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Episode 303

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Published on:

9th Apr 2026

How to Set Up Systems for a Brand New Service (Before You Get Clients) with Anthea Proudfoot

Here's some advice to business owners (new and established): stop waiting until you’re overwhelmed to build your systems. In this episode, I sit down with Anthea Proudfoot to talk about how she built out her entire CRM and client experience instead of Systems in Session before she had a steady stream of clients.

It can be complicated to retrofit your processes into your business later, after you've gotten busy and overwhelmed. In this episode, we talk about what it really looks like to build a high-touch, automated client experience from scratch, how she completed her systems in just 30 days, and why her clients are already raving—even as a newer business owner.

Find It Quickly

00:24 - Meet Anthea

00:56 - Why Start With CRM

05:01 - Systems in Session

08:36 - Organic Marketing Wins

10:02 - Inquiry Form Strategy

14:36 - Clients Experience

18:21 - The Client Proposal & Booking

20:10 - Post Booking Experience Portal

22:32 - Custom Systems Philosophy

23:38 - Session Reminder Automation

25:46 - Six Month System Tweaks

30:11 - Favorite Feature Workflows

33:41 - Automated Yet Personal Touch

34:51 - Testimonial Form Strategy

36:56 - Questionnaire Photos Planning

38:45 - Why She Chose Systems in Session

Mentioned in this Episode

Systems in Session

Connect with Anthea

Website: malonephotography.au

Instagram: instagram.com/malone_photography_au

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Show artwork for Business-First Creatives

About the Podcast

Business-First Creatives
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