Show Notes
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 🎥 YouTube
Thanks 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from The Systems and Workflow Magic Podcast
Picture it: it’s Wednesday night of a packed October week, minis are on Saturday, and you can’t remember if you texted those families. Then Saturday rolls around, and your camera battery is sitting at 12%. Crap...you forgot to charge your batteries because your mind is frazzled!
Nobody will care about your business as much as you do. True. But that doesn't mean nobody will care at all. This week I'm sitting down with Hannah Allen, owner of Outsourcing with Love, to talk about how family photographers can start handing off parts of their business without living out one of those horror stories we've all heard.
You don't sell courses. You don't sell PDFs. You sell sessions, and every email list tip online seems to assume you have a shop tab full of digital products. In this episode, I'm spilling the tea on three ways family photographers can grow an email list when all you have to sell are sessions (like THAT is the only thing you do!!!)
Your December roster (aka your clients) were decided back in September (because of marketing). That means right now, in September, you're deciding what February looks like. If your marketing falls apart every October and January shows up with an empty calendar, you don't have a time problem or a discipline problem. You have a decision problem, and that's much easier to fix. I promise
It's 9:47 PM on a Sunday night. You open Instagram, tap the plus button, type three words into the caption box, delete them, and somehow end up two hours deep in another photographer's feed with nothing posted. Friend, you are not out of ideas, and you are not uncreative. You're asking yourself the wrong question, and in this episode (watch it on YouTube or listen right here on the podcast) I'm spilling the tea on the question I want you to ask instead.