How To Pivot Your Wedding Photography Business Now That You're a Mom

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Running your wedding photography business after becoming a mom can feel a bit like riding a rollercoaster. Some days you feel on top of the world, crushing it as a business owner and balancing motherhood. Other days can feel excruciatingly long, difficult, or lonely. You wonder if you’re making the right decision. Should you throw in the towel? Become a full-time stay-at-home-mom? Go back to Corporate America for the benefits and steady paycheck?

Owning your own wedding photography business is a journey that doesn’t come without sacrifice but allows you to balance your artistry, passions, and talent with your new responsibilities as a parent. Personally, becoming a mother lit a fire within me. I truly think I would still be working a 9-5 marketing job had I not had my first son in 2018. While I’m not hating on Corporate America, because there are many great managers out there and employees who thrive at what they do, I found that I was never going to be happy working for someone else. I crave the freedom that business ownership provides.

 
 

Becoming a parent shifts your perspective, makes your time more precious, and forces you to rethink the way you’ve always done things. I launched my business in July of 2019 when my oldest was 10 months old and hustled hard to run it successfully (aka hitting my financial goals) within the first full year. Fast forward to 2021, I became pregnant with our 2nd child and could sense my desire to slow things down. I raised my prices, anticipating this shift that I knew would take time to come to fruition. The intention was to still hit my salary goals while cutting back on the amount of weddings and sessions I shot per year. I calculate my rates based on a CODB spreadsheet, which I share with and plug in for all of my one-on-one mentees during a virtual one hour Zoom call. I began to diversify my income streams so I wasn’t always trading time for money.

Here are some steps to help you pivot your photography business now that you’re a mom (or soon-to-be):

Evaluate Your Priorities: Understand your new priorities as a mom. Consider how much time you can realistically dedicate to your photography business while still providing the care and attention your child needs and/or that you desire. This will help you set clear expectations and goals for your business. For example, once I had two kids the desire to do 4 shoots per week was gone. I wanted more time with my kids and less time in front of my Macbook Pro.

Rebrand Your Business Image: If your photography business was previously focused on a specific niche or style that requires extensive travel or long hours, consider rebranding to a more family-friendly image. Personally, I removed the copy that painted me as an adventurous photographer seeking to photograph destination weddings. It’s not that I don’t enjoy or take those types of weddings anymore, I just don’t want that to be all that I do. Highlight your ability to capture special family moments, such as maternity, newborn, and family portraits. This is key if you are craving more free weekends away from shooting weddings.

Expand Your Services: Explore photography services that allow for more flexibility and family-friendly schedules. Offer packages for smaller events, such as weekday elopements, extended family sessions, or mini-sessions at studios or local parks. These are far less time-consuming than weddings.

Build an Online Presence: Enhance your online presence through a professional website and active social media profiles. Share your journey as a mompreneur, showcasing both your photography skills and your experiences as a parent. This can connect you with clients who appreciate your relatability.

Network with Other Mompreneurs: Connect with other moms who run their own businesses. Attend an event or conference with this audience. Go to a co-working space. You can learn from their experiences, gain insights into balancing work and family life, and potentially collaborate on projects or referrals.

Set Flexible Work Hours: Adjust your work hours to accommodate your child's schedule. You may find it beneficial to work during nap times, evenings, or weekends when your partner or a trusted caregiver can assist with childcare. Speaking of childcare, I encourage you to raise your rates to offset the cost of childcare so it isn’t impacting your earnings.

Outsource and Delegate: Consider outsourcing tasks that can be time-consuming or don't require your direct involvement, such as editing or administrative work. Delegating these responsibilities can free up more time for photography and family. My favorite thing to outsource is editing. I use ImagenAI, which doesn’t completely finalize my edits but it gives me a nice head start on them. It’s relatively inexpensive at 5 cents per photo. If you want an editor to fully edit your photos, I recommend Edited By Artists at 44 cents per photo.

Create a Home Studio: If space permits, set up a home studio for portrait photography. This can be a convenient way to work while staying close to your child. Ensure the space is safe and comfortable for both clients and your family.

Offer Online Workshops or Photography Classes: Host an online workshop where you screenshare your culling and editing workflow. Host an in-person photography class to teach attendees how to use manual mode.

Stay Organized: Use time management tools and apps to stay organized. Honeybook plays a huge role in helping me stay organized. Plan your schedule, set reminders, and prioritize tasks to ensure you make the most of your available time.

Be Patient and Flexible: Recognize that balancing motherhood and a photography business may have its challenges. Be patient with yourself and flexible in adapting to new routines and unexpected situations. Lean on other business-owning moms to vent or seek advice.

Communicate with Clients: Be transparent with your clients about your availability and any scheduling limitations due to your role as a mom. Most clients will appreciate your honesty and adapt to your schedule. My clients know I don’t shoot family sessions on weekends because I communicate in my email when scheduling that I save weekends for family time.

Remember that transitioning your wedding photography business after becoming a mom is a process that takes time. It's important to find a balance that works for you, your family, and your clients. By aligning your business goals with your new priorities, you can create a fulfilling career that allows you to be present with your child.