Being your own boss is a tricky thing. You are the only one who decides when and how much you work. I have been fortunate enough to have a pretty successful photography business. I’m getting calls every week from new clients. The really hard part is knowing how much I can do.
One thing I have decided and feel good about is my decision to only shoot a VERY limited number of weddings each year. This year we only are shooting two and it’s great. The couples are ones we click with, get our style and want us to do our thing. I’ll admit that it’s been extremely hard to say no to the many brides that contacted me throughout this year. But once I taught myself the phrase “We are booked for the ’09 season”, things went pretty smoothly. After I say no, I feel guilty for awhile and then I start to feel relief that I’m not shooting another wedding. So it works out….as long as I can get through the guilt.
I never expected so much guilt to accompany having a business. I feel guilty when I spend too much time working on pictures in the evening because I miss out on time with my husband. I feel guilty when I crash on the couch watching TV instead of doing work. I feel guilty when I have to tell a client that I can’t get them in until October because I’m booked up. I feel guilty when I cram three sessions into one weekend.
Slowly though I am learning balance. I have accepted the fact that I cannot shoot four sessions every week like I have been doing. I am occasionally planning a Saturday off here and there. I’m taking it easy this weekend because of the wedding we are shooting the following weekend. And I’m not beating myself up if I choose to sit on the couch for an evening.
It’s all about balance and finding that place in the middle. I am learning.
So what you are saying is if I'm interested in your business I better book early?!?
Ha! Yeah, I'm basically booked through October. Although for you, I'd squeeze you in. :)
I think as women, we are conditioned that saying no implies weakness when it actually means very much the opposite.
I found myself upset when I asked my sister a favor last week and she said no. Then when I realized that she actually listened to my advice from a few weeks prior when I said, "don't feel obligated to say yes if agreeing to something will cause you more stress than the two minutes of guilt for saying 'no' will." Darn that big sister wisdom. I really should listen to it sometime.