Last year was mostly senior portraits (very fun, and great money to invest into my equipment) with a handful of portfolio building weddings (pretty low budget small events, with a few exceptions). This year, while still quite low key compared to many of you, proves to be MUCH busier! I have 5 young children at home, 16 nice sized weddings booked, and a massive amount of seniors booking for some editorial style portrait sessions. I am beyond thrilled and so thankful for all this, esp in light of my recent price increases, but OH MAN! I am soooo nervous!

I definately had some growing pains last year, with over 50 seniors in 4 months in addition to my first few weddings, but I am really trying to streamline for the coming year. I couldn't afford an assistant last year, but probably had too much work for just me, it was just really hard. This year I have my father lined up to handle loading all of my images to galleries and Pictage, to order my loose proofs, and to create my slideshows. This should be a huge help, and I am also thinking a very part time nanny and housekeeper would help as well, but I cannot get rid of those BUTTERFLIES!! I just really feel like this is the year to make it or break it, so I want to set myself up for success as best as I can! Any tips from you pros who have a large volume of weddings and/or sessions. Esp those of you who are working parents. What are things you could not live without? My husband is a spectacular guy, and very supportive of my business, but he works his own full time job.

Amy,

First... 5 kids?... WOW. I can't hardly keep up with my two while working. Good Job.

Um, Carrie and I have a room in our studio for the kids. We also could not live with out our wonderful friend and babysitter. She helps a lot. And we live close to my in-laws and they help. Basically we love the YMCA, Arts Center and bunches of coloring and craft books to keep then busy.

Hope that is good info for you.

Duct tape.


Just kidding.


I'm a single mom of two - so I know how hard it is to work with kids underfoot. Some days I get absolutely *nothing* done. Other days I manage to work from bed (watching cartoons, of course), after they go to sleep, during naptime, during computer time, or the small amount of time nobody's home but me.

I've started outsourcing a lot. My Mom kidnaps the kids for me on a fairly regular basis.

My number one saving grace - I get my images right in the camera - I don't have to do much editing at all. That's the *only* thing that really keeps me sane I think. I edited a wedding today in about 4 hours (with the exception of the time that it took to batch the B&W's - but I didn't have to sit here for that).

I lost my bookkeeper - that's killed me, she went on extended maternity leave - and my CPA turned in to a creep - so I'm looking for new people to outsource that to and possibly a house cleaning service and I think I'll be set

Oh, and I have a rule - every hour I get up and dance. I dance to one song, every hour, with the kids if they're here - and that keeps me in a good mood, energized, and from driving myself nuts with stress.

If all else fails - there *is* still duct tape though.

Thanks both of you! Sounds like the part time in-house babysitter will be a must for me. Melody, duct tape sounds WONDERFUL at this precise moment. My 2 yearold son and 3 yearold daughter are standing on my typing arm, accidentally walking on my hair, and jumping allover my bed and laptop, I guess I should just be thankful they are getting along for the moment. LOVE the dancing tip, a great way to get up and energize while zoning at my computer.

I love the dancing idea!

I've been thinking about how to handle this as I get busier. When I had a look at the PP sites (Jacob's and Nathan and Amber's) on OSP, I was surprised at how affordable they would be. My plan (when I need them) is to set aside the $ I would need right away (deposit time?) so I didn't accidently spend that money on something else and then use them if I need them.

Awesome job getting your business busy!

Hi Amy,
Congratulations that your business is growing! I too am a mom with 4 kids. Although my kids are older now, it is definately easier now that they are older. I do think a nanny or babysitter is a must for a couple years. Don't totally leave your kids out of your life though. Before photography I was a cosmetologist, and I had a salon at home. I still gave my kids the attention they needed while I was working. At times it was a little crazy, but it was worth it. Just remember, they are only little once, and before you know it they will be a sassy 13 year old! (I know this from experience:) )

Jeff and Julia Woods gave a talk on this once that I went to. It was about balancing life and work. It was great. They talked about how you need to stay scheduled, and stick with your schedule. Schedule time that is for work, and schedule time that is for your kids.

Good Luck!

No tips, but I just wanted to say that no wonder you've gotten more work - the shots on your blog are gorgeous!

Congrats!!! Your work is truley beautiful and I have no idea how you do it with 5 kids running around. I'm sorry I can't offer advice, I'm not a parent, but I do know parents are super heros!!!

Good luck!!

Melody- I LOVE THIS.
I actually was having similiar thoughts while trying to get one of my kiddos down.
More on the vagues sense of wondering who is the "primary" care giver and how in the heck do you get it all done?? So that to me defines single parents -or- parents that are working from home with the kiddos underfoot.
My husband works ave. 60 hours a week (not including the 1hr + commute time) so getting things done is DIFFICULT at best.
I sometimes wish there was an easier way and that I could outsource more like accounting and other duties.

