When Luke & I jumped into this almost 4 years ago we had no idea what we were doing!  Like most people we just learned day by day by our failures as well as our successes.  And to this day we are still learning that way pretty much!

One thing that was a struggle was this balancing act with our kids.  We have 3 beautiful children that is  our world.  Being a stay at home mom is such a blessing and something that I am truly thankful for.  I was in the working world and although I LOVED my job I hated leaving my baby all the time!

We needed to find a way to make income… So we started our photography business.  Again we had no idea what we were doing.  With learning our camera, learning business, learning how to deal with clients, and everything else that comes along with it!  It was soooo much!!

So in the mix of that I still had 3 littles I had to take care of and manage a house!

 ( Did I mention Homeschooling in the mix)??

So trying to play this balancing act was definitely a struggle and wore on me at times.

The BIGGEST struggle for me was childcare.  And that’s what I want to talk about today!

Luke & I do not have not one family member here.  No grandmas, no aunts and uncles… Not even a distant cousin!!  And although we do have some pretty amazing friends that have stepped in to help us… We could not solely rely on them all the time.

In the beginning of our business Luke & I agreed that our kids would join us on our shoots.  It was important that both Luke & I would be at the Engagement Sessions.  It’s important to us that our clients get to know BOTH of us.  And we work best TOGETHER.

It was awkward at first bringing along 3 kids to an engagement session.  Definitely not the most professional I guess.  Even to meetings our kids would join us.

However, this is what works for our business.  We secure childcare for ALL our weddings and those sessions that we just cannot take the kids… Like this AMAZING sailboat session.

We also communicate to our couples that our kids will be joining us.  And I absolutely LOVE the response we get from our couples.  They are so understanding and so open!

Finding a sitter for every session was not ideal for our budget as well as time.  And on another note even though my kids don’t always necessarily enjoy coming along… it is a teaching moment.  We are teaching them how to deal with people, how to socialize with other adults, and even a little bit of technical skill!

At first it was difficult.  I remember showing up to a family session with Ryan strapped to me in his baby carrier!  We had to teach our kids how to act and behave.  It was a challenge but we stayed persistent.

( There were times I would cry and say we cannot do this)!  Lol…. But then the next session came with a little more success and it got easier and easier.

Now with my youngest at 4 years old I can honestly say that I can take my kids on any one of my shoots and they know how to entertain themselves and not act crazy.  They are still kids and have their moments but for the most part they do great!  We get a lot of compliments when we take them out.  And I always say it is because they are used to it.  They may not like it all the time but hopefully one day they will appreciate it!

I wanted to share this because we are always met with bewilderment when we share to other photographers that we bring our kids along to our sessions.  And it is what works for us.  Every family is different and every kid is different.  And of course every business different.

We are a Family Business.

You get Luke & I and then of course you will probably meet these 3 cuties as well!

Brianna likes to pose with my seniors!  She didn’t like it when I told her she had to get out of the picture.  

Early Morning Sunrise Session – Still in Pajamas!

Sometimes my kids get in the pictures… Then I have to photoshop them out! 

Bri ALWAYS posing!