Episode 324

full
Published on:

25th Jun 2026

From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Learning How Your CRM Works with Danielle Kent

What if the biggest benefit of better systems wasn't saving time, but finally trusting your business to run without you? In this episode, I sit down with Danielle Kent, a birth photographer, doula, and educator who joined Systems in Session after already investing in a professionally built Dubsado setup.

Her systems worked, but she still felt disconnected from them. She wanted the confidence to understand, customize, and expand her workflows without relying on someone else every time her business evolved.

We talk about the difference between having systems built for you and learning how to build them yourself, how automation transformed her long client journeys, and why understanding your CRM can become one of the most valuable skills you develop as a business owner.

Find It Quickly

00:24 - Why Danielle Joined Systems in Session

02:58 - "I Felt Lost in My Own System"

05:31 - The Confidence to Make Changes

06:55 - Building New Offers Inside Dubsado

09:15 - From Fear to Flexibility

10:05 - Why Pixieset Wasn't Enough

13:40 - The Manual Tasks Dubsado Eliminated

15:57 - More Time, Less Stress

24:39 - Danielle's Favorite Dubsado Feature

28:01 - Should You Learn Your CRM or Outsource It?

32:27 - What's Next for Danielle's Business

Mentioned in this Episode

How this Wedding Photographer Plans to Save 180 Hours a Year With Better Systems with Jordan Craig

Systems in Session

Dubsado

Pixieset

Connect with the Guest

Website: daniellekentphoto.com

Instagram: instagram.com/daniellekentphoto

Show artwork for Business-First Creatives: Client Experience & Systems for Service Providers

About the Podcast

Business-First Creatives: Client Experience & Systems for Service Providers
A podcast about systems, workflows, and business advice for creative service providers.
Business-First Creatives is a podcast for photographers and creative service providers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business without drowning in admin work, client experience chaos, or systems that let you down.

This show delivers clear, actionable conversations around marketing, CRM workflows, client communication, Dubsado and Honeybook automation, Airtable systems, and workflow strategies, giving photographers and creative entrepreneurs the systems that scale, operational clarity, and strategic, human-first client experiences they need to build streamlined, referral-worthy business operations that don't require working 24/7.
If you're tired of babysitting your inbox, chasing down contracts, or watching your workflows break the moment you look away, this show will help you move beyond "figuring it out as you go" and toward a creative business that brings you joy and a paycheck.

This podcast provides answers to questions like:
How do I automate my client journey without losing the personal touch?
What CRM workflows do photographers and creative businesses need?
How can I use Dubsado or Honeybook to streamline my client experience?
What systems do photographers need to save time and deliver exceptional client experiences?
How do I reduce admin time in my creative service business?
Why do my workflows keep letting me down (and how do I fix them)?
How can I build a profitable creative business that brings me joy and a paycheck?
What's the best way to communicate with clients throughout their journey?
How do I create systems that work even when I'm not babysitting them?
How can I map my client journey to convert more inquiries into bookings?

Hosted by Colie James, a Dubsado Certified Specialist, Honeybook Educator, and Workflow and Automations Guru with 10+ years helping creatives systemize their businesses—this show delivers practical, no-BS guidance for photographers and creative entrepreneurs who are ready to streamline their client journey, automate their operations, and make money from their craft.

If you're done dropping balls and ready to build a business-first creative operation with systems that scale, you're in the right place.

Find out more about Systems in Session ➡️ https://coliejames.com/systems-in-session