Capturing Motherhood
The Capturing Motherhood Podcast covers all things photography, business and motherhood. Hosted by Suzi Bird, this Podcast is full of honest conversations not only about running a business, but preparing for Motherhood and what that looks like when you're a creative entrepreneur. You can expect tips on growing your business on your own terms, advice on making money from doing what you love and an insight into navigating life as a full time photographer.
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Episode 33: Journeying through change with Charlie Summers
04/14/2022
Episode 33: Journeying through change with Charlie Summers
On today’s episode, I chat with Charlie Summers about how she relocated her photography business and changing photography genres. This is a lovely chilled out chat and we hope it will support anyone else going through major changes within their business. Connect with Charlie: Instagram: Website: Connect with Suzi: Instagram: Website:
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Episode 32: Journeying through infertility, IVF & baby loss with Janine Fox
03/03/2022
Episode 32: Journeying through infertility, IVF & baby loss with Janine Fox
On todays podcast I am talking to Janine Fox from New Zealand. We are going into detail about her experience with IVF & miscarriage, and also her work with a charity which captures families going through infant loss. Janine shares reassuring advice for families going through similar experiences, however if infertility, miscarriage and infant loss is a triggering subject for you, please do feel that you can skip this episode. If you or someone you know is going through something similar, there are a number of organisations you can contact for support. You can head to sands.co.uk - Sands is the leading stillbirth and neonatal death charity in the UK. The organisation exists to reduce the number of babies dying and to ensure that anyone affected by the death of a baby receives the best possible care and support for as long as they need it. You can also visit arc-uk.org - Arc is a charity that helps parents and healthcare professionals through antenatal screening and its consequences. We really encourage you to reach out for support if you’re going through anything challenging in your life, whether that’s surrounding baby loss and fertility or anything else. We’re sending you all the love in the world, and want to give everyone listening a huge hug after delving into this episode. Baby Loss Photography Charities:
Connect with Janine: Website: Instagram: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 31: The Power of Showing Up Online with Holly from Nulla Content
02/17/2022
Episode 31: The Power of Showing Up Online with Holly from Nulla Content
Today on the podcast, I am chatting with Holly from Nulla Content. Holly works with businesses to create an online presence that breaks through the noise, helping them to stand out. We are going to chat about the power of showing up online, the different ways you can do this and our top tips for anyone who feels unsure about how to boost their online presence. Connect with Holly: Website: Instagram: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 30: 3 Lessons I've learnt when running a business
02/03/2022
Episode 30: 3 Lessons I've learnt when running a business
I'm back! After a little break in January to reset and re-evaluate, I am back with my first solo episode of the year. This episode covers the 3 lessons I've learnt since running my photography business: 1. Respect your time 2. Get help when you're struggling 3. Only you can control your life I cover each of these topics in detail and tell you my top strategies on how to feel more in control of both your business and your life.
