The Systems and Workflow Magic Podcast

SEO still feels overwhelming for a lot of family photographers—and if you’re heading into 2026 wondering whether it’s even worth your time, this episode is for you.In this episode, I’m breaking down why SEO is not optional for family photographers, even as social media gets louder and attention spans get shorter. Families are still Googling before they book, and SEO is one of the most stable ways to support your marketing without relying only on Instagram.I’m also sharing one free SEO tool I personally use in my own photography and education business, plus a behind-the-scenes look at exactly how I read it and apply it, without getting stuck in SEO confusion.Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode▸ Read the full blog post that goes with this episode (that way, you get all the links mentioned): https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/seo-for-family-photographers-2026/▸ The Family Photographer's Marketing Society: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/the-family-photographers-marketing-societyConnect with Dolly DeLong Education💻 Website📱Instagram🎥 YouTubeThanks for joining me on The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode:✅ Sign up for weekly reminders + free resources here → Business Tools🥳 Share a screenshot of this episode on your IG story and tag me @dollydelongeducation so I can cheer you on!🔗 Affiliate links included. I only recommend products I personally use and love.seo for family photographers, family photography seo 2026, seo for photographers beginners, family photographer marketing 2026, free seo tools for photographers, detailed seo extension tutorial, seo chrome extension for photographers, image alt text for photographers, H1 structure photography website, meta descriptions for family photographers, organic marketing for photographers, photography website seo tips, seo without social media, sustainable marketing for family photographers, family photography website optimization, seo systems for photographers, marketing systems for photographers

Client testimonials are GOLD for your family photography business, but most photographers only use them once and then forget about them. In this episode of The Systems and Workflow Magic Podcast, I’m breaking down six strategic ways family photographers can reuse client testimonials across their entire client journey so they actually do the heavy lifting in your marketing.This episode was inspired by a real conversation in The Family Photographer's Marketing Society, and I’m giving you a behind-the-scenes look at how I coach my students to think like a marketer rather than relying on memory or random posting.If you’ve ever shared a testimonial on Instagram Stories and hoped for the best, this episode will change how you see testimonials forever.Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode▸ Read the full blog post that goes with this episode (that way, you get all the links mentioned): https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/reuse-client-testimonials-family-photographers/▸ The Family Photographer's Marketing Society: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/the-family-photographers-marketing-societyConnect with Dolly DeLong Education💻 Website📱Instagram🎥 YouTubeThanks for joining me on The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode:✅ Sign up for weekly reminders + free resources here → Business Tools🥳 Share a screenshot of this episode on your IG story and tag me @dollydelongeducation so I can cheer you on!🔗 Affiliate links included. I only recommend products I personally use and love.reuse client testimonials, family photographer testimonials, photography marketing systems, testimonial marketing for photographers, how to use testimonials in marketing, family photography marketing tips, systems for photographers, email marketing for family photographers, Instagram marketing for photographers, photographer client experience workflow, testimonial automation for photographers, Dubsado workflows, CRM systems for photographers, Flodesk for photographers, marketing systems for creatives, organic marketing for family photographers, photographer website testimonials, marketing SOPs for photographers

January can feel like a weird, quiet, and sometimes panic-inducing month for family photographers. In this episode of The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast, I’m breaking down three specific marketing seeds you should be planting in January—so you’re not scrambling later in the spring.If you’ve ever wondered:“Is January just a dead month?”“Should I be pushing people to book right now?”“How do I stay visible without feeling salesy or burnt out?”This episode is for you.Whether you’re listening on your favorite podcast player or watching this episode on YouTube, you’ll learn how to reframe January as a seed-planting month that sets you up for calmer, more consistent bookings in March, April, and beyond.Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode▸ Read the full blog post that goes with this episode (that way, you get all the links mentioned): https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/january-marketing-for-family-photographers/▸ The Family Photographer's Marketing Society: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/the-family-photographers-marketing-societyConnect with Dolly DeLong Education💻 Website📱Instagram🎥 YouTubeThanks for joining me on The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode:✅ Sign up for weekly reminders + free resources here → Business Tools🥳 Share a screenshot of this episode on your IG story and tag me @dollydelongeducation so I can cheer you on!🔗 Affiliate links included. I only recommend products I personally use and love.january marketing for family photographers, family photographer slow season marketing, photography marketing january, family photography marketing tips, organic marketing for photographers, long form content marketing for photographers, seo for family photographers, marketing consistency for photographers, photography marketing cadence, photography content planning january, marketing without burnout photographers, trust based marketing photography, sustainable marketing for photographers, spring mini session marketing, family photographer visibility strategies, email marketing for photographers, marketing systems for photographers

