Balancing parenthood and photography: A survival/success guide.
October 3rd, 2024
Does work/life balance even exist when you are both a parent and a photography business owner? This is more than just a job–it’s an all-encompassing pursuit to turn your passion into a career. You are in a perpetual hustle. Off to the next job, off to the next client meeting…spending hours or days in front of the computer editing. And parenting? It is only the most important thing that you will ever do. As a mom of four and a small business owner, I remember feeling like I was always falling short of my business goals and not meeting the expectations I had set for myself as a mom and a partner to my husband. Talk about overwhelming!
Finally, one day, I had to stop. I had to take a huge step back and really evaluate what I wanted for myself, both professionally and personally. And while I realized I couldn’t do or have it all (who knew, right?), I stumbled upon a few strategies that helped me find a little sanity and manage some kind of balance between being a parent and a photographer.
Time management tips:
Let’s face it, time management isn’t a skill that comes naturally to most of us. Sure, some of us have a perfectly penned planner donned with stickers, encouraging quotes, and multicolored tabs, but a lot of us are more likely to put the “pro” in procrastination. The good news? You don’t need to master time travel to learn simple time management strategies that can help you take control of your busy schedule–and never underestimate the difference a good workflow can make.
Prioritize tasks.
You have a lot on your plate, and it’s important to recognize that not everything can be the top priority all at once. Decide which tasks need your immediate attention and which ones can wait. Prioritize tasks by urgency and importance. Tackle the big, high-impact tasks first—it could be delivering a client gallery on time, attending your child’s soccer game, or picking them up from school. These are the priorities that demand your attention and have time constraints. As hard as this can be, don’t be afraid to delegate or (gasp) let some things wait until tomorrow. That unfolded laundry in the basket can wait while you finish up some editing, or make a call to a client.
Learn when to say “No.”
When it comes to running a business, especially one where every session or wedding booked means more income for your family, it is easy to fall into the habit of saying “yes” to every opportunity. But sometimes, saying “no” can be your best friend. If you are primarily a newborn photographer, and that is what you love to shoot, don’t say “yes” to doing a family session just because you were asked. You don’t want to wake up on the day of the session and just dread going–your best work doesn’t come from resentment, it comes from a place of joy and fulfillment. Saying no doesn’t mean you’re failing or falling short, it means you’re prioritizing what matters most to you at the moment—whether it’s a photoshoot or reading a bedtime story and tucking the kids into bed at the end of a long day.
Utilizing time blocks.
Say what now? Focus on just one task at a time? As parents, we’re all used to multitasking, and many of us—especially women—take pride in our ability to juggle numerous responsibilities day after day. But hear me out when I say that time blocking is a time management game changer. Instead of multitasking (which, let’s say it out loud, is sometimes just doing everything a little bit worse), try focusing on one thing at a time.
Break your day into segments—for example, a one-hour block for client emails, a two-hour block for editing, and one block for playing outside with the kids. With this tactic, you’ll be able to give both your client work and your family your full attention when they need it most. Communicating this plan with your family (in an age-appropriate way) and helping them understand why you’re not available at the drop of a hat can also make the use of time blocks more successful.
The myth of work-life balance.
The term “work-life balance” looks great on paper, but let’s be honest—achieving the perfect balance between careers and kids is more of an idyllic myth than a reality, no matter what profession you choose. Keeping work from spilling over into family life and vice versa is a constant struggle. But, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for improvement. By creating a rhythm that works for both your business and your family, you’ll find that you hit a perfectly imperfect equilibrium—most of the time.
Set realistic expectations.
It can be challenging to accept, but as mere mortals, we can’t expect to do everything perfectly every day. That’s okay! Set realistic expectations for your business and your home life. If a client requests a same-day turnaround on edits, but you have a dance recital or soccer game to attend, it’s perfectly okay to let them know in advance that their photos will be delivered the next day. By being upfront, your clients will respect your transparency, and your sanity will thank you later.
Pro tip: Create an FAQ page on your portfolio website that answers common questions like image delivery timelines for your service types. Setting expectations from the very beginning will help these client conversations go smoothly.
Establish routines
Kids thrive on routines, and so does your business. Establish and stick to a daily routine that works for both! Maybe it’s making client calls during nap time, or setting aside those early morning hours for editing while the house is quiet and the coffee is hot. Whatever your routine looks like, having a rhythm helps create a sense of predictability, which can reduce stress (and maybe even temper tantrums—yours or theirs.)
Carve out quality family time.
