Being a Mom and Business Owner

So, lately my business has been growing.  I am so thankful for that and yet I seem to have been in a rut!  This sort of surprised me as more work is what I had been seeking. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my job!!!  I've been doing a wedding almost every week, family portraits, and doing personal work.

I realized quickly that I needed to set a schedule...

I am passionate about my photography and although I love it, it's not a hobby...it's a business for me.  Yes, I have been pouring every cent back into my business lately ...but even that's about to change.  I do this for my family, to help support us....maybe one day support us entirely.  I have realized that I need to set a schedule,  times where I work and times where I don't.  We are like so many of you...busy.  We home-school, my husband works full time, my kids play sports, we have a big extended family nearby and we are involved in our local church.  When you work from home if you aren't careful working from home can turn into "working all the time from home."

I am sure you have seen the quote floating around facebook lately, "Never get so busy making a living, you forget to make a life!"  It's so true...so with my busier schedule how do I plan to do that you ask???

1. I am investing in outsourcing tasks for my company.  Last week I decided to hire someone to do basic culling and editing of my wedding I shot a few weeks ago.  Although this will take away from my profit, it still will improve my business as I will be able to manage my work and concentrate more on the artistic side of editing rather than sorting and color processing.  In turn, I will be able to serve my clients better AND spend more time with my family - Double bonus :)   There are various other things I plan to outsource but I won't bore you with the details.. but if you are business owner yourself I encourage you to try this with a company/person you trust... if you can!! I don't think you will be sorry! 

2.  I have ONE set night where I work .  I have actually been doing this for a little while and I am glad I have.   I used to stay up really late every night into the wee hours... but not anymore.  Every week, I go to Starbucks on Wednesday nights after hubby gets off of work.  I am usually editing, answering emails, etc.  Sometimes, I do a shoot but I try to reserve this day for editing and office work if needed.

3.  I have tried to implement doing family and portrait sessions on Monday-Thursday.  Since I do at least one wedding a weekend I try to reserve the other weekend days for my family if possible.  This doesn't mean I absolutely WON'T do portrait sessions on the weekends it just means if at all possible I appreciate doing them on the weekdays.  

4.  I share babysitting one day a week with another home-school Mom.  I watch her kids one day and she watches mine the other day...they are all friends and they love it.  It doesn't work out every week but I actually have a few Mom's I do this with, which helps make this work.  This helps me have almost a full work day a week.  Sometimes, I get a ton done and sometimes I don't, but at least I have some uninterrupted hours of work during the day. Then the rest of the weekday is my family's time and I try to return emails/calls after the kids have gone to bed.

I hope this has helped any of you with some ideas on how you can  re-schedule your workflow better and make sure you prioritize what matters most...time with the ones you love.  Our clients are important but it makes us better business owners if we enjoy life...what good is a grumpy burnt out business owner??? :)

Erin + Mike = An Engagement Session at The Chica Boom Room in Downtown, Dunedin

Mike at The Chica Boom Room. Erin at The Chica Boom Room......and.....BOOM!!!  Mike see's Erin across the room...(You can't blame him for noticing her..she is gorgeous!!)

When he first laid his eyes on her...little did he know that years later they would be engaged to marry... or did he??

I was so thrilled when Erin and Mike wanted to head back to that first meeting spot in Downtown Dunedin at The Chica Boom Room because it's so special to them!  I encourage each of my clients to pick a spot to do their session that means something to them :) and I of course love it when they take my advice haha! Back to Mike and Erin... we celebrated their engagement while taking in the beautiful area and snapping some images of this lovely couple.  Thank you Erin and Mike for being so patient and braving the cold and windy weather!  Can't wait for your wedding in a few weeks!

Enjoy just a few of my favorites!

New Beginnings: A Senior Session with Cody Sitton

It took me a long time to even find just a few words to write this blog post but here goes..

Recently, I got the opportunity to take some portraits for my friend Cody Sitton.  I've known Cody since he was knee high to a grasshopper...I think that's the first time I've used that phrase? And...now I feel old!


Whenever I do ANY session I like to bring it all back to my clients.  What do they like to eat, do, wear, go?  For Cody that was easy: He likes to fish, the beach, plays soccer (he's GOOD people!!) and wanted to honor his brother Matt.  Cody's brother died in Afghanistan this past year fighting for our freedom and standing up for his soldiers. So at Cody's request, we incorporated all of that...in the midst of really bad weather and a 102 fever... I think he rocked his session out and I know his brother would be proud! Oh, and not to mention Cody officially singed with the University of Massachusetts, Amherst a few days after our shoot! Thanks for working with me Cody it was such a honor and I know God has great plans for you in your years to come!!

I wouldn't mess with him if I were you!

Matt's initials on his uniform to honor his brother. 

Turning Lemon's into Lemonade and a Florida Wedding: East Bay Country Club - Bryne + Ryan are Married!

When I first talked with Bryne and Ryan I came to find out how much of their meeting was literally a number of perfect coincidences..something only God can create in my opinion.  They met at a job they both didn't like....talk about turning lemons into lemonade!!  Do you ever wonder why you are going through a certain trial in your life and just don't know the purpose!!??  We don't always see the light at the end of the tunnel until later on; it's my guess Ryan saw his light a little sooner then most (pssst...Bryne) and it's no surprise that Bryne was the light of his work day...now she's the light of his day forever and I am sure the feelings mutual :)  

Congrats you two!  It was an absolute pleasure being a part of your special day.  Wishing you many years of happiness and love.  I hope your first married Valentines day is fabulous! Here's my gift to you...some of my favorites from your day! :)  - Melissa

Bride's maid duties sometimes include steaming dresses and bringing sticky tape....just sayin' :)

Bryne made some of her own jewelry...I was super impressed!

Love the sash!

 

Bryne's something blue was this beaded bracelet her grandmother made!

 

 This is Ryan's boutineer held by his mother...I love this and I was so glad we could capture this moment because I think it is so special.

 

Hubby came and took a few shots for me of the guys as a surprise added bonus for Bryne and Ryan!

Don't mess with the father of the bride!!

She is stunning!! No words.

 The MEN!