Capturing Motherhood

In this episode I am chatting to Stacey from Ivitamay Photography. She joins me to discuss her experiences with endometriosis, how it affects her daily life, and how she manages it while running her business.

Based in South East Kent, Stacey named her business after 3 powerful female influences on her life: her grandmothers Ivy and Rita, and her mother's middle name May. Stacey has been in the photography business for around 7 years while also acting as an associate lecturer and tech support at the University of Kent.

Endometriosis is the most common disease no one has ever heard of, with around 1 in 10 women suffering from the condition. To make matters worse, it can take an average of 7-10 years for a diagnosis to be made. Initially, Stacey was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome at a young age. She now believes that she was having early symptoms of endometriosis. The only way a proper diagnosis can be made is with laparoscopic surgery, meaning that thanks to the cost and the fact that symptoms can vary person to person, it is often the last option.

After experiencing severe pain during intercourse and menstruation, a scan showed a cyst on Stacey's ovaries. Bloodwork showed that she could potentially have cancer. During exploratory surgery, doctors discovered that Stacey had endometriosis throughout her womb and that it was Stage 3 or 4. Now, Stacey and her husband are left unsure if they will be able to have children and Stacey is now taking the time to learn about her body, what works for her, and what she can do herself before pursuing more extreme hormonal treatments.

Connect with Stacey:

Website: http://ivitamayphotography.com/index.html

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivitamayphotography/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivitamayphotography/

Connect with Suzi:

Website: https://www.suzibirdeducation.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzibirdphoto/?hl=en

Suzi's Photography Studio: https://sunlightportraitstudio.co.uk/

In this episode I am chatting to Yasmin Anne, a motherhood photographer based in Farnborough. She joins me today to discuss taking leaps in your business, how to prepare for the next step, and how to know when you're ready.

With 2 photography businesses, 4 children, 37 chickens, and 11 koi carp, Yasmin is always busy. Her journey in photography began at 20 when she was pregnant with her first child and fresh out of uni. Yasmin began by making casts of baby's hands and feet with photographs on the side, but after a year realized that there was a huge demand for her photography and switched focus.

At the start of her business, Yasmin was lucky enough to be able to take her time to grow and learn at her own pace. That space to be able to learn who she was creatively was invaluable. After 2 years, her business was at the level that it could make a part-time income. After 4 years, things had to change when her husband Sam fell ill and lost the career he had been working towards since he was 17. It was the kick she needed to make things work.

Initially, Yasmin shot in her own bedroom before deciding to travel to clients' houses. The time it took to load her gear up and travel was taking its toll, so Yasmin started doing shoots in her living room. Every day, she would clear out the room, setup her gear, do the shoots then dismantle everything and start over. It was time for her own studio space. After a year of searching, she found the perfect space and has been there for 5 years. If you are unsure whether it's time to upgrade your business, ask yourself if you are able to make the most of your time, or are your surroundings holding you back?

Connect with Yasmin:

Website: https://yasminanne.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminannephoto/

Connect with Suzi:

Website: https://www.suzibirdeducation.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzibirdphoto/?hl=en

Suzi's Photography Studio: https://sunlightportraitstudio.co.uk/

In this episode I am talking with Iona Hickman, a designer, illustrator and owner of Eyeowna Designs greetings cards. Iona joins me today to discuss #motherhooditsanotherhood, speaking honestly about the reality of having children, and the impact of that truth.

Iona has been a designer for the last 14 years and still has a day job that she balances around her business. Iona began #motherhooditsanotherhood when her daughter was a few months old. She was struggling with how hard motherhood was, especially when all she was hearing from other new mothers was how easy it is. Iona began sharing her struggles to show other mothers that it isn't all in their heads. Now pregnant with her second child, Iona is pushing to present that truth even harder.

For Iona, it's about sharing what you are comfortable with. If you aren't comfortable sharing photos of raw moments, be honest in the description. Put yourself out there and share to support others. When you don't talk about the difficulties you're experiencing, it can be isolating and intensify the feeling that you are doing something wrong.

When you are new to motherhood, you want guidance and support, but with so many resources out there contradicting each other, it can be hard to know what to do. Iona wants more mums to know that they can trust their instincts.

If your journey to have your child has been difficult, don't feel guilty about struggling once they come. You are allowed to have more than one emotion at a time, and motherhood is difficult. Feel everything that you are feeling.

Connect with Iona:

Website: https://eyeownadesign.com/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/eyeownadesign

Iona's personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eyeowna/

Connect with Suzi:

Website: https://www.suzibirdeducation.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzibirdphoto/?hl=en

Suzi's Photography Studio: https://sunlightportraitstudio.co.uk/

In this episode I am talking with Katie Gray, a London-based personal trainer, Pilates teacher, and founder of Kind by KG. Katie joins me today to talk about what she does, how she got to where she is, and why it's never too late to change your career.

