Ever find yourself rewriting the same email… for the 47th time? 🙃 This episode is your permission slip to stop winging it and start winning with strategic, automated email systems.

I’m joined by the brilliant Colie James — systems strategist, filmmaker, and email template queen — and she’s here to help you transform your client communication from chaos to clarity. We talk about how to set up automations that feel human, save hours of admin time, and actually wow your clients from first inquiry to final delivery.

Whether you’re a photographer, creative service provider, or business owner tired of copy-paste stress, this episode will show you how to work smarter with emails that do the heavy lifting for you.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why your email systems might be silently sabotaging your client experience

• Colie’s favorite tools (Dubsado, HoneyBook, Airtable!) and how she uses them

• Ways to make email automations feel personal, not robotic

• The most important emails every creative should automate

• How to get off the rewrite hamster wheel and build trust from the inbox

• Why automations = more freedom, not less heart

Colie James is a Disney-loving Client Experience Systems Strategist, family filmmaker, and the host of the Business-First Creatives podcast. With over 12 years in the creative space, she’s helped hundreds of photographers and creative business owners ditch duct-taped systems and build smooth, sustainable workflows. Whether through Dubsado, HoneyBook, or Airtable, Colie’s genius lies in making backend systems feel effortless and emails feel like a warm hug (that also gets paid).

When she’s not mapping automations or recording spicy solo episodes, Colie’s probably at Disneyland with a Dole Whip in hand, hanging out with her husband James and daughter Chloe.

Want to fix your emails for real? Colie’s mini-course + template bundle Email Like You Mean It is the ultimate resource to turn your client experience emails into strategic, automated magic. 👉 Get the bundle at coliejames.com/email-like-you-mean-it and use code BRITTNIE for 10% off!

Because your client experience deserves better than copy-paste chaos.

📣 CTA (Call to Action): Loved this episode? Screenshot and tag us on Instagram with your biggest takeaway. Don’t forget to check out Colie’s course and start emailing like the pro you are. And as always, leave a review if you’re loving the show — it helps more creative mamas find the calm in their chaos!

Links Mentioned: Email Like You Mean It – Save 10% with code BRITTNIE Follow Colie on Instagram Colie’s Website Colie's YouTube

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Shop the planner: Capture the Chaos Planner

If you’ve ever felt like you’re winging it when it comes to your client communication, this episode is for you. I’m chatting with Natasha Sewell—photographer, educator, and queen of a smooth client journey—about how upgrading your client experience isn’t just about being “extra,” it’s about creating trust, loyalty, and ease (for you and them).

We also dive into one of my favorite topics: using AI tools (like ChatGPT!) to help you streamline emails, prep your clients, and feel like you have a tiny personal assistant in your back pocket. This episode will leave you inspired to simplify, serve well, and maybe even rewrite that stale welcome email you’ve been ignoring since 2022.

• What Natasha realized was missing from her client experience—and how she fixed it

• Why your process is your brand (even more than your website or logo)

• The sneaky ways poor communication might be costing you referrals and repeat clients

• How to use AI to elevate—not replace—your voice and systems

• A few easy prompts to help clients feel prepared and confident

• The ripple effect a strong experience has on your entire business

Natasha Sewell launched her photography business in 2013, combining her background in teaching with her love of documenting real-life family moments. After moving and transitioning to in-home newborn and family photography, Natasha now mentors fellow photographers to build thriving, client-centered businesses. She’s passionate about education, continuous growth, and helping creatives create systems that feel as beautiful as their work looks.

• Free AI Prompts to Prep Your Clients

• The Client Experience Blueprint Course

• The Focused Path Retreat

• Follow Natasha: @npsphotography

Loved this episode? Screenshot and tag us @capturethechaosplanner and @npsphotography so we can cheer you on! And don’t forget to check out Natasha’s freebie—because yes, AI can actually make your client experience easier, smoother, and more professional.

