Building up a business from scratch is not easy. In fact, it’s one of the hardest things I continue to do.
Showing up when I don’t feel up to it, staying consistent, talking proudly and confidently about what it is that I do is not second nature to me. But it’s a journey that continues to teach me so much. Let me start from where it began.
A Scary Start
I was in my first trimester when I lost my job. That kind of news hits different when you’re carrying new life and suddenly have no idea what your own future holds. I was working in TV as a producer at the time, in an industry that I enjoyed, but didn’t love. So when it came to meetings and so-called negotiations with my then company, I didn’t have much fight in me – what was I fighting for exactly? I was already battling hormones, and beginning to feel the heavy weight of the transition into motherhood. I didn’t have much fight in me. That’s why now I’m a strong advocate for charities like Pregnant Then Screwed. Oh how I wish I knew that this wasn’t new antics from big companies at the time. I felt so alone, it was one of the scariest times of my life.
But amongst the feeling of exhaustion and uncertainty, I also had this quiet little dream. A love for photography that I’d been nurturing in the background as a side hustle for many years, unsure how it could ever be more or what it could look like.
Logic said no. I had no roadmap, no business plan, and very little sleep. But my heart and sheer willpower? It whispered yes again and again.
The Hustle Behind the Scenes
Starting a business with a newborn was not what I had planned. In fact, I remember the exact moment the yes whispers turned into one loud: DO IT! I was breastfeeding my daughter in the middle of the night when I had a vision as clear day: the brand name, the look, the feel, the intention. I watched it all unfold in my head and just like that, I couldn’t shake it. It kept coming to me.
Those early days were messy and raw. I was editing photos with one hand and cradling a baby with the other. I’d send emails at midnight, breastfeed during client calls, and bring my daughter to all my shoots with me. There were lots of nopes, ghosted emails and so many sessions that I did for free just to test out my gear and my style. Thankfully, a lots of those lovely families are still very dear to me – the free weren’t always pretty!
But there was also purpose.
Bit by bit, things started to shift. I started to find my rhythm. Clients started coming — not just any clients, but people who valued my work, who came back and referred others. My camera became my lifeline, my creative outlet, and eventually, my livelihood.
Building a Dream on My Own Terms
This business isn’t just a career — it’s my proof. Proof that something beautiful can grow out of uncertainty. That you can build a dream with a baby on your hip and a fire in your heart. That sometimes the most painful pivots in life are what opens the door to something better.
Don’t get me wrong, I have so much more that I wish to achieve in my business. I’m an ambitious gal with a long to-do list and a vibrant vision board. But whilst I’m on this journey, I get to do what I love and be there for my kids in a way I never imagined. I can be flexible with my schedule and I create meaningful images that captures love in all its forms — because I know firsthand how precious every moment is.
For Anyone Standing at the Edge
If you’re in that place — scared, uncertain, juggling a million things and wondering if your dream is even possible — I am rooting for you!
And I want you to know: it won’t be easy. But it will be worth it.
Start where you are. Use what you have. Trust that even small steps will get you there. Because sometimes, losing what you thought was the plan… is how you find what was meant for you all along.
