Getting Life Back After the Grind of Business-Building
Getting a photography business up and running is so much fun, but it is also a lot of work. In addition to the fun of learning something new and getting positive feedback from the people in your life about your pretty pictures, it involves long days, missed family time, and personal budget cuts that affect the whole family. You would think that finally getting things running smoothly with more work than you know what to do with would be a welcome relief, but it doesn’t quite work that way for many of us.
What I’ve struggled with the most over my decade in business is not kickstarting it (I love building things!). Instead, I find it challenging to figure out how to spend my free time once everything runs smoothly. I had become so used to the constant thrill of stress and hustle—immersing myself in my work and having a clear direction for my excess energy—that when things began to operate on autopilot or under the guidance of the people I hired—just as I intended—I didn’t know how to cope with having a normal amount of free time again. I couldn’t stop working or trying to grow. I didn’t know how to live a normal life anymore, so I kept creating. I launched a photography school and coaching program (Hi 👋 LPS!). My business sometimes felt like an out-of-control freight train. I transitioned from one season of burnout to the next, bringing it all upon myself. Life was overwhelming, even though it didn’t have to be that way.
I reached a point where I seriously considered tossing my entire life’s work in the trash and setting it on fire. I felt ready to walk away and get a “normal job,” bidding farewell to the photography and wedding industry. Me!—the one who loves my job and encourages others to pursue the same for freedom and control. Not only was I not following my own advice, but I had also lost sight of the whole purpose. Isn’t that interesting? Despite all the books I’ve read and the time I spend listing my priorities and to-do lists and structuring my life each week, I couldn’t see the forest for the trees. I would hear stories of other photographers who retired and felt jealous. I began turning away new wedding leads left and right, hoping LPS would take off to compensate for the lack of revenue I pushed away. It’s not that I didn’t love shooting weddings—I was overwhelmed…and it was my fault!
I don’t think my story is unique. I’ve heard many similar stories before. Many services have emerged from this pain, promising relief from the constant pressure we place on ourselves, only to keep piling it on. We hire editors, social media managers, house cleaners, yard services, website designers, and virtual assistants to help free up our time. But what do we do? We book more. We are told to keep growing, raise prices, and market at higher prices, but why? Because someone is profiting from the belief that you need to do this to be considered successful.
Here’s the truth: Only you can determine what success means to you. Striving beyond your personal and family goals only adds pressure and anxiety that can wear you down, resulting in burnout and a loss of passion and interest.
How can you avoid falling into this trap? I have a few suggestions from personal experience I’d like to share with you.
Therapy
Honestly, therapy is essential. I believe everyone should think about seeing a therapist. Having an outsider with a valid degree is incredibly helpful for guiding you, helping you identify your priorities, and keeping you focused on them in every aspect of your life. Therapy has been a monumental source of support in my life and for many others I know.
Start the search by calling your health insurance company to inquire about coverage. Many companies now include therapy as a covered service.
Mindfulness Meditation
My second suggestion is mindfulness meditation. When I started exploring meditation, it wasn’t as popular as it is today. In fact, it was something only hippies practiced. Nowadays, meditating daily has become much more mainstream. Just as going to a gym used to be uncommon, we eventually recognized that exercise benefits our bodies; we now realize that meditation acts like a bicep curl for your brain. It helps keep us mindful in a world where everything is designed to capture our attention. It can also help you recognize how your daily actions practically and realistically affect your life.
I use the Happier app, but there are other free apps that are great, like Insight Timer.
Journaling
No, not like “Dear Diary.” More like a notebook for jotting down your thoughts to help sort them out. My mind tends to churn continuously—always trying to solve the next problem, improve a situation, or analyze a past conversation with someone. When I write my thoughts down, it helps me see the problem as something concrete rather than just ideas floating around in my head. Perhaps journaling could do something similar for you. It can also help you release ideas that keep resurfacing, allowing you to set them aside for later. Just like making a list of tasks you need to complete helps you stop trying to remember them.
There’s no rule about whether you have to use a paper notebook or the Notes app on your phone, but I have found over time that there is something magical about using pen and paper that a digital option can’t compete with. I have no idea why, but it just works better for me.
Coaching
We often view coaching as a means to foster our growth, but a good coach helps identify what aligns with your priorities and goals, guiding you toward those actions in a caring yet firm manner. This can mean holding you accountable for progress toward your goals, advising you to build a more solid foundation instead of climbing a shaky ladder to success that you’re not ready for, or suggesting some well-deserved leisure time after a grind season. It’s uncommon to receive coaching from a trained therapist, as you can at Lancaster Photography School. Before I pursued photography as a career, I worked as a therapist, so the coaching role at LPS perfectly integrates all my past experiences. If you are feeling lost, overwhelmed, or unmotivated, I’d love to help you straighten your path and put you back on track to the life you’ve always wanted.