Taking a Big Step
I can’t quite believe I am over three quarters of the way through my first year in my very own baby photography studio. If someone had told me two, or three years ago that I would be relocating my photography business to a studio space, theres no way I would have believed them. It always felt like such a huge step. Having overheads to pay for, achieving a steady growth month on month. But here I am, with almost a year under my belt. Sitting here now writing this, I still have moments of panic and worry. It’s like a rollercoaster of emotions, running your own business. I had never planned on working for myself, it just kind of happened. I have always been very driven, diving in and thinking later, which is probably how I have found myself here. So its in those moments that I have time to stop and think that the panic sets in.
Where Did It All Start?
It’s more than a decade ago that I embarked on this journey of photography, and I began by shooting weddings. Like many other photographers, I offered my services for free to gain experience. It started with a friends wedding in the beautiful Eaves Hall in Clitheroe, Lancashire which is a stunning wedding venue. After gaining suitable experience, I attended my first wedding fair in Bolton around 2011 and came away from the day with a good handful of confirmed bookings. My love of photographing people grew from here. I was already a first time mum by this point, and I began the journey to build up my business alongside motherhood and still working a full time job.
Newborn and Baby Photography
Until now, I had no requirement for a studio. I focused on photographing weddings and some outdoor portraits. We welcomed another baby into our family in 2012 and by then I had really begun to develop a love of photographing my own children. In 2014, by the time we had settled into being a family of 4, I became interested in learning about newborn photography. I met one of the UK’s leading newborn photographers at a photography show in Birmingham. I signed up to train with her right there and then.
Since 2014, I have photographed hundreds of babies and children and created some beautiful memories for lots of families who have trusted me to photograph their most precious family members. It really is such a pleasure to be able to call newborn baby photography my job. It is even more rewarding when I see these families grow as they return to me year upon year. There is no better feedback that I am doing something right than to welcome returning clients. It says it all.
The Future
Since taking on the lease to the studio, my business has gone from strength to strength. I now offer maternity and newborn photos, child and family portraits and I still adore shooting weddings – it is where this all started and I will always have a love for it. I intend to continue to work from my studio here in Rawtenstall, Lancashire, and look forward to working with lots of beautiful families. If you would like me to create precious memories of your family, get in touch for a chat.
Summer x
