What if automation didn’t make your client experience feel colder, but actually made it feel more personal? In this episode, I’m sitting down with Ina Jalil, a pet photographer who specializes in high-touch, full-service photography for dog lovers. When Ina joined my Email Like You Mean It live sprint, it became clear almost immediately that her business was the perfect example of something so many photographers wrestle with: how do you automate communication when your process is deeply personal, intentional, and customized?
Ina walks us through how she built an in-person consultation model for her pet photography business, why that shift improved both client understanding and sales, and how email still plays a critical role in keeping clients engaged between touch points. We also talk about the “messy middle” of the client journey, the silent gaps that hurt momentum, and why even seasoned photographers need to revisit their workflows from time to time.
Find It Quickly
01:49 - Meet Ina
02:50 - Why In Person Consults
08:52 - Scheduling and Studio Sales
11:43 - Email Automation Role
14:09 - Filling the Messy Middle
19:31 - Custom Templates That Feel Personal
22:03 - VA Workflows and CRM Notes
26:15 - Post Session Education and Sales
35:45 - Sprint Results and Three Ps
Mentioned in this Episode
How to Transform Your Pet Photography Client Experience with Colie James
Email Like You Mean It
Connect with Ina
Website: inajphotography.com
Education: inajphotography.com/for-photographers
Skool community: Pet Photographers Collective
Instagram: @inajphotography
Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo
Podcast: The Pet Photographer's Journal
