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 client 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

How to Automate Client Communication Without Losing a High-Touch Photography Client Experience with Ina Jalil