Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
I think when you are capturing important moments for other people’s families such as pregnancy, births, weddings and family photoshoots, it really brings the importance of family to the front of your mind. Perhaps at the beginning, I was focusing too much time on my business. But having your own business is similar to working in an office in some ways. There is only so much good-quality work you can do in one day. There is no point staying in the office 12 hours a day, because a chunk of those hours are going to be poor quality. I can’t do great-quality editing for 12 hours a day. So I’m better sticking to a standard working day and making sure I dedicate the rest of the time to my family.
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
The biggest challenge for me was relocating from the UK to the Sunshine Coast, Australia. I’d really just got my family photography business set up and running well, with a good flow of referrals coming in. I also had a great network of local photographers, which was great for bouncing off ideas with and also passing on referrals when necessary. It’s really taken a year to get back on my feet business wise. Australia also has quite different light and scenery so I’ve had to change the way I shoot. I do love being able to do beach family photoshoots on the Sunshine Coast however, as I didn’t live anywhere near a beach in the UK!
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
The flexibility is definitely a huge pro. I can now work my business around my family, rather than the other way around. Also, you can see direct rewards for all the effort you put in, which isn’t always clear when you work for someone else. On the downside, if you let it, it can take over your life! You just have to be careful to manage your time.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
I’m really just enjoying growing my little business in this amazing area. The Sunshine Coast is such a fantastic location for all sorts of photoshoots – maternity, family, weddings. There are so many options around here. We have beautiful greenery, stunning hinterlands, and dreamy beaches. So, over the next year I’m just going to focus on finding more stunning locations in which to create magical images for my clients!
Head over to the Sandpiper Photography website to view more of Brooke’s beautiful images. You can also join the Sandpiper Photography Facebook and Instagram communities.
