If you want to be just a photographer, don't start a photography business

A company that provides affordable in-home newborn photography approached me asking if I would be interested in doing photography for them. Client communication, editing, post-processing, delivery of images and products would be handled by the company – the only thing I would need to do is take photographs of babies in their homes.

Sounds like a dream job, right? I'd get to focus on just my passion!

But the truth is, the photography part is not the only thing that I love about running my photography business. Because I'm the one in charge of all of it, I get a choice in whom I work with. I also get to grow a relationship with the families that I photograph.

I'd never want to give that part away, not in a million years.In addition I would not want to hand over my babies (my photographs, my art!) to be post-processed by other people. When I take photographs, I have a vision for how I want my work to look.But to get to document amazing clients, and to maintain relationships with them I have to run a business – not just take pretty pictures.

I have to be an entrepreneur more than I can be an artist.

Right now I'm wearing so many hats – from photographer and artist to CEO, marketer, blogger, receptionist, IT person, client support, and so much in between. Running my own (someday sustainable) photography business alongside taking care of myself and being present for my loved ones is hard work.

Yes - running my own photography business has its perks. I can go to the beach middle of the week or join a friend at the pool on a Thursday afternoon. But then I'll be making up for it in the evening after my husband goes to sleep – which is understandably not well received.

Yes – I get to do what I love for a living – part of the time.

I have many parts about my job that I don't like, just like everyone else.

Someday I might have enough sessions on the books to hire someone to take care of some things on the backend, but for the first few years that has definitely not been an option.

So if you are thinking about starting a photography business because you love photography, you have to ask yourself if you are ready to be an entrepreneur. If you are ready to do the work to charge what you need to support your business as well as yourself. If you are ready to ask for what you are worth. If you are ready to put yourself out there. And if you are ready to wait for a steadier salary for maybe a minimum 2-3 years.

If you don't want to run a business, you may want to work for another business instead, like the one that contacted me.

You may want to keep photography as a way to express yourself and find joy outside of your regular job – you can still create art, write a book, and have an exhibition without running a family/wedding/newborn/pet photography business.

So what happened with the email I got about a potential job? I politely declined the offer, so I can be an entrepreneur.