What are the best strategies for balancing work and family as a photographer?

Set boundaries and stick to them. Communicate them with your clients and have contingencies in place. You are in charge of your workload. If you want to work less, consider whether you need to raise your prices. Clear communication is key here

Setting realistic goals is not as easy as it sounds and learning how to say no can be stressful in itself. You may want to start by deciding how many hours a week you are going to invest your business as a maximum. Then, you can adjust when those hours are so that you can take advantage of the flexibility of being a freelancer. Be gentle on yourself as you learn about your capacity - both time and energy. Prioritize your well-being and relationships and design your business to support your lifestyle. For example, do not build a wedding business if your priority is spending your summer weekends with your family.

Keeping a controlled workflow, and know one's self capacity to deliver, also a schedule for daily editing, and determined leisure hours, will greatly improve balance.

Work life balance, is always going to be something to strive for success in. But remember in the early years of any career you’re going to be grinding communicating with your partner or your loved ones and letting them know where your priorities are are going to be your biggest success. Work-Life balance is always going to be something to strive for success in. But remember in the early years of any career you’re going to be grinding communicating with your partner or your loved ones and letting them know where your priorities are are going to be your biggest success.

Consider learning the basics of Project management. Kanban methodology can help you successfully visualise and schedule your work tasks as well as family obligations.

Remember to put your well being as a priority, we forget our own needs as we have the habit as mothers to put others as a priority. Even though taking care of ourselves seems unrealistic some days, making it a priority and sticking to a self care regimen over time can help us be more in business and at home, therefore better at balancing our responsibilities.

Being upfront with your clients about timeline expectations creates less stress for you on delivering a product on time, as well as for your client. I almost always overextend my timeline from the time when I can really have it delivered by, so that when I deliver early, my clients are thrilled! And on the occasion where I have been swamped with work, I can take a little extra time to deliver. I don't compromise on any business processes, unless it is a reason that means a lot to me. I never negotiate rates. However, I have offered complimentary sessions to those I either really want to photograph or collaborate with, or those who otherwise are unable to afford my services, as my way of giving back.

Communication is critical. In the absence of information, people make things up. Usually for the worst. Saying no or communicating boundaries is easier when you are clear about what they are and why they are important to you. Practice ways of saying no without saying no. Like....sure, I can add that to the scope let me send you and adjusted invoice and timeline. Or...yes, I can totally do that for you...how's next week? Your commitments to yourself and your family are just as important as your clients. By prioritizing your life, you will feel better about doing the work.

This is for more mature photographers. (If you’re in 20s or early 30s, this may not apply to you.) Avoid sugar and junk food when working. Eating sugar and grease will make you feel bloated and groggy. Some people suffer from this more than others. I, for one, get sugar-hangover quite easily. If your body is not right, it will affect the quality of your work, not to mention your physical and mental state when you are interacting with your clients. Eat clean, feel good, and kick a$$!

It took me 7 years and possibly a divorce to figure out how to balance business and family time. It all came down to charging what my family time is worth. In the early years I shot everything and everyone every day of the week just to make a profit, because my prices were so low. I shot 3 high school seniors each day totaling over 60 per year. One year, I had 26 weddings on the books. There wasn't a project I turned away. And, I hardly saw my family. Now, 13 years into the business, I say no to sessions I don't want to shoot. I photograph 40 high school seniors, 4 weddings, and a balanced amount of other projects and pay myself $100k! I only shoot evening sessions every other week so I am home with my family and charge extra for weekends.