One of the questions I get asked most often from photographers that are having babies of their own is how to go about preparing for maternity leave. Yes, there is a lot of flexibility that comes with owning your own business, but with that comes a lot of responsibility. Taking time away can be difficult. However, there are practical steps that you can take so that your business just doesn’t stop and you can actually enjoy your maternity leave!

Before I get into sharing my tips with you, I want to emphasize that there is no right or wrong way to approach this. You truly have to do what is best for you and use your business structure to help you determine the timelines. 

1 – Determine what you want your maternity leave to look like

I know as small business owners we tend to work even more hours than most so it can be very difficult to take the space you need after having a baby. But Momma, you only get this newborn stage once. As photographers, we are acutely aware of how fast this time goes as we document each milestone for our clients. Be sure to remember that as you’re planning how much time you want to take off and be realistic with yourself.

What do you need to do ahead of time to make that time off possible? Do you want to be completely off or are there certain parts of your business that you want to keep up with? Two things that come to mind are emails and social media. They will not stop and can quickly pile up or mess up your visibility on the algorithm, so having a plan will save you a lot of stress! 

2 -Prepare your assistant and/or team

If you have an assistant or a team, prepare them early. Delegate tasks to them that they are capable of handling for you. Now is the time to trust them and let them continue with the day-to-day operations of your business so you can enjoy maternity leave! 

3 – Schedule Smart

Schedule your last newborn session at least 6 weeks prior to your own due date. If all goes as planned with due dates, you should photograph your last session no later than 36 weeks. This gives you a couple of weeks to finalize their images, schedule their reveal, and wrap up any remaining client work that you need to do. 

If this is your first, you don’t have any history to base this off of. But three babies later, I think 36 weeks is a good time frame to aim for. 

4 – Have a Backup Plan

Have a plan should your pregnancy or postpartum journey change. I don’t think you need to go down the rabbit hole of thinking about every worst-case scenario. I do, however, recommend having a general idea of what you would do should you go into labor early or if you decide you need more time postpartum. That may mean working with another photographer for referrals, delaying sessions, and/or potentially needing to cancel and refund sessions. Having a general idea will make for a smoother transition if needed.

5 – Make time for your family

Carve out time for your family before and after. What this looks like is truly going to vary. It was really important to me to prioritize time before baby came. I knew that welcoming a third baby was going to really change the dynamic of our family. So, spending time as a family, time with just my husband, and then dedicated time with each of my children was a priority.

This is your Maternity leave – Make it What You Want and NEED

While not a tip exactly, I want to just remind you again that there is no right or wrong way to prepare for your maternity leave when you are a small-business owner. The season you are in is ever-changing and that may mean you change your mind. You may want less time or more time. You may want to work less or work more. Whatever you decide and whatever you determine your business can handle, is okay. 

Momma, you document this newborn season for Moms and Dads every single day. You know how quickly they change and you know how precious this time is. Allow yourself that same space and soak up all of those baby snuggles. Work will be there. Your business, if set up to thrive, will be there. You got this! 

And Momma, one last thing…this may be the most important tip of all. Your maternity leave is meant to be just that- a break for you to soak up and enjoy this season of life. Be sure to hire a fellow photographer to document it for you! Get in the photos and allow someone to do for you what you do for others.