I’m pretty excited to share this podcast with you – but I’ll warn you now, we do use the word ‘baby’ a lot. Not to each other, that would be weird, but we’re talking all about balancing babies with business. Following the fairly recent announcement of her pregnancy, Sophie Callahan was the perfect lady to talk to about these challenges. As I have twin boys myself, I really do understand the issue of being all things to all people without breaking your sanity or yourself! So, in this podcast, I talk about babies and business with the very lovely Sophie Callahan.

Let’s talk about babies and business with equine photographer Sophie Callahan

Show notes for the Small & Supercharged Podcast – Episode 11 – babies and business – plans for dealing with a new addition, changing business models, following your dreams and lots more. With Sophie Callahan.

• I chat to Sophie about her pregnancy so far, and how she’s juggled a very challenging pregnancy with work – **Sophie’s had a hell of time – all OK now – but if you’re pregnant or you’re sensitive to this kind of thing, just be aware you might want to skip that link**
• The changes Sophie’s had to make so far and how it’s made her change her views on things she didn’t expect.
• We talk about how Sophie’s business is changing and why – and how the season has actually helped her.
• She talks about how she’s reducing the number of equine shoots she’s doing next year, but how the equine photoshoots are also changing.
• How Sophie was already planning to move and progress with her equine shoots and the direction of her business, but how the baby has accelerated this and given her a push.
• The move towards all inclusive shoots, where the idea came from, and what this involves for the customer.
• We talk through the new shoot packages and how these all align with Sophie’s goal of all inclusive equine photoshoots.
• We chat about ‘maternity leave’ and how that’s going to look for Sophie.
• Childcare plans moving forward, to allow Sophie to carry on shooting.
• The importance of support – from both family and friends – and how useful I’ve found it for my business, children and sanity.
• Advice from Sophie based on the experience she’s had so far (and, spoiler alert – these are great tips for whether you’re planning a baby or not – just good life tips really!!).
• Why it’s important to remember why you work for your yourself and the importance of seeing this as an opportunity not a restriction on your life.
• How businesses grow, evolve and develop, and how life changes like a baby can change the course of your business but how that’s not always a bad thing.
• Fears connected with starting a family and being self employed.
• The importance of asking for help and accepting help – how it’s not a weakness at all, can be hugely important, and how it makes everything SO much easier.
• Losing your identity and why, for me, working was a really important way to help prevent that.
• The importance of flexibility – and the need to really focus on what’s important and not worry too much about the other stuff.

Big thanks to Sophie for being an amazing guest on this podcast. This is something that, when I was pregnant, I would have found really reassuring to hear. When you have a baby or start a family it IS terrifying, I mean, you’re responsible (or will be!) for a human, and there’s a lot that comes with that. I remember when I was pregnant I had so many people telling me that running my business and being a mum would be impossible.

Well, I’m here to tell you it isn’t.

For some, being a full time mum suits them down to the ground. To be honest, I find the job of mum a lot harder than the other things I do for work- so huge credit to the stay at home mums – I couldn’t do it. I adore my children but I would really struggle. If you want to run your business alongside having a family, it won’t be easy, but it’s possible if you’ll accept help, prioritise, and make the necessary changes. The beauty is, you can make it what you want. You chose to be self employed to have control over your life, your time and everything else too. No one said it would be easy, did they?!

To keep up with Sophie, you can find her here…

Sophie Callahan Photography

Sophie Callahan Facebook

Sophie Callahan Instagram

Sophie Callahan Blog