In this episode of The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast, I’m sitting down (coffee + Christmas décor still up, of course 😉) to reflect on what I’m genuinely looking forward to in 2026. This isn’t a tactical systems or marketing episode — it’s a slower, more personal conversation about growth, faith, business pruning, family rhythms, and giving yourself permission to pause.If you’re a family photographer or creative business owner who’s craving clarity, encouragement, and space to reflect on where you’re headed this year, this episode is for you.I'm sharing the top 9 things I'm looking forward to in 2026 (I hope it encourages you!)Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode▸ Read the full blog post that goes with this episode (that way, you get all the links mentioned): https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/personal-business-faith-goals-2026/▸ The Bible Recap: https://www.thebiblerecap.com/▸ Nourish Move Love: https://www.nourishmovelove.com/▸ The Family Photographer's Marketing Society: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/the-family-photographers-marketing-society▸ Duo Collective: https://duocollective.com/Connect with Dolly DeLong Education💻 Website📱Instagram🎥 YouTubeThanks for joining me on The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode:✅ Sign up for weekly reminders + free resources here → Business Tools🥳 Share a screenshot of this episode on your IG story and tag me @dollydelongeducation so I can cheer you on!🔗 Affiliate links included. I only recommend products I personally use and love.new year reflection for photographers, goals for family photographers 2026, systems and workflows for photographers, marketing systems for family photographers, sustainable marketing for creatives, photography business reflection, family photography business goals, SEO for photographers, AI systems for small business, marketing membership for photographers, faith and business ownership, work life balance for photographers, family photographer marketing strategy, slow business growth photography, profitable photography business, creative business reflection, motherhood and business balance, organic marketing for photographers

As we close out the year, I wanted to pull back the curtain and share exactly how I’m doing my end-of-year business review — and how I’m planning for 2026 without trying to plan an entire year in one weekend.Whether you’re watching this episode on YouTube or listening on your favorite podcast player, it's designed to give you permission to plan realistically, not romantically.I’m walking you through how I review my yearly rhythms, lean on data (not feelings), and prepare my backend systems so my marketing, launches, and content feel sustainable — especially as a mom, photographer, and systems educator.If you’re a family photographer or creative business owner who wants clarity, structure, and less burnout heading into a new year, this episode is for you.Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode▸ Read the full blog post that goes with this episode (that way, you get all the links mentioned): https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/how-im-planning-out-my-next-quarter/▸ Snag The Bookkeeping Template For Creatives Here: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/bookkeeping-template▸ Get 25% OFF on Flodesk here: https://flodesk.com/c/DOLLYDELONGEDUCATION▸ Join the Family Photographer's Marketing Society: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/the-family-photographers-marketing-society▸ End of year review sheet: https://katschmoyer.com/eoy-gift▸ Master Business Operations Trello Board (only $7): https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/master-business-operations-boardConnect with Dolly DeLong Education💻 Website📱Instagram🎥 YouTubeThanks for joining me on The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode:✅ Sign up for weekly reminders + free resources here → Business Tools🥳 Share a screenshot of this episode on your IG story and tag me @dollydelongeducation so I can cheer you on!🔗 Affiliate links included. I only recommend products I personally use and love.end of year business review, business planning for photographers, how to plan 2026 as a creative business owner, systems and workflows for photographers, 90 day business planning, yearly business rhythms, marketing planning for family photographers, backend systems for creatives, business planning without burnout, Christian entrepreneur business planning, photography business systems, content batching for photographers, email workflow refresh, CRM organization for photographers, Trello business planning board, Flodesk email workflows, Dubsado CRM organization, sustainable marketing strategies for creatives, end of year reflection for small business, systems and workflow magic podcast

If you’re listening to this episode around the holidays (or WHENEVER you are listening in to this), I want to encourage you to do something that will instantly bring more clarity into your business for 2026 (and for ANY YEAR): forecast your business expenses.In this episode of The Systems and Workflow Magic Podcast (also available as a YouTube video), I’m pulling back the curtain and showing you exactly how I forecast my business expenses for 2026 using my Bookkeeping Template for Creatives. I’m not starting the new year guessing my overhead.And friend, forecasting is NOT “predicting the future.” It’s taking the best data you already have (like your 2025 expenses + recurring subscriptions) and making an informed plan so you can price confidently, set realistic goals, and run your photography business (or creative business) sustainably.Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode▸ Read the full blog post that goes with this episode (that way, you get all the links mentioned): https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/end-of-year-planning-family-photographers/▸ Snag The Bookkeeping Template For Creatives Here: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/bookkeeping-template▸ Get 25% OFF on Flodesk here: https://flodesk.com/c/DOLLYDELONGEDUCATION▸ Join the Family Photographer's Marketing Society: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/the-family-photographers-marketing-society▸Need a bookkeeper? Check out my amazing Bookkeeper here: https://www.willabbybookkeeping.com/Connect with Dolly DeLong Education💻 Website📱Instagram🎥 YouTubeThanks for joining me on The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode:✅ Sign up for weekly reminders + free resources here → Business Tools🥳 Share a screenshot of this episode on your IG story and tag me @dollydelongeducation so I can cheer you on!🔗 Affiliate links included. I only recommend products I personally use and love.forecast business expenses 2026, business expense forecasting for photographers, bookkeeping for creatives, photography business expenses list, how to calculate overhead for photographers, pricing family photography packages, photography business budgeting system, Google Sheets bookkeeping template, small business expense tracker spreadsheet, annual vs monthly subscriptions for business, photography business profit planning, tax percentage for small business owners, how to track subscriptions for business, systems for photographer finances, backend systems for photographers, financial planning for creative business owners, plan business expenses for the new year, bookkeeping template for small business owners, how to forecast expenses using last year’s data, sustainable photography business systems