Katie has been training and teaching for the last 5 years. With Kind by KG, she has created an online fitness platform that aims to help women be kinder to their bodies through movement. Originally, Katie studied marketing and advertising at university before moving on to work at an ad agency for 5 years. She realized that she didn't want to work in an office for the rest of her life. As someone who had always been sporty and interested in wellness, Katie wondered how she could build her own business in the wellness space, but didn't know where to start.

After becoming certified as a personal trainer, Katie began working and teaching classes in various London gyms and studios. When the pandemic hit, it became clear that in-person training would be out of the picture for a while, Katie pivoted to online teaching, a move helped by her already established brand.

Kind by KG sprang from Katie's realization that HIIT was stressing her body too much, to the point where she lost her period. Once she realized she could still train but in a kinder, gentler way for her body, Katie knew she could help other women struggling with the same problems.

On her platform, Katie offers live classes, an archive library of exercises that you can access anytime, and monthly memberships. She aims to keep her prices lower than an average gym membership while offering the freedom to participate when and how you want.

Connect with Katie:

Website: https://www.kindbykg.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kindbykg/

Connect with Suzi:

Website: https://www.suzibirdeducation.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzibirdphoto/?hl=en

Suzi's Photography Studio: https://sunlightportraitstudio.co.uk/

In this episode I am talking with Sam Dennaoui from Fox and Feather Photography. Based in Melbourne, Sam specializes in newborn, maternity, family, and wedding photography. Sam joins me to discuss gaining confidence in your business and finding your identity not just as a photographer, but as a person.

With her and her family originally from Italy, Sam decided to take her own family on holiday there so they could learn more about where she came from. While there, Sam showed her aunt a newborn photo she had taken. With brutal honesty, her aunt said that the baby looked unnatural. All the fluff and colour of a new baby was gone from the photo. Sam realized she was right - she had blurred and edited the baby's skin so much that it no longer looked real. This wasn't a keepsake or a memory to be cherished.

This led Sam to a realization. She loved photography, but she had been killing herself doing it for other people. If she was going to change, she had to love it. When she returned home, she sold everything from her business to start over in a way that was more authentic to her: stripped back, unedited, and truthful.

Starting over meant also starting her social media over. Sam cleared out all the groups she was a part of and started fresh. Instagram has always been a blessing and a curse for her. While she gets most of her business through the platform, there's also the perils of the comparing mind to deal with. Learn not to compare yourself to those around you. Express yourself as you want to and only you can.

Connect with Sam:

Website: http://foxandfeatherphotography.com.au/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foxandfeather/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foxandfeatherphoto/

Connect with Suzi:

Website: https://www.suzibirdeducation.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzibirdphoto/?hl=en

Suzi's Photography Studio: https://sunlightportraitstudio.co.uk/

In this episode I am talking with Nikki Watkins, a wedding, lifestyle, and family photographer from Bedfordshire. Nikki joins me for an open and honest discussion about her infertility journey as she seeks motherhood alongside being a photographer. Nikki not only shares her experiences, but also her coping strategies.

Nikki married in 2017 and, naturally, her and her partner wanted to start a family. After 18 months of trying to conceive, they went to the doctor for testing and discovered that there was infertility on her partner's side.

After trying to conceive naturally, Nikki and her husband have decided to go through IVF treatment. So far, they have had 2 rounds of treatment. They were able to get one round of treatment paid for, but it is a lottery depending on where you live. If you are looking to seek IVF treatment, there are lots of options out there for funding and different routes to take.

Nikki also wants to draw attention to the expectations put upon couples after they get married to have children. It's almost always the first thing they get asked about and it's often not taken into consideration that people could be having difficulty conceiving. Nikki urges you to be mindful of what people may be going through.

Initially, Nikki was angry and also experienced guilt at her own anger. She was still doing newborn and maternity shoots and burying her feelings. She cut down on her bookings to cope. Acceptance was the key to overcoming her feelings and emerging on the other side. She reminds herself that it will happen, it just may take some time.

If you, or anyone you know, would like more information on IVF and miscarriage:

NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/

Tommy's: https://www.tommys.org/

Miscarriage Association: https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/

Find out more about Nikki:

Website: https://nikkismoments.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikkiwatkinsphotoandfilm

Connect with Suzi:

Website: https://www.suzibirdeducation.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzibirdphoto/?hl=en

Suzi's Photography Studio: https://sunlightportraitstudio.co.uk/

In this episode, I am talking with Alishia Love, a Cotswolds-based photographer who specializes in actor's headshots and has recently launched the family and baby side of her business. Alishia also runs Tog London, a company offering stylish camera bags and accessories. She joins me today to discuss how her life has changed since having her baby and sharing realistic moments on Instagram.

Alishia went back to shooting in October after recovering from having an emergency C-section to deliver her new baby, Tommy. Looking back at pre-lockdown life, Alishia can't believe how she used to function being as busy as she was. Know that people won't think you are failing if you aren't busy. Take the time to look after yourself and switch off.

Don't be afraid to get help. I hired an assistant in the last year and it has transformed my life and business. Alishia and I discuss how that help with the day-to-day admin of my business has enabled me to have extra time for what I really want to do.