Client experience for photographers, AI in photography business, photography client workflows, creative business systems, Natasha Sewell, client prep prompts, photography education

Running a business while your kids are home for the summer? It’s a beautiful mess. In today’s episode, I'm sharing what it really looks like to work from home during summer break, with everything from tattling and snack requests to the sweet moments of quiet time that actually stick.

You’ll hear how we’re easing into our own summer rhythm (yes, there have been interruptions), plus practical tips for managing your day, whether you’ve got toddlers who need constant attention or big kids who thrive with structure. We’re covering independent play, age-appropriate routines, and simple systems to help you get stuff done without losing your mind.

You can run your business and enjoy summer with your kids. Let’s talk about how.

• How to help little kids play independently so you can focus (even for 15 minutes)

• Ways to co-create structure with older kids (and get their buy-in!)

• Sample daily rhythm ideas that support everyone in the house

• Mindset shifts that ease the pressure to “do it all”

• A gentle reminder: One thing done each day is a win in summer mode

• Thriving Through Summer Workshop – A flexible planning workshop for moms who want structure and sanity this summer

• Capture the Chaos Planner – Designed for real-life rhythms and grace-filled structure

If this episode encouraged you…

Take a screenshot, share it on IG Stories, and tag me @brittnierenee.co. I love seeing how you’re capturing the chaos.

And if you’re loving the podcast, leave a review! It helps more mamas find this space and feel less alone in the mess.

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Summer break is thisclose and if you’re anything like me, you're torn between dreaming of slow mornings and already dreading the snack raids and sibling fights. If you’re a mom trying to keep your house and your business from falling apart while everyone’s home 24/7... this episode is your pre-summer pep talk and planning session.

Today I’m sharing exactly how I’m prepping our home, mindset, and rhythms to make summer feel a little less chaotic and a lot more calm. From decluttering the “junk mail counter” to setting realistic expectations with my kids, I’m walking you through what I’m doing right now to make this season smoother.

PLUS... if you’re craving some extra support, you have to check out my upcoming summer workshop, Thriving Through Summer. It’s grace-filled, practical, and totally designed for moms like you.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How I reflect on what worked (and didn’t) last summer to prep this one

• The “overwhelm zones” I’m tackling before the kids are home full-time

• What’s in our summer stock-up stash (including swimsuits, sunscreen, and sanity-savers)

• The bucket list convo I have with my kids—and how we build a loose rhythm together

• Why it’s okay if you haven’t planned a thing yet (spoiler: I didn’t start until mid-June last year!)

Join the Summer Workshop! ✨ Thriving Through Summer – June 4th ✨ A simple, grace-filled workshop to help you build a flexible summer rhythm that works for your real life—not the Pinterest version.

You’ll walk away with: ✅ A personalized weekly flow ✅ Mindset shifts to release the pressure ✅ Margin for both work and play (yes, even with kids home!)

Grab your spot here → [Insert Flodesk Link]

🎟 Only $22, or upgrade to VIP for more support!

Let's Connect: Screenshot this episode and tag me @brittnierenee_co—tell me your biggest summer prep struggle or the one thing you’re so ready to do this break!

summer with kids, summer planning for moms, working mom summer tips, thrive in summer, mom life summer prep, summer rhythms for families, planning with kids home

If you’ve ever created a perfectly color-coded schedule only to abandon it by Tuesday, this one’s for you. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on why traditional time management often fails, especially for Type B, ADHD, multi-tasking mamas, and what to do instead. We're talking about time stewardship: a grace-filled, purpose-driven way to spend your time without the pressure to be perfect. It’s not about control, it’s about intention, rhythms, and flexibility. Pour a cup of coffee and join me for a chat that might just change the way you plan your days.

