Next workshop starts the week of June 23:
When the money gets weird: Writing payment terms that avoid awkward conversations
Write clear payment terms that protect your cash flow and reduce ambiguity by spelling out how deposits, late fees, installments, and cancellations work.
This isn’t about being difficult.
It’s about protecting your business.
Shield Your Studio is a practical, focused workshop series designed to help creative business owners build contracts they can stand behind.
You’ll learn how to write clear, client-friendly language that supports your values and your workflow, without sounding mean or confrontational.
- We’ll focus on one contract challenge at a time.
- Pre-recorded materials on Monday, live Q&A on Friday.
- Purchase a single workshop or the whole series.
The Workshop Lineup
- Week of June 9: Get It in Writing: Building a client contract that protects you
This session walks through the essential sections every creative contract should include. It also shows how the format of your contract can improve client relationships from the start. - Week of June 23: When the Money Gets Weird: Writing payment terms that avoid awkward conversations
This session covers deposits, late fees, installment plans, and project cancellations. You’ll learn to write clear payment terms that protect your cash flow and reduce ambiguity. - Week of July 7: When Clients Ghost or Push Boundaries: What your contract can do about it
You shouldn’t absorb the cost of delayed feedback, disappearing clients, or endless revisions. Learn how to use your contract to reinforce timelines, protect you from overdelivering, and maintain momentum on every project. - Week of July 21: Don’t Blame Your Biz: Writing refund and rescheduling policies that align with your values
Last-minute refund or reschedule requests don’t need to derail your business. Learn how to write policies that are clear, enforceable, and reflective of how you actually work. - Week of August 4: That’s My Work: Who owns what when you get paid to create
Understand how to protect your creative work with clear licensing and ownership clauses. You’ll learn how to define rights clearly and confidently, without giving up control. - Week of August 25: You’re Booked Out—Now What? Creating a business that’s sustainable, profitable, and legally sound
You’ll learn how to structure your business for growth, including what legal systems and support you need as your workload increases. This session helps you stop duct-taping new clauses onto an outdated process.
Want to join the next session?
Your contract isn’t just paperwork.
It’s a boundary-setting tool.
What you’ll walk away with:
- A contract that reflects how you actually work
- Payment terms that prevent confusion and protect your cash flow
- Clear, values-based policies for scope, cancellations, and deliverables
- Clear boundaries you can enforce without guilt
- Systems that prevent burnout, not just bad clients
- Language that’s professional, collaborative, and clear, and still sounds like you
- The confidence to say, “It’s in the contract,” without guilt or apology
Join Shield Your Studio
Choose the format that fits how you work, and get support at every level.
Single Workshop
$39/each
(Best if you’re focused on one contract challenge)
Pick the workshop(s) of your choice and get access to that workshop’s materials and live session.
Get It in Writing
When Clients Ghost or Push Boundaries
That’s My Work
When the Money Gets Weird
Don’t Blame Your Biz
You’re Booked Out—Now What?
All-Access Pass
$165
(Best if your contract needs a refresh)
Get access to all six workshops, materials, and live sessions.
the artist’s Courtyard
$135/quarter
(Best if you want ongoing support past this summer)
Everything in the All-Access Pass, plus dozens of business courses, legal resources, templates, and weekly calls with me!
Why join the artist’s Courtyard?
When you join the artist’s Courtyard, you’re not just getting a front-row seat to Shield Your Studio. You’re getting year-round support for running a creative business with stronger systems and smarter boundaries.
This is not a place to collect templates and leave. It’s designed for creative professionals who are building businesses that last.
No jargon. No overwhelm. Just practical tools, thoughtful strategy, and clear language.
Included in your membership:
- Access to all six Shield Your Studio workshops
- A library of self-paced business and legal courses
- Scripts, templates, guides, and additional resources
- Weekly office-hours-style calls for ongoing support
- A community of peers working toward the same goals
- A space that supports how you want to run your business
Frequently Asked Questions
I already have a contract. Do I still need this?
If you hesitate to send your contract, struggle to explain it, or regularly revise it to make it work, these workshops are for you. You’ll learn how to write stronger language that supports your boundaries and reflects your real process.
I don’t have a contract yet. Do I need one before I take these workshops?
No. These workshops are a great place to start if you don’t yet have a contract in place.
Each session will help you understand what your contract needs to say, why it matters, and how to write it in a way that supports how you actually work.
If you’d prefer to start from a ready-made foundation, there’s an optional contract template available during checkout. It includes the key clauses we cover in the series and is written specifically for creative service businesses. You’ll be able to tailor it as you move through each workshop.
Is this legal advice?
No. These workshops are for education, not legal counsel. They’ll help you understand your options and write stronger documents. And they’ll help you ask better questions when you do work with an attorney.
What if I can’t attend live?
All workshops and live sessions are recorded. You can submit your questions in advance of the live session and review the replay at your own pace.
Can I buy just one workshop?
Yes. You can register for any workshop individually or purchase the full series. If you want access to additional resources and ongoing support, membership in the artist’s Courtyard is the best option.
The workshop I want has already happened, can I still buy it? Or can I still buy the All-Access Pass?
Yes! If you want access to a workshop that’s already happened, you can still purchase it individually or buy the All-Access Pass. After your purchase, you’ll get an email with instant access to the workshop materials and live session recording. You’ll also be able to leave any questions you have in the workshop comments.
Can I expense this through my business?
Most creative professionals categorize this as a business development or continuing education expense. Please confirm with your accountant.
Meet your guide
I’m Kiffanie Stahle, a licensed attorney since 2011 and the founder of the artist’s J.D., a place designed to add ease to the legalese of running a creative business.
I work exclusively with independent artists, designers, and service-based creatives who want legal tools that respect their work and protect their time. I believe that business boundaries and contract language should be clear, collaborative, and aligned with your values, not copied and pasted from someone else’s process.
Through the artist’s J.D. and the membership community, the artist’s Courtyard, I’ve helped thousands of creatives move from “I hope this works” to “I know I’m covered.”
You won’t find fear-based tactics here. Just thoughtful structure, useful scripts, and plain-English guidance from your friendly legal eagle.
Ready to stop rewriting your contract every time a new client signs on?
Whether you’re overwhelmed, unsure, or just tired of adjusting your policies on the fly, Shield Your Studio helps you build a client contract that works, and a business that respects your time.
If you want this summer to end with less client chaos and more clarity, now’s the time to join.