If you have ever bent over backwards for a client or agreed to a last minute request that you knew was going to completely wreck your weekend, or delivered more than you promised because you didn't want to upset someone, first of all, no judgment. You are very much definitely not alone. I think most photographers, myself included, struggle with boundaries, at least at some
point in their business. But the truth is that good boundaries don't push good clients away, despite that nagging feeling in the pit of our stomach that if we set and actually hold a boundary, somebody's going to be mad. The fact is that good boundaries actually help build trust. So in this episode, I want to help you see how boundaries can support your brand, protect your energy, and actually enhance your client
experience. Because once you actually believe those it's going to make a big difference, not just for your clients, but for you as well. Welcome to this can't be that hard. My name is Annemie Tonken and I help photographers run profitable, sustainable businesses that they love. Each week on the podcast, I cover simple, actionable strategies and systems that photographers at every level of experience can use to earn more money in a more sustainable way.
Running a photography business doesn't have to be that hard. You can do it, and I can show you how. So, as I said in the beginning, a lot of us fear that setting and enforcing boundaries will make us seem cold or inflexible or difficult, but the opposite is actually true. Think about the various luxury brands that are out there in the world, right? Do they negotiate on prices? Do they accept walk ins
without notice? Are they, you know, just kind of out there making deals and helping people in whatever way those people say that they want help no even though many luxury brands create an incredible, very luxurious experience for their clients, they do so in a very strategic,
specific way. And when you start trying to push those boundaries, they're usually very, very firm about this is how we run our business, because this is how we create this experience that people are paying so much for, and people respect that your boundaries in much the same way communicate how your business operates and what kind of experience that clients can
expect. So when you say, here's how I work best, you're helping your clients feel confident and taken care of, like you know what you're doing, and they don't have to drive they can instead, sort of let you take over. The other thing to consider is that a boundary doesn't have to sound stiff or defensive or difficult. It really can be framed to sound
like good service. So instead of saying, you know, I don't accept last minute bookings, you can say something along the lines of, you know, I always want to make sure that every client has the best experience possible, which, in my experience, means planning, you know, three weeks in advance. So I book sessions at least three weeks in advance, so that we have time to prep for something amazing. You're not shutting them down, right? You are inviting them into a better
process. And if they're reaching out because they're in town this coming weekend and and you're saying no, I can't work with you because that doesn't meet my standards. They're going to know that the next time they come to town, they need to book in advance, and they're going to be enticed, not turned off by the fact that you have created this process that's worth waiting for, if the thought of saying no is really difficult for you,
right? If this is all like, it's so fine and good to talk about this, but actually saying no kind of makes your stomach turn. I want you to start by writing these boundaries down. I want you to create little scripts for yourself that give you something to fall back on when you're feeling wobbly and when you put boundaries into your systems, right? Like your autoresponders, your pricing guides and the welcome emails that you send, it stops feeling like something
that you have to enforce. You're allowing your systems to do the work for you, right? And that then just becomes how you do business. So if you are constantly needing to reinforce the same boundary, probably that means that it needs to be communicated earlier in your process. It needs to be put into more of your auto emails that you send out, or the client education that you do. That's a it's a good signal. Know that there is some breakdown in communication along the lines.
The last thing that I want to talk about is the fact that boundaries, when put in place and held to really do, protect your creativity, which keeps the work that you're doing fresh. It makes it as good as it can be. The fact of the matter is that burnout isn't just about being too busy. It's often about giving away your energy in ways
that don't feel fair to you. So if you are constantly over delivering and maybe not getting thanked for it, because nobody even really realizes that you're over delivering, you're just kind of coloring outside the margins of your own boundaries, and you know your family is
paying the price. You are paying the price your ability to sleep is paying the price every time that you say yes, when you really should be saying no, you are chipping away at your capacity to show up fully for your clients and your best work happens when you feel respected, prepared, well rested, supported, well paid, all of those things, right? That's what
boundaries make possible. So if you have been worried that saying no or setting and holding a boundary will make you look like a diva, I want you to remember that boundaries really aren't about being difficult. They are about creating clarity, and clarity builds trust. So protect your energy, honor your process and give your clients the best of you, not what's left of you. That's it for this week's episode of This can't be that hard. I'll be back Same
time, same place next week. If you like the show, be sure to check out this can't be that hard.com to explore all the resources we have for photographers. And of course, it would mean the world to me if you would leave a review of the show on iTunes or Spotify as always. Thanks so much for joining me. I hope you have a fantastic week. You