As much as you love your photography business, as much as it consumes your perpetual inner monologue, family time is irreplaceable. Make sure to create uninterrupted pockets of time to focus entirely on your family. Whether it’s a weekend adventure, a movie night, or simply being present at the dinner table, these moments are where the real memories are made. You don’t want to miss out on them.
Finding creative inspiration in parenthood.
Embrace everyday moments.
Parenting offers a never-ending source of inspiration (or should I say material?), from the chaos at the morning breakfast table to the laziness of a summer afternoon. Even a typical Thursday can become a photo-worthy opportunity to capture the beauty in everyday life. Don’t forget to take pictures of your child doing seemingly ordinary things—playing in the backyard, building a sandcastle at the beach, or even getting into a little mischief. These moments, even the messy ones, evoke a raw emotional response that can keep your photography feeling fresh, real, and timely.
Pro tip: A 365 or 52 day photo project can be the perfect nudge to get creative and capture your everyday moments. If you need some inspiration and accountability, many photographers and online photography communities offer variations with prompts.
Incorporating family into photography projects.
Who says your personal and professional lives need to stay completely separate? As a photographer and a parent, you have the rare opportunity to blend both worlds. Whether it’s going on an adventure to scope out new shoot locations, or turning a family outing into a full-blown mini-session, inviting your kids into your creative professional stratosphere can spark new ideas and bring more depth to your work. Plus, it’s a great way to get some extra time together—even if it involves a little bribery.
Exploring new perspectives.
Instead of seeing your photography business and family time as opposing priorities that are constantly competing, what if you shifted your perspective a little? Try seeing them as complementary parts of your life. Your business allows you to provide for your family, and your family can inspire more creativity in your business and your work. While you don’t necessarily want to melt them together entirely, embrace the idea that fulfillment in one area doesn’t have to come at the expense of the other. Beside the obvious opportunities to photograph your family, tween and teen children may enjoy coming along to a session as an assistant, holding your reflectors, taking bts video with your phone, or making silly faces with smaller kids to make them laugh.
Building a supportive community:
Find other photographer-parents.
If you’re feeling like you might be the only one on the island trying to juggle naps or sports schedules with client meetings, think again. There’s a whole wide world of us photographer-parents out here, facing the same kinds of conundrums. Reaching out and connecting with them through local gatherings, online forums, or even social media can provide invaluable support, guidance, and even empathy. Trust me, most of us can relate to those 1 AM editing marathons—sometimes it’s the only quiet time we get!
Share tips and resources.
One of the best parts of being part of a caring community of creatives is the resource-sharing that comes along with it. You might stumble upon some new editing shortcuts or helpful tips from another photog for staying sane during the busy season. You may have a trick or two up your sleeve too, so don’t hesitate to share your tried and true life hacks.
One place for everything from proofing to selling.
Share and sell your photos directly from mobile-friendly, interactive online galleries designed to impress your clients–and integrated workflows that allow you more time away from your computer.
Seek support during challenging times.
In reality, you may have all of these tools at your disposal, but some days just don’t go according to plan. Maybe your client backed out of a session at the last possible minute, or your toddler is having a major tantrum right before you have to leave for a big shoot. Life happens, and that’s okay (deep breath.) Especially on these really tough days, lean on your community for help. Whether it’s venting to another photographer and talking things out, swapping child-watching duties with a nearby friend on school holidays, or asking your partner to take over bedtime duties for a night, asking for support is a strength, not a weakness.
Professional development.
Even as a busy working parent, it’s still possible to continue honing photography skills that will help you grow and manage your business. Virtual workshops, online classes, and webinars allow you to stay on top of the latest changes in the industry and will help inspire you to experiment with new techniques without stepping outside your home. Additionally, networking and connecting with your industry creatives is important too! The occasional in-person get-together, a virtual event, or welcoming, friendly social media groups are great ways to stay connected with fellow professionals and foster collaborative and supportive relationships.
As a parent, finding harmony between your business and family life can feel like you are fighting a constant battle, but it’s important to remember that balance isn’t a picture-perfect state of being. There will be ups and downs—every season of life brings its highs and lows. It’s okay to give yourself a little grace. When you allow yourself to move with those ebbs and flows, you’ll find that even the messy things will all fall into place.
When you get overwhelmed, remember that Zenfolio is here to help lighten the load with tools that will improve your workflow, giving you more time back to do what you love—whether that’s spending quality time with your family or putting in more hours behind the camera. Hey, you’ve got this–you’re not alone on this crazy journey, and I promise, everything will work out just fine.