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Episode 29: Journeying through IVF, a pandemic & Motherhood with Jo Greenfield
12/30/2021
Episode 29: Journeying through IVF, a pandemic & Motherhood with Jo Greenfield
In this episode, I chat with Jo Greenfield about her journey though IVF, a pandemic and motherhood. We discuss the ins and outs of her fertility journey, along with how she balances running her photography business alongside motherhood. It’s a powerful conversation that many of you may be able to relate to, and we encourage you to reach out to either or us, or your friends and family if you feel ready to talk about your own fertility journey and need some support. Read Jo’s blog about her IVF journey here: Connect with Jo: Website: Instagram: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 28: Working towards a work/life balance with Jessica Raphael
12/16/2021
Episode 28: Working towards a work/life balance with Jessica Raphael
This week I am chatting with Jessica Raphael, a lifestyle photographer who specialises in weddings. We are going to chat about her journey to achieving a better work/life balance, and her top tips for taking ownership of your business schedule. Making your business work for you is a journey. You have to get it wrong before you get it right, and we hope that this episode can help to reassure you that it’s ok to feel overwhelmed, and that there are certain things you can do to help avoid this in the future. Connect with Jess: Website: Instagram: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 27: Building a self-taught photography business with Renaye Mclachlan
12/02/2021
Episode 27: Building a self-taught photography business with Renaye Mclachlan
On this week's episode, I chat to Aukland based photographer Renaye Mclachlan. Renaye specialises in newborn and family photography, and is a wonderful example of how you don't need a degree to be a successful photographer. We chat about her journey, from photographing her friend's baby and buying her first camera, to starting to charge for photoshoots. We cover a wide range of topics including her main inspirations, her tips for social media and how to stay in your own lane without comparisionitis creeping in. If you'd like to see more of her work, you can find out more over at: Connect with Renaye: Website: Instagram: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 26: 3 Ways to Grow Your Photography Business
11/18/2021
Episode 26: 3 Ways to Grow Your Photography Business
3 Ways to Grow Your Photography Business This week I’m bringing you my first ever solo episode! I cover 3 different topics that can help you to grow your photography business: * Client experience * Keeping it personal * Staying consistent Want to know more? Dive into the episode to find out! If you’d like to continue the conversation, head over to https://www.instagram.com/suzibirdphoto on Instagram and I’d love to hear from you.
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Episode 25: Balancing Motherhood, Business & Mental Health with Kitty Clark
11/03/2021
Episode 25: Balancing Motherhood, Business & Mental Health with Kitty Clark
In this episode I am chatting to Kitty Clark, a fine art photographer who captures soulful motherhood images. Kitty tells us about her battle with mental health and how she has maintained her business through it. Kitty is relatively new to photographing, but things are definitely happening fast for her business. Currently, she shoots motherhood, maternity, wedding, and branding but is looking to soon niche down into a more motherhood-based photography business. With everyone’s opinions differing on whether you should niche down or not, it can be kind of daunting. But ultimately, it comes down to whatever works for you and your business. In 2006, Kitty met her husband Henry at university. They now have a 2-year-old girl, Thea. Kitty describes motherhood as dichotomous because of all the contrasting emotions involved, but she wouldn’t change it for anything. Throughout her early teens and through her 20s, Kitty suffered from severe depression and anxiety. Things came to a head in 2018 when she suffered a breakdown. Following the birth of Thea, Kitty has found purpose and her daughter have had a huge positive impact on her mental health. Nowadays, Kitty is very selective with who she has in her life and has let go of any toxic relationships. She practices mindfulness regarding her mental health, and says it’s important to recognize when someone is having a negative effect on your life. Kitty also credits the support of her husband, Henry, who has always supported her endeavours. Learning a new business while also dealing with a family life and mental health struggles can be difficult and hectic – don’t be afraid to ask for advice and a different perspective. Connect with Kitty: Website: Instagram: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 24: Finding your way through the postpartum haze with Lindsay Kellar-Madsen
10/07/2021
Episode 24: Finding your way through the postpartum haze with Lindsay Kellar-Madsen
