For a long time, I tried to build my wedding photography business entirely within the margins of motherhood.
I worked during nap times when they were long enough. Always trying to answer emails during independent play. Staying up editing after bedtime, often telling myself that the late nights were simply part of the season. Giving up time with my husband & staying up until midnight, just for my kid to wake up at 1am, 3am, 5am, you get the idea.
And while that rhythm carried me for a while, it also left me operating in a reactive state. My work was getting done, but rarely ahead of schedule. I wasn’t building momentum, I was maintaining it. I was starting to half ass stuff, and not just business stuff but home stuff too. Which made me so sad because I had so many ideas on building & scaling my business that just seemed so unachievable. I caught myself wondering if I should just give it up and do this “part time” whatever that would mean, actually probably would have meant me just simply quitting which I did NOT want to do!
When 2026 hit and I was setting my business goals I knew my top goal was to find some sort of consistent childcare. I knew I only needed a few hours a week but I wanted something that would be the same time, same day every week. Fortunately for me, my husband works at a college & I have direct access to a whole bunch of readily available college kids who need money.
I found a student who needed to make some money for a mission trip she was going on to Europe this summer and who loved kids! She comes three days a week for two hours at a time, and those six hours have created more stability in my business than I expected.
The Power of Predictable Work Blocks
Before bringing in consistent childcare, my productivity depended almost entirely on how the day unfolded. If naps were short or unpredictable, my work suffered. If I was exhausted by evening, editing felt heavier than it should have.
Now, I have three reliable work blocks built into my week. I know exactly when they are coming, and I plan accordingly. During those hours, I focus on high-impact tasks of editing full galleries, organizing finances, writing blog posts, refining workflows, and communicating with clients.
Because the time is limited, it is focused. I am not multitasking (minus usually listening to an audiobook or watching some Bridgerton on Netflix hehe). I am not half-working while half-parenting. I am working with intention & purpose in those short chunks, usually accomplishing more than I did in some whole 8 hour work days!
That consistency has allowed me to move projects forward instead of constantly picking them back up.
How It Fits Into Our Day
On the days my sitter comes, I work while she is here. She usually takes Gus for walks, reads books, plays outside, whatever they want to do! When she leaves, we transition into lunch together, reset the house, and head right into nap time. If needed, I’ll work again during nap time, but it no longer feels like the only opportunity I have. So now, if I want to take a nap I can take a nap without feeling like a total bum!
Now, instead of relying on evenings to catch up, I get to hang out with my husband and just relax! I’m not finishing entire weddings after bedtime or carrying unfinished tasks into family time. My evenings feel lighter, and that has changed the atmosphere of our home more than I anticipated.
Viewing Childcare as a Business Investment
Initially, it felt uncomfortable to spend money on help when I was technically home. There’s a quiet narrative that if you are a stay-at-home mom, you should be able to “fit it all in.” I felt silly like “why pay for something when I am here and I can do it”. I feel kinda ick saying this but it is similar to outsourcing, in the way that it is something we could do but letting go of it let’s us focus in other areas!
Those six hours a week allow me to deliver galleries faster, improve the client experience, maintain consistent blogging for SEO, and operate from a proactive place instead of a reactive one. If that consistency leads to stronger referrals, better systems, and even one additional wedding booked each year, the return far outweighs the cost.
More importantly, it protects my evenings, my energy and my overall motherhood experience. I no longer feel like I am squeezing business tasks into whatever time remains after motherhood. I feel like I am intentionally leading both.
mom photographers \\ photographers with kids \\ stay at home mom and wedding photographers \\ momtographers \\ new mom photographers \\ wedding photographers and moms
