Episode 258

full
Published on:

16th Nov 2025

Shifting Your Systems as You Pivot in Your Business with Erin Vestal

She was homeschooling her kids, charging less than $300 a session, and running her photography business on pure hustle—until she realized that passion alone wasn’t enough to build the life she wanted. Erin Vestal is one of my former students from the CRM Blueprint, and her journey is one that so many creatives will relate to.

Erin shares her story—from pricing family sessions under $300, to more than doubling her rates, to surpassing her teaching salary (yes, really!). We dig into how she balances homeschooling, launching weddings, outsourcing, refining her offers, and creating work rhythms that actually support her family life—not pull her apart.

Find It Quickly

00:27 - Meet Erin

01:36 - Erin's Journey: From Chaos to Structured Success

04:47 - The Importance of Pricing and Value in Business

08:42 - Balancing Homeschooling and Business

15:05 - Seasonal Photography and Expanding Horizons

21:12 - Venturing into Wedding Photography

22:02 - Discovering the World of Wedding Photography

22:36 - First Wedding Experiences and Realizations

23:22 - Building Systems for Success

23:37 - Marketing and Overcoming Doubts

25:09 - Balancing Family and Business

26:08 - Integrating Different Photography Niches

27:30 - Rebranding and Streamlining

28:10 - Setting Goals and Finding Balance

39:45 - The Importance of Systems

Mentioned in this Episode

CRM Blueprint

Episode 015: Dubsado Case Study with Alison Brett

Marketing Mondays Will Transform Your Business Strategy with Melissa Arlena and Alison Bell

Connect with Erin

Website: erinvestalphotography.com

Instagram: instagram.com/erinvestalphotography

Show artwork for Business-First Creatives

About the Podcast

Business-First Creatives

Every creative deserves to turn their craft into a business that brings them joy and profit. Here you'll find a no-BS approach to what it takes to put the business first, prioritizing the systems and strategies that will actually move the needle and ensure your creative business is profitable rather than an expensive side-hustle. Your host is Colie James, a Disney-loving family photographer, and filmmaker turned Workflow and Automations Guru who helps creative service providers automate their sh*t, reclaim their time and get back to living!