As a mom of three with another little one on the way, my most often asked question, ‘How do you do it all?’”
Honestly, 98% of the time I am asking myself the same question!
When I graduated college with a degree to become a teacher, never in my wildest dreams did I consider not seeing that through to retirement. In my head, I was going to be a teacher until the end of time. Photography was merely a creative outlet, a fun passion I never gave second thought to as a career. To be honest, I didn’t even know where one would begin a business as a photographer.
Flash forward to after the birth of our first son (who is now SIX!), and my husband introduced the idea to me with a simple, “start charging people for your photos.” And that’s exactly all I did. I posted a $50 photoshoot call on my Facebook and had a few people respond back. And from there, the rest is history!
Boy, when I say it like that, it sure makes it sound like the sleepless nights and countless hours spent crying from stress, frustration, and over-exhaustion didn’t exist. But they sure did! Balancing motherhood, a full-time job as a teacher, and starting a business from scratch often led to working late into the night after the kids were asleep, working through lunch breaks, and finding any last bit of time to squeeze things in.
(I really felt like you all deserved some photoshoot outtakes because if this doesn’t scream juggling motherhood, I don’t know what does!)
After nine years of teaching, I made the bold decision to pursue my passion for photography full-time. For me, this wasn’t just about leaving a job; it was about following a dream that went beyond just taking photos. It was about creating something that was entirely mine. It was about working for myself. It was about taking back control of my time and pouring into my family again. It was about giving something to others by standards that I controlled.
My journey is more than just a personal success story of a mom of three that started her own business and made it. It’s about empowering and inspiring others who are wearing the same shoes I was just a few months ago. I aim to create a space where women feel seen and validated as individuals with dreams and ambitions that are out of this fucking world.
Over time, I’ve learned that empowerment comes from mutual support and shared experiences. I’ve learned that vulnerability is key to growth and success. Join me in building a community where we laugh, relax, and inspire each other to be the main characters that we are!
Looking back on how far I’ve come over the last six years, I’ve realized that what once seemed impossible was really just a series of small, determined steps. If you’re wondering or feeling doubt that you can manage it all, let me be your living proof. You can, and my biggest piece of advice to you is…
JUST START. You don’t have to know how to start, where you’re going, or even what to do. You can learn all those things along the way. But go all in from the start. Don’t let whatever it is be a “side hustle” or something you’re “trying out”. You’ll move with that energy and mindset. Instead, give it all you got from the jump- so THAT’S the energy you move with. That this ‘thing’ has no option to fail.
I’d love to hear your stories and challenges. Share with us your successes or what’s holding you back. Let’s connect and grow together!
I love your honesty & realness because it really does help me feel less alone when I’m struggling so manage my own 4 kids, job & marriage too! You know my own internal struggles with wanting to figure out a way to start my own business so that I can also be at home more with my kids. I could really use some tips on how to pick a specific idea out of my millions of ideas for new business plans and then how to best market the business.
Juggling it all can be super overwhelming! We’ll get you a business going so you can be home more with those babies!