Big reminder, friend: if I were your marketing advisor for your family photography business, I would absolutely have you working on your February Valentine’s mini sessions in December—yes, while everyone else is still wrapping gifts and closing out their holiday minis.This episode (originally recorded as a YouTube video and repurposed as a podcast) walks you through how to think like a marketer, map out a simple mini-session offer for couples or kids, and align your systems, content, and email marketing before the new year begins.Whether you’re a family photographer who loves minis or you’re just curious about adding a seasonal cash-injection to your year, this episode will help you:Decide how to position your Valentine’s minis (kids, couples, or both)Choose simple, on-brand themes and props your clients can easily say yes toPlan locations, timelines, and logistics now so you’re not scrambling in late JanuaryUse Instagram + your blog as top-of-funnel marketing for your minisSet up email segments and nurture using Flodesk (or your ESP of choice)Use your CRM (like Dubsado) to automate booking, communication, and remindersTurn Valentine’s minis into an annual, repeatable revenue streamResources & Links Mentioned In This Episode▸ Read the full blog post that goes with this episode (that way, you get all the links mentioned): https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/valentines-mini-sessions-family-photographers/▸ Get 25% OFF on Flodesk here: https://flodesk.com/c/DOLLYDELONGEDUCATION▸ Join the Family Photographer's Marketing Society: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/the-family-photographers-marketing-society▸ Get 30% OFF on Dubsado here: https://www.dubsado.com/?c=dollydelongeducation▸ Free Dubsado Mini Session Roadmap: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/the-dubsado-mini-session-roadmap-opt-inConnect with Dolly DeLong Education💻 Website📱Instagram🎥 YouTubeThanks for joining me on The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode:✅ Sign up for weekly reminders + free resources here → Business Tools🥳 Share a screenshot of this episode on your IG story and tag me @dollydelongeducation so I can cheer you on!🔗 Affiliate links included. I only recommend products I personally use and love.valentines mini sessions for family photographers, how to plan valentines minis in december, seasonal mini sessions marketing plan, mini sessions for couples and kids, family photographer marketing 2026, dubsado mini session workflow, dubsado for family photographers, flodesk for family photographers, email marketing for mini sessions, seasonal cash injection offers, planning holiday minis and valentines minis, blog strategy for family photographers, instagram marketing for mini sessions, family photographer marketing membership, family photographers marketing society, systems and workflows for mini sessions, client communication templates for minis, winter studio mini sessions ideas, marketing seasonal minis with email and instagram

Big news, friends! We are officially heading into a brand new year of marketing, and if you’re a family photographer still relying only on Instagram (or whatever the next trendy platform is), this episode is your gentle nudge: it’s time to bring email marketing into your 2026 strategy.In today’s episode—which originated as a YouTube video—you’ll learn why email marketing continues to outperform every other marketing channel, why it future-proofs your family photography business, and how it helps you book more clients with less stress. Plus, at the end of the episode, I’m sharing why Flodesk is my #1 recommendation for photographers who want simple, beautiful, effective email marketing without overwhelm.Whether you’re brand new to email marketing or you’ve been dragging your feet for years (it’s okay, I see you!), this episode will give you the clarity and motivation you need to start strong in 2026.Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode▸ Read the full blog post that goes with this episode (that way, you get all the links mentioned): https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/email-marketing-for-family-photographers/▸ Watch the YouTube video version of this Podcast: https://youtu.be/5FWPcr3BzAA▸ Get 25% OFF on Flodesk here: https://flodesk.com/c/DOLLYDELONGEDUCATION▸ Join the Family Photographer's Marketing Society: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/the-family-photographers-marketing-societyConnect with Dolly DeLong Education💻 Website📱Instagram🎥 YouTubeThanks for joining me on The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode:✅ Sign up for weekly reminders + free resources here → Business Tools🥳 Share a screenshot of this episode on your IG story and tag me @dollydelongeducation so I can cheer you on!🔗 Affiliate links included. I only recommend products I personally use and love.email marketing for family photographers, photographer email newsletter ideas, Flodesk tutorial for photographers, email marketing 2026 predictions, marketing systems for photographers, how to grow a photography email list, Flodesk for creative business owners, best email platform for photographers, family photography marketing tips, nurture sequences for photographers, sustainable marketing for creatives, automated email workflow for photographers, why email marketing matters, photographer marketing without Instagram, ROI of email marketing 2026, long-term marketing strategy photographers, book more photography clients with email, email vs social media marketing, segmenting email audiences Flodesk, simple email marketing for photographers