I am chatting to Lindsay Kellar-Madsen today, a Canadian author based in Denmark. Lindsay has just released her children’s book “The Lovely Haze of Baby Days,” a tribute to the beautiful chaos of motherhood. Lindsay joins me today to talk about finding your way through the postpartum haze. With 4 children under the age of 6, Lindsay has just published her first children’s book and is also a business developer at the University of Southern Denmark. Lindsay and her family have been living in Europe for roughly the last decade. Having her children away from her family and support structure has been difficult – not having your community around you to help and answer questions can be tough. The flipside is that it pushed her to build new relationships, friendships, and support structures. It’s also allowed her to listen to her inner voice and intuition more. With her first daughter, it felt like everything was new and shocking. When her son came along it was a more peaceful time and Lindsay felt more confident. When she was carrying her twins in 2019, the stress returned due to the increased risks. The physicality and mental energy to care for 2 newborns as well as her older children was a lot for her to carry. For Lindsay, the most important thing you can offer a new mother is support and understanding. It’s important to remember that so many things change with new children. To ease the load, Lindsay tried to focus on creating routines and structures for when the babies came. She also turned more to writing and used it as an outlet for her feelings. Connect with Lindsay: Website: Instagram: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 23: Creating from the heart with Nina Goks
09/23/2021
Episode 23: Creating from the heart with Nina Goks
Nina Goks, a London based family, motherhood, and wedding photographer, is our guest in this episode. Nina will discuss developing your photography style, staying in your lane, and preparing for maternity leave. Nina focuses her work on the raw, natural side of motherhood. While motherhood is her primary focus, she does also do wedding photography and has been in business for about 2 years. Nina studied film photography at school and taught herself digital photography. For a time, photography became a side hobby while she explored other avenues. After the birth of her first son, Nina realized she needed a creative outlet, and photography called her back. To be an artist and be successful a way that works for you is such a blessing in this world where the 9-5 grind is taught to us from an early age. For Nina, her signature style has developed naturally over time. She pushes for the raw, primal power of motherhood coupled with the raw, primal power of nature. Nina also takes inspiration from art and the ethereal for her pictures, bringing a fairy tale edge to her work. In her shoots, Nina is vocal with her clients. She has seen it all before and there is no shame in what you show. It’s all about the client’s comfort level, although many of her clients do lead with wanting to take nude or semi-nude shots. Other times, it’s a more organic process during the shoot. It’s a part of our society to hide our light, but Nina wants to make women shine without fear in her work. Connect with Nina: Website: Instagram: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 22: Staying inspired after lockdown with Samantha Dennaoui
09/09/2021
Episode 22: Staying inspired after lockdown with Samantha Dennaoui
I’m happy to once again have Samantha from Fox and Feather Photography in Melbourne, Australia on the show today. Samantha wants to discuss lockdowns, staying inspired, and keeping the momentum going in your business if you have to close briefly. Currently, Melbourne is in lockdown number 6 due to COVID-19. While not all of Australia is currently locked down, many of the larger population centres are. Samantha has had clients that rescheduled shoots and weddings during the first lockdown, and are having to change their plans yet again. While the initial lack of cases in Australia was good news, it has led to widespread vaccine shortages and general population that is only 20% vaccinated. For Samantha, it has been hard to stay inspired. Being fully locked down means no shoots, but she is finding some ways to stay creative. Samantha is planning on giving some of her clients tips on how to take photos so they don’t miss out on these moments. She also keeps an ideas journal where she jots down anything that comes to her. Now, Samantha feels like there is nothing left to give. Throughout initial lockdowns, she was super active with work and social media. Now it’s time to take the time to rest and relax and learn to throttle back. For years, she would put photography first, but lockdown and her son’s cancer diagnosis has put the world into perspective. It’s okay to take a minute to look around and evaluate what is truly important. Connect with Samantha: Website: Instagram: Facebook: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 21: Unpicking common misconceptions in the photography industry with Katherine Schultz
08/26/2021
Episode 21: Unpicking common misconceptions in the photography industry with Katherine Schultz
