or-famine bookings, uncertainty around pricing, or the constant juggle between loving the art and dreading the business side… you’re not alone. So many pet photographers have lived the same roller coaster, and this conversation will help you step off it.

In this episode I walk you through the real work of reviewing your year without judgement, finding the lessons inside both the wins and the flops, and using that clarity to plan a more profitable, joyful 2026. You’ll hear about the marketing habits that keep photographers stuck, the mindset patterns that drain confidence, and the small shifts that create a completely different business year.

If you want 2026 to feel more consistent, calm, and profitable, this episode will help you take those first steps with clarity and confidence.

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' collective — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠Apply here⁠

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: Learn More