Before I start here, I want to ensure that this post is not meant to be fussy or negative in any way!! But I have been dealing with something over the last couple years that I finally want to share about, because if it is effecting me, I’m sure it is effecting others and I want those people to know that they are not alone!  Being a work from home parent…especially a small creative business owner…can be really isolating.  That is why I am so endlessly thankful for things like the Rising Tide Society and our local Tuesdays Together group to give me what feels like co-workers when we get together, and also to Sarah, my virtual assistant, for being a real co-worker for me!  But the truth is, outside of those “co-workers” and my sweet husband who sees the ins and outs every day…I don’t think many people actually understand what I do.  And I think it’s a LITTLE easier for us photographers and florists than it is for the virtual assistants, wedding planners, bloggers, etc because there is a very tangible part to my job that I do think people understand!  When I am actually photographing a session, it is very clear cut what I am doing and how I am making a living and supporting my family.  But the day in and day out, during the 25 hours I work a week (that are never even close to enough to get everything done on my to do list)?  That is the part that I don’t think most people understand.  And honestly? I get it!  How would you know if you’ve never experienced it?  SO I wanted to share a little more about that today.

There are so many…infinite…small tasks that go into successfully owning and running a small business.  It is so much more than just the physical product (if your small business model even has one).  I don’t know if it’s particularly helpful to anyone to explain what all those tiny jobs are in detail, so I’m just going to list a few big picture things.  The biggest part of my job– even bigger than taking pictures– is client care and serving my clients well.  That involves typically 1-2 hours of email each day, purchasing, packaging, and sending client gifts, prepping countless educational materials to help set them up for success and explain how to use their galleries, download and print images, etc.  Photo sessions and weddings obviously take time…but so does picking the best images, editing them, blogging and sharing on social media, setting up galleries, coupons, and passwords and delivering them.  I do a lot of education for other photographers, so that includes writing newsletters, making e-books full of the content I have learned and sharing them, and planning for, filming, editing, and adding to 2 different big courses.  Then there is the business side- contracts, marketing, proposals, taxes… And none of that includes the practice and learning time I also invest into photography to make sure I am always growing and always at the top of my game.

The funny thing about it all is that I didn’t have a clue what went into it when I started!  Any other small creative business owners with me there?!  I think my perception was similar to others– it was mostly about taking pictures!  The good thing for me is that I love the business part!  It doesn’t ALL come naturally to me, but it is very fun for me.  There is just so much more to it than I imagined in the beginning.  So while it is easy to not understand how some small creative business owners are making their living, or what they are doing with all their work time at home… if they have a successful business, trust me, they are working their tails off!

I am lucky to have very supportive people in my life who love and encourage even if they don’t quite understand.  But sometimes, you just want the people around you to get it, you know? There are so many questions as a small business owner…will I make enough this year? Is my work good enough? How do I stand out in the market? What about the “slow season”?  Do I need to update my website? Are my posts really showing on social media anyways? Are my efforts actually working? Am I spending my time on the right things? Am I working too much? Am I working enough? Does my family see how hard I’m working? Am I teaching my kids the right lessons about being a working mom?

It’s endless when you alone are responsible for the income you bring in and the work you do.  And that is why it can become so isolating.

Small creative business owner friends?  Any of you who work from home?  Find some people who get you.  If you are in a creative business, join the Rising Tide Society on facebook and get connected with a local Tuesdays Together group!  Start your OWN group for local entrepreneurs.  Meet up for coffee or some fun creative time with others who do what you do.  Build relationships deeper than once a month co-workers with some of them so you can have regular contact with people who get it.  Try to help your spouse understand if they aren’t quite on board yet so the person you spend the MOST time with can support you fully.  Involve your kids in your work so they can start to get a feel for why it’s important to you.  Do whatever your creative skill is for fun, not just for work.  Find people who are doing what you are doing and talk through the hard, scary, isolating parts.  Because you are NOT alone.  There are others dealing with exactly what you are!  And after the hard parts– talk about the WINS.  Because owning my own small business that I built from the ground up is one of the things I am MOST proud of–and you should be too!  This work isn’t easy– but it’s so worth it!