With Instagram, Alishia has gained quite a following since she began her page. She has always been a fan of sharing her life and seeing into other people's lives. Now, she likes to show the behind-the-scenes moments of her day. Previously, her photography and personal accounts were combined, but now she has split them up while maintaining the link. Showing the human side of her brand is important to create that connection with her audience.

When it comes to Instagram trolls, Alishia has some advice on dealing with them. Ignore them. It's your feed, you can post whatever you want. If people don't like it, they don't have to follow you.

Find out more about Alishia:

Website: https://www.alishialoveheadshots.com/

Tog London: https://www.togldn.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alishialove/?hl=en

Today I'm talking with Sophie Lea, an Australian photographer based in Sydney who captures motherhood, newborn, and family photographs. Additionally, she provides education and workshops for fellow photographers. Sophie joins me today to discuss growing her business, finding her own space, and making time to focus on yourself.

In the industry for fifteen years, Sophie is also a wife and mother of three. A year ago, just after lockdown lifted in Sydney, it was time to open her own studio. It may have looked like the wrong time to outsiders, but Sophie knew that it was what she had to do. She had reached a volume and consistency with her business that necessitated her own studio - she just had to go out and find it.

With the new space, not only does she now have somewhere that she can go to keep work and home separate, it also cuts down on the time she spends driving to clients. Still, she had her doubts. As someone that had based their business on the convenience of home-based shoots, Sophie worried about changing the way her business was structured. Ultimately, it was time to take back some creative control and streamline her process.

When Sophie launched her own business, she was pregnant with her second child and knew she didn't want to go back to studios. She started out making the Facebook page for her solo business and went from there. Within a year, she was fully established whilst still caring for her 2 young children.

Remember that when you build up, work hard, and establish yourself, taking a break isn't going to knock you off the radar. Give yourself grace and allow yourself to take time out.

Find out more about Sophie:

Website: https://www.sophieleaphotography.com.au/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophieleaphotography/?hl=en

Connect with Suzi:

Website: https://www.suzibirdeducation.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzibirdphoto/?hl=en

Suzi's Photography Studio: https://sunlightportraitstudio.co.uk/

I've got Megan Daisy with me today. She is a wedding, baby, and family photographer based in Berkshire who, 7 weeks ago, gave birth to baby Rose. Megan joins me today to discuss her motherhood journey, how she has dealt with her finances during maternity leave, and how having her own baby has changed her relationship with her clients.

When she found out she was pregnant, Megan was excited and shocked. Then, she began to feel the pressure. What would she do about her clients? Once she reached 12 weeks, she let her clients know and felt a weight had been lifted. It's always difficult feeling like you might be letting people down if you have to cancel their shoot or organize for an associate to take over, but don't feel guilty! You deserve and need to take maternity leave, and your clients will understand.

With lockdown, it has obviously changed when Megan will be going back to work. Originally, she would be going back to work in April/May. However, she is now planning to go back in July to do weddings. Until then, she will be doing family and baby shoots beginning in April part-time. Now that she has had her own baby, Megan feels more connected and more confident at the prospect of going back to work.

If you are expecting, make sure to put some money away leading up to your leave to top up whatever maternity pay you are eligible for. If you are self-employed, make sure to find out how to apply and what you are entitled to. Don't put unnecessary stress on yourself.

Find out more about Megan:

Website: https://www.megandaisyphotography.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megandaisyphotography/

Connect with Suzi:

Website: https://www.suzibirdeducation.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzibirdphoto/?hl=en

Suzi's Photography Studio: https://sunlightportraitstudio.co.uk/

In this episode I am talking with Natasha Ford, a romantic wedding photographer based in Cardiff. We'll get into how to organize your income, how to know when it's time to take your business full-time, and some tips on how to make your finances more efficient.

While working on her business, Natasha took a part-time job to supplement her income. Before you go full-time, make sure the income from your business matches or exceeds what you make in your day job. It's an achievable target. Set your goals and you can make your business sustainable.

Going full-time with your business means all your focus and energy can go towards it. There comes a point when you can no longer take it any further while having it as a side hustle if you are working a day job your business can be a distraction. If you have plateaued, it might be time to look at making your business your main focus.

This last year has seen a lot of photographers struggle with having to refund deposits, but Natasha has a method that could help you cut out that stress in the future. Natasha uses the profit first model, based on the book Profit First by Michael Michalowicz.

Natasha has multiple bank accounts to keep her funds organized, as she separates her income, taxes, expenses, deposits, and so on. Keep your deposits separate - if you haven't earned it yet, don't spend it! The education surrounding finances is so limited, so go out there and do your own research. You can't manage what you don't understand.

Find out more about Natasha:

Website: https://www.honeydewmoments.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honeydew.moments/

Profit First by Michael Michalowicz

Connect with Suzi:

Website: https://www.suzibirdeducation.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzibirdphoto/?hl=en

Suzi's Photography Studio: https://sunlightportraitstudio.co.uk/

Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine by Mike Michalowicz: https://amzn.to/3bXZDAW