In this episode I am chatting to Katherine Schultz, a newborn, wedding, and family photographer based in Adelaide, Australia. Kat talks about her journey, business, and the common misconceptions we see in the photography industry. Fresh out of school at 18, Kat registered her ABN (Australian Business Number) and began her business. For the first few years, photography was a side project while she worked a retail job and studied law. Kat realized that law was not where her heart was and quit her degree to focus on making photography a full-time business venture. Being able to immerse herself fully in the photography process really allowed her to grow not only her skills, but her business too. Initially, Kat started out photographing families and weddings before taking on newborns. She had always loved babies, even considering a career as a pediatrician, so it was a natural but scary progression. Kat had no studio back then and would cart her gear around to clients’ houses. Any space can be a studio space, because there is no perfect circumstance or environment. People are often put off by a small space, but it really isn’t about the size of space you have. It’s about working with what you have, getting to know the space, and lighting and practicing taking shots and different compositions. There are so many ways you can get creative in a small space – don’t limit yourself by dwelling on what you wish you had. Use what you have now. Connect with Katherine: Website: Instagram: Greatness Guide by Robin Sharma Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 20: A Mother's Choice with Diana Pavlova
08/12/2021
Episode 20: A Mother's Choice with Diana Pavlova
In this episode I am chatting with Diana Pavlova, a fellow photographer here to share her insights on motherhood. We’ll review the choices that you can make in your motherhood journey to empower yourself. Diana is a London-based family, baby, and maternity photographer. Additionally, she is mother to a 10-month-old little girl and is expecting her second child in the autumn. Diana’s experience of motherhood has been almost entirely during the pandemic – she found out she was expecting just before lockdown in February 2020. Initially, the uncertainty surrounding the virus was scary, but it turned out to be somewhat of a benefit. There was nowhere to be, so there was no need to hide her pregnancy. Diana started telling her clients when she was 5 or 6 weeks pregnant. It created an immediate connection. For Diana, being a baby photographer was the perfect job to have while pregnant. Who understands pregnancy better than pregnant or recent mothers? With every client she worked with, Diana picked up more and more tips, tricks, advice, and stories about motherhood to help prepare her. It is a close and intimate position to be in and leads to a lot of vulnerable moments. There is a responsibility of support and letting mothers know that there is no shame in how they are choosing to take care of their children. Every client is different, and everyone will have different worries and inadequacies. It’s about being supportive and letting them know that there is no one right way to be a mother. Your baby is your achievement. Connect with Diana: Website: Instagram: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 19: 5 things you can outsource to give you more time freedom with Lindsey Garvey
08/05/2021
Episode 19: 5 things you can outsource to give you more time freedom with Lindsey Garvey
In this episode I am chatting to Lindsey, my incredible personal assistant. I have talked about her on previous episodes and wanted to give her the opportunity to tell her story on the show. Lindsey will explain what she does for my business, why you should be outsourcing some of your processes, and what it’s like behind the scenes. Lindsey is a Virtual Assistant (VA) and VA mentor based in Bath who works mostly with photographers and other creatives to help them run their businesses. Only starting at the beginning of 2020, Lindsey has seen incredible growth in her business already and has had to close her books to new clients. While the pandemic has obviously been a struggle for many, it also allowed Lindsey the time to launch her business and put the time into it that it needed as new venture. Time is valuable, and people have realized that they don’t have to do and know everything in their business. You only need to focus on what earns you the money - you can outsource the rest and regain some freedom. It can be hard to let go of the reins. You’ve built your business from the ground up and put all the processes in place yourself, so it’s understandable that you want to hold on. Think about the stress that will be lifted off your shoulders by outsourcing. Lindsey’s goal is to make it so photographers only have to “click a button” to profit while the rest is taken care of. If you are struggling to grow, to find the time to do what could be done instead of the minutiae of your business, it might be time to get help. Connect with Lindsey: Instagram: Website. Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 18: Building a life you love with Mel from Not Little For Long
07/22/2021
Episode 18: Building a life you love with Mel from Not Little For Long
In this episode I am chatting to Mel from Not Little for Long. Mel is a newborn and family photographer based in both Liverpool and London. She’s going to discuss her photography journey, moving from studio to natural lighting, and how she has built her business using Instagram. Mel started photography in 2017. Before then, she worked in media and advertising sales. When she left work in 2017 to travel, she didn’t know if she would be coming back to London. Her partner Gareth picked up a Fuji XT2 to take with them on their travels, despite the fact that neither of them had much experience with photography. It fell by the wayside at first, and halfway through their trip Mel found out that her nan was unwell. One day, as she was scrolling social, saw a picture of a newborn, and was inspired. This was what she wanted to do. After