• The real reason time management doesn’t work for moms and creatives

• Why “after this week it’ll calm down” is a lie we keep believing

• The story of my Great Tuesday Meltdown (aka the peanut butter floor moment)

• What time stewardship actually means—and why it’s more freeing than control

• How to create a planning rhythm that supports your life instead of suffocating it

• Simple daily, weekly, and monthly check-ins to realign without starting from scratch

🗂️ Capture the Chaos Planner – Built-in daily Top 3 priorities to support time stewardship (now 20% off!) → www.capturethechaos.com

📥 Free Checkpoint Planning Download – Reset when life feels out of control → Grab yours here

Other episodes in this series:

126 - How C.H.A.O.S. Habits Keep You Grounded on the Most Chaotic Days 131 - Simple Weekly Planning System 132 - How to Reset Your Routine When Life Feels Out of Control( 134 - When You Feel Like You Suck at Setting Goals (Here’s What to Try Instead)

Start with a daily check-in: → Ask: What matters most today? → Then: Pick your Top 3 priorities and let the rest go.

If this episode gave you a little “aha” moment (or made you feel less alone), leave a quick review and share it with a fellow chaos-managing mama. It helps more women like us find rhythms that fit, and it seriously makes my day.

time stewardship, flexible planning, ADHD mom routines, chaos to calm, daily check-in system, planner that bends not breaks, managing time as a creative, sustainable rhythms, purpose-driven time, intentional planning

Goal setting can feel like a joke when you’re a busy mom, creative entrepreneur, or honestly, just a human living in 2025. You want to set goals that stick, but between the chaos of everyday life and the pressure to “do it all,” it’s easy to give up by February (or never set them at all). In this episode, I’m sharing why traditional goal setting often fails and walking you through my B.A.L.A.N.C.E. Goal Framework—a flexible method to set goals that align with your real life. Plus, there’s a free workbook to help you actually do the dang thing.

• Why your goal-setting system isn’t “broken”—it’s just not working with your life

• The sneaky trap of setting goals “just to go bigger”

• How to build grace-filled goals that evolve with your season

• My 7-part B.A.L.A.N.C.E. goal method

• Tiny steps you can take this week to reconnect with a goal you care about

• A free workbook to help you stay aligned, not overwhelmed

Grab the B.A.L.A.N.C.E. Goal Workbook Set goals that actually stick with a printable or Notion version you can use again and again.

Read it on the blog here

Capture the Chaos Planner — now 20% off This isn’t about perfection, it’s about building rhythms that work with your messy, beautiful life. Includes access to our monthly community call → Grab Your Planner

If this episode gave you a new perspective or just made you feel seen—share it with a friend and leave a quick review! It helps more overwhelmed-but-dreaming mamas find the show and feel like they’re not alone in the messy middle.

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Ever felt like you're standing in the messy middle, waiting for a sign that everything's going to be okay? (Same, friend. Same.) In today’s episode, we’re talking about what it really looks like to trust God when you can’t see the whole plan—and why trying to micromanage the outcome might be the very thing holding you back. (Ouch, I know. Preaching to myself here too.)

You'll hear a few personal stories, some soul-hugging encouragement, a reminder that God is moving even when it feels like He’s on silent mode, and a few simple steps to practice faith today — not just "someday."

Plus, we’ll sprinkle in Scripture (aka God’s love notes) and a little deserted island story that might just stick with you the next time you’re tempted to miss the lifeboat He’s sending. 🚣‍♀️

If you're feeling stuck, anxious, or like you're carrying the whole future on your back... this one's for you.

• Why it's so hard to not micromanage God (and why He doesn't need an assistant, LOL)

• How to recognize when you're trying to control what you can't control

• The real meaning of faith in action (hint: it’s not just sitting still)

• Scriptures that anchor your heart when life feels fuzzy and uncertain

• A practical step you can take today to live with more trust and less tight-grip control

• Proverbs 3:5-6 — "Trust in the Lord with all your heart..."

• Isaiah 55:8-9 — "For my thoughts are not your thoughts..."

• 2 Corinthians 5:7 — "For we live by faith, not by sight."

If this episode gave your heart a little exhale, would you take a sec to leave a review or share it with a friend? You never know who might need this reminder today. Screenshot and tag me @brittnierenee so I can send you a giant virtual hug!

🔗 LINKS:

• Capture the Chaos Planner

• Instagram: @brittnierenee_co

• Website: www.brittnierenee.com

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