What it means to be a small business owner and mom.
It means constantly having a tier of priority. I want to be the best mom, business woman, wife, and friend- but I just can’t wear that many hats at one time. Eventually, one of those categories will have to be put on the back burner, and more times than not, it’s not the business that suffers.
When I finish a session, I come home tell my daughters that I can’t play. I have to go straight to the computer to upload the photos, plan out my marketing strategy, go over bills, respond to emails and inquiries, and all the while, I am interrupted by my girls asking when I can come play.
The guilt is heavy. Guilty for not being a present enough mom, the mom that can plan out fun activities, crafts and play dates. Guilty for having to cancel yet another get together with a girlfriend. Guilty for not putting my laundry away for the third week in a row. Guilty for editing instead of sitting down for dinner with my husband.
Or, I could choose to do those things… then there’s the other guilt. Guilty for not responding to an inquiry fast enough. Guilty for taking a day longer to get a gallery out. Guilty for not sending the contract out right away.
Don’t take this the wrong way- I love my life, and career. I do my best to remain as professional as possible and keep all emotion out of the business, but at the end of the day, I am only a one- woman- show. I am human, and I am flawed. I can understand if that may be a turnoff when if comes to hiring a photographer, but I also hope to gain clients that I can connect with on a personal level.
I am doing my best. You are doing your best. We are all doing the best that we know how in this crazy world. I try to treat everyone with kindness, empathy, and sympathy in the best way that I know.
Just be kind ❤️
Thank you @charmingimagery for capturing this image of my girls and I, to help me preserve these memories with them, even if I can’t be there as often as I’d like to.
Just my Ted talk for the day.