they returned from travelling, Mel moved back in with her parents in Liverpool and turned their loft into a studio with their full support. Mel put everything into her new venture because she had to make it work. She learned about her camera and lighting by herself, but did take a workshop on posing newborns and babies safely. Every waking moment was practice; she worked for free, took inspiration from other photographers, and perfected her craft. It’s easy to put too much pressure on yourself or become obsessed when you are creative. Mel would stay up until the early hours of the morning researching and finding new information. The job satisfaction now compared to her previous work makes it all worthwhile. It’s not easy, but the payoff is worth the late nights. Connect with Mel: Website: Instagram: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 17: Finding Inspiration with Gaia from The Family Lab
07/15/2021
Episode 17: Finding Inspiration with Gaia from The Family Lab
In this episode I am chatting to Gaia from The Family Lab. Based in New York, Gaia is an editorial family photographer. We discuss finding inspiration, building a slow living business, and staying true to your own style. For Gaia, inspiration can come from anywhere: fashion magazines, art, movies, and so on. A very visual person, Gaia finds herself drawing from external stimuli and recontextualizing and reinventing those images. Mood boards are also a huge art of her process. Collating images by lighting style, atmosphere, and colour allows her to work towards capturing an emotion. Mood boards are also a great tool to communicate visions with clients. They are a way of creating collaboration between artist and client that can elevate the experience for both parties. As artists, it can be easy to get carried away in the creative process, it’s important to remember that in family photography, the focus is on the client. It isn’t about the volume of work you produce or how many clients you can squeeze in in a day, it’s about the quality of work you produce. When it comes to styling a shoot, most clients trust Gaia’s input and overall vibe she is trying to create. It’s important to have the confidence to know what colours and styles will work on camera and communicating that to your clients. Even the most experienced photographer sometimes doubts themself, but be confident in your vision and don’t be afraid to share it. Connect with Gaia: Website: Instagram: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 16: Combining Marriage and Business with Sam & Yaz Mason
06/24/2021
Episode 16: Combining Marriage and Business with Sam & Yaz Mason
Yaz is returning to the podcast with her husband Sam to give us a different perspective on the collaborative side of their work. We discuss running a business with your other half while having a family and leaving the corporate world to start a self-employed business. Initially, Yaz started out with her own portrait photography business. As the business grew and progressed, she began doing weddings and needed an extra pair of hands. That’s where Sam came in to assist her. Sam had no previous photography experience, but that just meant that Yaz was able to teach him her way of doing things. It goes to show that photography is something that you learn by doing. Married for 13 years this year, they have 4 children and a huge menagerie of animals to take care of. Before he joined Yaz on the weddings, Sam worked for a large accounting firm. Transitioning from a really corporate world was a freeing experience for Sam, and he was able to bring his organizational skills from that world into the photography business. It’s also a lot more flexible and fun. The transition wasn’t necessarily a traditional or easy one. While he was working at the firm, Sam was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Already struggling to keep up with work, study, and the kids, it was time to take a break and make a change. It was this that prompted Yaz to take her portrait business full-time. Luckily, Sam and Yaz have a great family support structure, and Sam organizes everything from work to family matters with a spreadsheet. It’s about balancing and constant re-assessment to keep track of priorities. Connect with Sam and Yaz: Website: Instagram: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 15: Building a Business with Lydia Collins
06/17/2021
Episode 15: Building a Business with Lydia Collins
I am chatting with Lydia Collins today, a London based photographer. Lydia joins me today to discuss how she has built up her business and expanded her client base. Lydia is a lifestyle and fashion photographer who works with influencers and brands, being fully freelance for around 4 years. To build up clients after university, Lydia did free shoots every week for 15 months to build a portfolio - a business strategy she wouldn’t recommend today. Although social media and websites are an integral part of building a business, Lydia admits she does struggle keeping her website up to date. For Lydia, social media is a way of showing your validation as a business. If she is recommended a clothing store, she will check their Instagram before their website. It’s a way of seeing their creativity every day and checking how legitimate they are. When it comes to posting on her own socials, Lydia wouldn’t have an Instagram if she didn’t have a business. The toxic side and trolling have really put her off. When it comes to time put in, in the morning she answers messages and queries but doesn’t scroll. She pre-plans her posts using a platform and definitely sees an increase in inquiries when she posts recent content and behind the scenes. Now, Lydia also has an assistant to help her post on other social sites. If you aren’t at the point in your career where you can hire someone to help you manage your social media, Lydia shares some advice. An app called Tailwind allows you to schedule all your Pinterest posts on it ahead of time. It’s all about finding which platform works for your business and focusing in on it. Connect with Lydia: Website: Instagram: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 14: Freeing the Nipple on Instagram with Linzie Russo