So you are making this look like a cakewalk with 5 compared to the 2 that are making me go nuts!

No advice here, just understanding!!! I have 6 myself and as they grow things are slowly getting easier but we're not there yet. I am trying to hold out on hiring help until next year because the youngest 2 will be in pre-school together 3 mornings out of the week. For the first time in almost 5 years, I will have a few hours alone to work!!! For now, I exchange babysitting with a friend, use grandparents as much a possible and work at night. I do find that whatever I have not accomplished in the hours before the older ones get home from school must wait. When they come home, I must give them my undivided attention! Then their needs are met and if I have to hand of bedtime to my husband while I work, they aren't going crazy for Mommy!

I know it's hard! Hang in there, try different things until you find something that works for you!

Blessings!

OMG, I dance with my kids too. Not every hour though, I like that idea.
My 2 yr old comes to my computer and says song. Many times he comes to me when he is tired and in two slow songs he is out and I can put him down for a nap and back to work.

I have always worked and always had my kids with me, it is sooo hard. I can't imagine 5 or 6.

My little bit of advise is don't take on too much. Life is too short and I know I hate feeling overwhelmed. I personally book sessions all right after each other and cram as many as I can handle in a couple days so I have days where I actually don't shoot and I can just get caught up.

Thanks for all the support and ideas. I really need to keep a good balance, but yes, it is hard sometimes. I am the kind of person that needs to do a little bit every day, or I will get completely overwhelmed, so having a regular schedule is (very hard) but very necessary for us. I like the idea of breaking up the day and doing something fun (out of the house like a walk, the park, swimming) with the kids every single day that I have to work at my computer, so they aren't fiending for attention all day long.

I so understand except for the 5 kids. I have 2 and we homeschool. Luckily during my busy season school really hasnt started. I did 45 seniors in 3 months and 3 weddings. Plus engagement shoots and family sessions. It was crazy. Also my husband was fired so i felt i had to take on all the work. I dont think i would ever do that much again without outsourcing. I got up everyday at 5 and would do a good 3-4 hours of editing before the kids got up. I tried to do as many sessions as i could with the kids still asleep. They sleep till about 9. I felt so stressed about being professional and not having my kids around. Now i'm getting a bit relaxed. My plan is this year to book more in a day rather than one everyday. I plan on being strict about my time and offering that time and filling it first before going on. I hope that works. So my goal is do a morning session, have my nephew come over and watch the kids, while i do another session. Come in edit the sessions and make lunch. Feed them all. Do another session in the afternoon when my husband gets home. It really helped to have my nephew babysit. ALso we have a pool and have become the house to come to. Now i am going to use all these little babysitters to watch my kids without feeling guilty that i didnt pay them. if i am entertaining them all the time they can babysit. The babysitter was a must! it gave me time without feeling guilty that they were watching tv.

good luck chick! this too shall pass...

we live in a college town, so I am going to start looking for a nanny, but I havn't a clue what to pay, lol! I like to keep it to a maximum of 2 sessions per day, usually one, but I raised my session fee and minimum order, so hopefully that will help. For west michigan, my session fee ir really quite high at $185, most everyone else really near me is in the 40-75 range, with no minimum. I want to make sure it's time well spent. maybe I should try doing early morning editing too, instead of satying up til 4 am.

Amy

When you find the balance let me know! I am still struggling and I only have 2 kids! LOL

We are trying to be more scheduled like one of the other posters said. We have a set business schedule and we are trying to set aside time to play with them during the day. We work out of our house now which is a blessing and curse wrapped up together. When we had our studio location, the kids were miserable being there. Even though they had a room with toys, they wanted to be at home. And since our studio was in the city, forget letting them go outside in the summer! That was awful! I am looking forward to my 4 year old playing outside on the swingset this summer while I am in the office that overlooks the backyard!

My DH and I both do this photography thing, which is also a blessing and a curse at the same time. We have twice the work to do, but it is great when we can rotate "jobs". We are starting this week with trying to have one of us play parent for the day while the other one works in the office. That way the kids aren't constantly interrupting us both working and feeling neglected. This will give us 8 hours of uninterrupted work time each day. I can only imagine how much I will get done with this method!

If you find some stuff that works, please let me know!

Steph

Thanks Steph! I just opened up the spring calendar for seniors, and I think I am stopping at 16 weddings this year, since I plan to shoot at least 75-100 seniors and engagements. Phew, that sounds like a lot! Okay, so I still don't have all my ducks in a row, but I should be good by May, when it REALLY gets crazy. I'll keep ya'll posted. I'm sure I will vent at the very least, lol!