My little insight from my own experience about running a photography business. At home. With kids! - Albury-Wodonga family photography

I started this little business of mine about 18 months ago, on a whim. I was at home with 2 kids, bored and wondering what I was going to do next. I hadn't worked since I was pregnant with my first. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go back into the industry I was in. I wasn't sure if I should do more study in another area. Then a couple of (very kind) friends suggested that I start a photography business - I possibly laughed in their faces! But those couple of small comments set a seed, and over a few months of quietly thinking about it decided 'what the hell, why not? What have I got to lose?'

I'm glad I didn't over think it. I'm also glad I didn't realise how much I had still to improve, and how much I had to learn!!

Anyway, so here I am a little more wiser and experienced and I thought I'd write this little blog post about running a business from home. With kids.

This is not a whinge post. Or a woe-is-me post. I love my business. I love my kids. Some days are just a little crazier and busier than others! Pretty sure we all know that feeling.

When I first started to get enquiries from people wanting to know more about booking a session. I used to try to write a response as soon as they came in, regardless of what I was doing - and to the detriment of both everyone and everything around me and the quality of the email I was writing! That was a little easier when it was all still new and not too busy. Now, not that I'm flat out all the time, but I do get enquiries at random times of the day and night, some times via email, sometimes via Instagram. I've learnt that for my sanity, my kids sanity, my partners sanity and everyone around me, that it's much better off if I dedicate time to sit down at my computer and give each and every enquiry a quality response. Some days, that might mean I just don't get that opportunity! And I apologise. But well, kids happen. Stuff happens. Appointments happen. And some days pure exhaustion happens and I just don't get to them that day. And some days I don't get to them the next day either. But I will, and I do.

Same goes for following up on invoices. I have a very nifty booking system, which some of you have noticed sends out a little payment reminder if a payment hasn't been made. And sometimes I need to log into it to check off that in fact a payment has been made. Some days I don't get to that either. So some days you might receive that little reminder email that you haven't paid, when in fact you have. I apologise. Again. 

I also have all those photos to edit... and a website to maintain. And social media to try to keep on top of. And BAS statements to figure out...

This little business of mine is just me. At home. I run this whole thing by myself. I have 2 days where both my girls are at school and preschool to try to get as much done without interruptions. On those other 5 days of the week I'll be doing bits and pieces during the day while my kids are busy doing something else. I also sit on a preschool committee as president, I help out in my daughters classroom one morning a week, I have appointments I have to get to some days, I also have shopping, and washing, and general house stuff, and well - my kids! They need a fair amount of my time too!! Some days I'm up until very late at night when the house is quiet when I know I can dedicate hours to my business without interruption.

So, if you're waiting to hear back from me, or wondering why you're getting an invoice reminder. It's probably just because I've had a busy few days. By all means, shoot me through an email to check if I've received your payment or email - sometimes I need a little reminding too! But I do eventually get to all those tasks!

I'll leave you with some personal photos from a recent family holiday to the beach!