06/10/2021
Episode 14: Freeing the Nipple on Instagram with Linzie Russo
In this episode I am chatting to Linzie Russo, a Scottish photographer now based in Australia. She joins me today to discuss her recent shadow ban on Instagram and the importance of sharing images that can educate and reassure other women about their bodies. Linzie has now been in Australia for twelve years and a full-time photographer for nine. Recently, Linzie went through being shadow banned on Instagram for posting images that featured bare female nipples. Her images were taken down despite adhering to Instagram guidelines. She only found out about the ban when someone mentioned that they could no longer find her account. Now, this account restriction is affecting her business inquiries. New clients haven’t been able to find her, and even before she knew she was shadow banned, Linzie had noticed the drop off. To combat this, she has now made a second account to try and connect with her audience and perspective clients. With the baffling restrictions on Instagram surrounding female bodies, young girls and new mums are being dissuaded from the truth of the human form. If everything is airbrushed, filtered, and perfect, what kind of impact does that have on women looking at their own, natural body? It also brings up the societal taboo of breast feeding. Many new mums have never even seen anyone breast feed before. How can new mums feel comfortable feeding their children when every aspect of society is telling them it’s wrong and needs to be hidden? Normalizing post-partum bodies is also part of Linzie’s work. The changes women go through after giving birth and the trauma they can experience are so often hidden and it’s time to show the world what they look like, end the stigma, and help women to heal. Connect with Linzie: Website: Instagram: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 13: Photography and Endometriosis with Stacey Cooper
05/27/2021
Episode 13: Photography and Endometriosis with Stacey Cooper
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: Instagram: Facebook: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 12: Taking Leaps in Your Business with Yasmin Anne
05/20/2021
Episode 12: Taking Leaps in Your Business with Yasmin Anne
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: Instagram: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 11: Motherhood it's Another Hood with Iona Hickman
05/13/2021
Episode 11: Motherhood it's Another Hood with Iona Hickman
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: Instagram: Iona’s personal Instagram: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 10: Pivoting During a Pandemic with Katie Gray
05/06/2021
Episode 10: Pivoting During a Pandemic with Katie Gray
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: Instagram: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 9: Finding Your Identity with Sam Dennaoui
04/29/2021
Episode 9: Finding Your Identity with Sam Dennaoui
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: Instagram: Facebook: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 8: Seeking Motherhood Whilst Working As a Newborn Photographer With Nikki Watkins
04/22/2021
Episode 8: Seeking Motherhood Whilst Working As a Newborn Photographer With Nikki Watkins
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: Tommy’s: Miscarriage Association: Find out more about Nikki: Website: Instagram: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 7: Motherhood, Business & Instagram with Alishia Love
04/15/2021
Episode 7: Motherhood, Business & Instagram with Alishia Love
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: Tog London: Instagram:
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Epsiode 6: Growing a Business That Works for You With Sophie Lea Partyka
04/08/2021
Epsiode 6: Growing a Business That Works for You With Sophie Lea Partyka
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: Instagram: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 5: Preparing Your Business for a Baby With Megan Daisy
04/01/2021
Episode 5: Preparing Your Business for a Baby With Megan Daisy
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: Instagram: Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio:
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Episode 4: Organising Your Income With Natasha Ford
03/25/2021
Episode 4: Organising Your Income With Natasha Ford
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: Instagram: by Michael Michalowicz Connect with Suzi: Website: Instagram: Suzi’s Photography Studio: Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine by Mike Michalowicz:
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