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Running a photography business can feel like a constant juggling act, especially when you’re balancing it with family life and other commitments. In this blog post, we dive into my conversation with Kianna Anderson, a wedding photographer, business coach, and mother of three, who has built a successful business while maintaining balance and setting up sustainable systems. Kianna shares how she manages to run her photography team across two states, create boundaries, and develop systems that allow her to lead a thriving business and personal life.

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Creating Balance Between Work and Family

One of the first things we talked about was how Kianna balances being a wife, mom to three young kids, and running a photography business. She shared that her schedule is intentionally split between workdays and family days. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are her days with the kids, while Tuesdays and Thursdays are dedicated to work. On the weekends, she might be photographing weddings, but Sundays are always reserved for family time and church.

Kianna’s philosophy is that time is her biggest currency, and she prioritizes it by making sure she’s present in both her family and her business. She schedules specific work hours and is firm about those boundaries, ensuring she can be fully engaged when she’s with her family and fully focused when she’s working.

The Power of Systems

When Kianna first started her photography business, she found herself constantly reinventing the wheel—writing new emails for every client, handling inquiries in different ways, and lacking a clear structure. Eventually, she realized the need for systems to streamline her workflow. She began by identifying the repetitive tasks that could be standardized and created systems for everything from client communication to wedding day prep.

For example, she set up email templates for different stages of the client journey. While templates can sometimes feel impersonal, Kianna emphasizes that when done right, they actually make your communication more efficient and personal by freeing up time to add thoughtful touches where it matters most.

She also created questionnaires to help with timeline planning and final details, which she now sends automatically through her CRM system, HoneyBook. This saves her hours of time and ensures her clients receive a consistently excellent experience, no matter how busy she is.

Building a Team

One of the biggest shifts in Kianna’s business was building a photography team. Initially, she was nervous about trusting others with her clients and work, but over time, she developed systems and a team structure that allowed her to scale her business while maintaining the quality of her service.

Kianna talked about how important it is to hire team members who align with your brand and values. She hires photographers who match the heart and energy she brings to weddings and client interactions, ensuring that her clients still get the same level of care, even if it’s not her personally shooting.

She also shared that hiring within her own team was a smooth transition because her systems were already in place. By creating clear workflows, she was able to delegate tasks to her post-processing manager and other associates, allowing her to take time off, like a maternity leave, without worry.

Setting Boundaries to Avoid Burnout

Burnout is a common issue in the photography industry, especially during busy seasons. Kianna’s advice? Set clear boundaries and honor them. She stopped working on her laptop and moved to a desktop computer so that she could create a physical and mental separation between work and personal time. She also established specific work hours, which help her avoid the trap of being available 24/7 to clients.

She’s also intentional about blocking off time on her calendar. If she wants to reserve certain weekends for her family or personal time, she blocks them out in advance, even if that means turning down inquiries. Kianna encourages other photographers to do the same: “No one else is going to give you time off—you have to create it yourself.”

Delegating and Outsourcing

Kianna learned that she doesn’t need to do everything herself. By hiring a team and delegating tasks like editing, she has been able to focus on what she loves most—building relationships with her clients and running the parts of her business that bring her the most joy. She explained that learning to trust others with parts of her business was a gradual process, but by clearly communicating her expectations and providing support, she found that her team could handle things just as well, if not better, than she could.

Final Thoughts

Building a successful photography business doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your personal life or work non-stop. By creating systems, setting boundaries, and building a strong team, you can achieve both balance and business growth. Kianna’s story is proof that with the right mindset and structure in place, you can build a business that serves both your clients and your lifestyle.

If you’re looking for more ways to streamline your photography business and create more balance in your life, consider joining us for our next workshop!

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Connect with Kianna Anderson:

• Kianna’s Business Coaching Instagram
• Kianna’s Photography Team Instagram
• Kianna’s Family and Renovation Instagram

Thank you for reading! If you found this blog helpful, feel free to share it with a friend or connect with me on Instagram!
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