Balancing Motherhood and a Career as a Colorado Wedding Photographer

Balancing Motherhood and a Career as a Wedding Photographer

Being a mom of young kids is a rewarding and demanding role on its own. When you add a career as a wedding photographer in Colorado into the mix, finding a balance can be challenging. However, with careful planning, time management, and self-care, it is possible to thrive both as a mom and a wedding photographer. I’m often asked how I do it all (which, lets be honest - do dads ever get that question? But, that’s a topic for another time).

Set Boundaries and Prioritize

Setting boundaries and knowing your priorities is crucial to finding balance. Identify your non-negotiables as a mom and as a wedding photographer. Determine the times and days when you are fully present for your children and establish specific working hours for photography. Communicate these boundaries to your family, clients, and colleagues, so they understand and respect your schedule.

I currently have set “admin hours” Tuesdays before noon, and Fridays after noon. Obviously I work outside those hours but having a set time that I’ll do timelines, respond to emails, have client calls etc. really helps with my scheduling and stress levels.

Create a Schedule and Stick to It

Creating a schedule can help you manage your time effectively. Set aside dedicated blocks of time for your photography work, family time, and self-care. Ensure you have a good balance between work and personal life. During your work time, stay focused and be efficient to make the most of the time you have. When you're with your children, give them your full attention and create meaningful moments together.

I have a gym membership where I can take my littles to day care or play with them at the pool. We also utilize trampoline park memberships and museums to make sure the time I spend with my family is full of fun and even educational components.

Delegate and Ask for Help

Recognize that you can't do everything alone. Seek support from your partner, family members, or trusted friends. Delegate tasks that can be outsourced or ask for help with childcare when needed. Having a strong support system can alleviate some of the overwhelm and give you the space and time to focus on your photography career and spend quality time with your kids.

This is genuinely where I struggle the most - firstly, my husband and I both have our own businesses so it’s a difficult balance of “whose time is more valuable.” We struggled with scheduling, budget and child care balance until we sat down and made a list of tasks and delegated out the big ones. My biggest advice for couples dealing with a self employment or house management issue is to look into Fair Play Method - there are games, books and documentaries about it.

Practice Self-Care

Self-care is essential for maintaining your well-being and managing the demands of motherhood and a career. Set aside time for self-care activities that recharge and replenish your energy, such as exercising, meditating, reading, or pursuing hobbies outside of photography. Prioritizing self-care not only benefits you but also allows you to be a better mom and photographer. To prevent burn out I’ve picked up new hobbies (Important note: you do NOT need to monetize all your hobbies, they can be for fun - try that before you just try to make money)

Streamline and Automate Your Workflow

Finding ways to streamline and automate your photography workflow can save you precious time. Utilize tools that help you manage client communication, automate social media posting, or streamline editing and album design processes. By optimizing your workflow, you can create more efficiency and free up time for other aspects of your life.

I use Honeybook for my workflows and customer management, click here for 25% off.

Learn to Embrace Flexibility and Adaptability

Being a mom and a wedding photographer requires flexibility and adaptability. Understand that not everything will always go according to plan, and unexpected challenges may arise. Learn to embrace flexibility and be willing to adjust your schedule and expectations as needed. Having a positive and adaptive mindset will help you navigate the demands of both roles.

When things get tough and balancing both roles feels overwhelming, remind yourself why you chose to become a wedding photographer and a mom. Keep your purpose and passion in mind as motivation to push through challenges and find joy in both your photography career and motherhood journey.

Finding balance between being a mom to young kids and pursuing a career as a wedding photographer is a constant juggling act. By setting boundaries, creating a schedule, asking for help, practicing self-care, streamlining workflows, and embracing flexibility, you can find harmony in both roles. Remember, finding balance is personal, and it may take time to find what works best for you and your family. With patience, perseverance, and a supportive mindset, you can thrive as both a mom and a wedding photographer.

P.S Thank you to Courtney Jewell for taking these adorable photos :)

Five Things to Consider Before Changing Careers | By Colorado Wedding Photographer Molly Margaret Photography

When I made the decision to leave my corporate job in insurance claims to pursue wedding photography, I’ll admit I was excited and terrified at the same time. I had spent 7 years with my previous employer and felt almost as though I was just abandoning my life plan. 

I started my corporate career with ambitions of management, power suits and high level meetings. After changing departments, going through promotions and then starting a family I began to realize my aspirations had changed. I stressed hearing my work phone ring, struggled to balance social time in my office and constant stories full of negatives took over my home and work life. 

I started taking photos in high school after observing my grandfather and mother constantly capturing our moments at home. For my 15th birthday my brother purchased me photoshop and my first digital camera. ‘It’s this or drivers-ed,’ he said to me. From then on, I depended on friends and public transportation for rides a lot more but the creative in me flourished. After giving birth to my son 10 years later I upgraded my equipment again and people began asking me for photos of their families as well. I came to love weddings through natural progression and never looked back. 

So here are the five things to consider before working from home:

1. It’s insanely lonely | I spend my days listening to podcasts or with Netflix streaming because the silence is almost deafening. I loved talking to coworkers (ok, maybe too much) and trips to get coffee or donuts in the break room just cannot be replaced.

2. You really become part of a unique community | How often do you and your coworkers get together now? Every week, month? Quarterly? The beauty of creatives is there are always events to attend, masterminds to delve into, groups to engage with and marketing lunches. I was intimidated to list “photographer” as my job description (hello - just updated my LinkedIn like a week ago) until I realized the massive community that thrives being just that, and so much more! 

3. Your family life and personal relationships change | I just planned a trip to Wisconsin with no worries as to putting in for time off or letting several people know I won’t be in the office. I make my own schedule and can accommodate any work needed on the road - or just put up an away message and disconnect for the weekend. After my son was struck with an illness I didn’t need to worry about being written up for having used too much sick time, I was simply able to make adjustments to my schedule and devote my time to making him better. 

On the opposite end of this spectrum however, you are responsible for your schedule and sometimes that means working from 11pm to 1am so you can spend extra time during the day with your little ones or turning down those ladies nights for events you’re either working or attending. 

4. Your creative path may change - and that’s ok | When I quit my corporate job I had a clear and concise plan of what I wanted to do and where I saw my business in a year. Then things changed. When you’re running your own business there are more influences than just the occasional schedule change or flight for a work training. Having structure is crucial to success but you’ll soon realize your initial path isn’t working, fulfilling you, or heck, even paying your bills. You’ll need to know how to be flexible and reevaluate. 

5. Taxes, insurance, cost of doing business, personal finances, life insurance and disability insurance | I was lucky enough to have a financial advisor husband who helped exponentially prior to me leaving my job but I hear about entrepreneurs and business owners struggling with this almost weekly. Setting up insurance, a savings plan and having a realistic idea of what taxes and your business will cost to run is crucial to - how do I put this lightly - not fall flat on your face in your first year of business independently. 

So, is the transition to creative the right path for you? If you read this list and were like - well that sounds like the worst thing, ever. Maybe it isn’t - for now. For those of you who literally end this with the thought ‘shut up and take my money,’ well then, I’ll see you at the next creative meet up.