Business-First Creatives

Scaling with Less Overwhelm and More Value (Systems in Session Case Study) with Roxanne Engstrom

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 Quickly00:24 - Meet Roxanne01:22 - The Importance of Systems in Business02:16 - Real-Life Business Challenges and Solutions04:01 - The Value of Personalized Support04:45 - Achieving Quick Wins in Business05:43 - Investing in Your Business Growth06:36 - Overcoming Personal and Business Challenges07:32 - The Power of Collaboration and Support11:41 - Automations and Business Efficiency13:18 - Scaling Your Business with Confidence14:34 - Continuous Improvement and Client Feedback16:23 - Setting Boundaries and Providing Value21:23 - Client Communication and Boundaries21:58 - Personalized Brand Image Process23:44 - Importance of Client Experience24:26 - Efficient Proposal Systems27:55 - Overcoming Business Anxiety29:49 - Investing in Business Growth32:19 - Scaling with SystemsMentioned in this EpisodeSystems in SessionMaddie Peschong's RebrandConnect with RoxanneWebsite: hawaimages.comInstagram: instagram.com/hawaimagesLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/roxanne-engstromYoutube: youtube.com/@roxanneengstrom-hawaimages

How to Break the Vicious Visibility Cycle in Your Creative Business with Maddie Peschong

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 sabotaging you. Maddie and I share concrete ways to stay on people’s radars without feeling like you’re running a 24/7 show.Find It Quickly01:28 - The Importance of Visibility02:09 - Social Media Strategies for Photographers06:01 - The Vicious Visibility Cycle10:03 - Effective Marketing Practices15:37 - Email Marketing and Content Repurposing18:27 - Engaging Your Audience with Personal Stories19:05 - The Importance of Consistency in Marketing19:58 - Visibility Beyond Face-to-Camera22:02 - Overcoming Insecurities on Camera23:58 - Client Comfort and Trust Building26:12 - The Vicious Cycle of Visibility28:23 - Planning for Inconsistency30:17 - Repurposing Content for ConsistencyMentioned in this EpisodeHow to Create Systems for Your Worst Days in Business with Sandra HendersonConnect with MaddieWebsite: maddiepeschong.comInstagram: @maddiepeschongRebrand: maddiepeschong.com/rebrand

Why Raising Your Prices Starts with Your Client Experience

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 personal, not roboticThe biggest booking mistakes photographers make — and how to fix themHow systems uphold premium pricing without burning you outWant to go deeper? Grab the original Charge More, Stress Less webinar replay at coliejames.com/charge-more.Grab your free spot in Maddie's Booked Up and In-Demand Masterclass: September 23 at noon CST - learn the content system that fills your calendar with premium clientsAnd stay tuned — in the next episode, Maddie joins me here on Business-First Creatives to unpack the vicious cycle of visibility and how we can all create content marketing from a place of ease.

Systems in Session: Mastering Your Client Journey ft. Erin Belles

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 start to finish.Erin shares how she created a branded, high-touch proposal, wrote 33 pre-written emails during a solo hotel “workcation,” and built workflows for every offer—including newborns and heirloom portraits. If you’ve been dreaming of systems that make your business feel easier, this one’s for you.Find It Quickly:00:28 - Creating A Unique Client Experience01:18 - The Journey to Finding the Right System02:25 - Implementing Dubsado: Challenges and Successes05:41 - Creating a High-Touch Proposal13:05 - The Importance of Client Communication18:41 - Morning Routine and Work-Life Balance19:17 - Family and Newborn Workflows21:26 - Creating and Customizing Proposals22:38 - Email Systems and GPT Integration25:57 - Refining Client Communication28:07 - Final Thoughts and TestimonialsMentioned in this EpisodeSystems in SessionDubsadoConnect with ErinWebsite: erinbellesphotography.comInstagram: @erinbellesphotographyct

Shaping a Business That Grows and Evolves With You with Meg Mosher

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 backyard sessions became such a hit, and the lessons she learned about balancing lifestyle and documentary work in her business.Find It Quickly00:27 - Meet Meg 01:01 - Meg's Journey into Photography02:35 - Early Challenges and Learning Experiences04:48 - The Role of Google Ads in Meg's Business07:34 - Transition to Documentary Photography08:19 - Backyard Sessions: Capturing Childhood Memories14:10 - Planning and Executing Documentary Sessions18:25 - Overcoming Initial Fears in Family Photography19:50 - The Joys and Challenges of Day-in-the-Life Sessions24:04 - Balancing Lifestyle and Documentary Photography26:52 - Marketing Strategies for Seasonal Sessions32:03 - Building a Portfolio and Setting PricesConnect with Megmegmosher.cominstagram.com/megmosherphoto