The Heart & Hustle Podcast
Episode 422: Balancing Full-Time Motherhood as a Full-Time Wedding Photographer
Hosts: Evie McLeod & Lindsey Roman
Guests: Alex McCrary & Jamie Tobin
Release Date: February 25, 2025
Introduction
In Episode 422 of The Heart & Hustle Podcast, hosts Evie McLeod and Lindsey Roman delve deep into the intricate balance of managing full-time motherhood alongside a thriving wedding photography business. Joined by two inspiring guests, Alex McCrary and Jamie Tobin—both Iowa-based photographers and dedicated mothers—the conversation unpacks the challenges, strategies, and heartfelt experiences that come with juggling family life and a demanding creative profession.
Meet the Guests: Alex McCrary & Jamie Tobin
Alex McCrary
- Profession: Traditional Midwest wedding photographer
- Family: Mom to three daughters (ages 8, 6, and almost 2)
- Focus: Local weddings within Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota
- Approach: Prioritizes spending bedtime exclusively with her children, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries to maintain family life.
Jamie Tobin
- Profession: Destination and elopement photographer
- Family: Mom to two boys (ages 3 and 14 months)
- Focus: Travels extensively across the US, primarily in Washington, Oregon, Utah, and national parks
- Approach: Balances extensive travel with motherhood by leveraging a strong support system, including her mother and a dedicated babysitter.
Starting Points: Business Before or After Motherhood
Alex's Journey: Alex began her photography career after becoming a stay-at-home mom. Her initial foray into photography was a fulfilling hobby that soon blossomed into a full-time business as her passion for capturing couples and weddings grew. Balancing her growing family with her burgeoning business required her to quickly learn and implement effective boundaries.
Notable Quote:
"Having boundaries doesn't mean that you are working less productively or not going to have as big of a business. It can also set some sort of respect"
— Alex McCrary [22:54]
Jamie's Journey: Conversely, Jamie established her photography business before embracing motherhood. This pre-existing structure allowed her to integrate her new role as a mom with her professional commitments, albeit with significant adjustments to accommodate her family's needs.
Notable Quote:
"Motherhood is great... there are so many different ways to be a photographer, be a mom. Let's just talk about it."
— Jamie Tobin [11:28]
Local vs. Destination Photography: Different Paths, Common Challenges
Alex's Local Focus: Alex's commitment to traditional Midwest weddings keeps her close to home, allowing her to maintain a balanced routine without the extended travel demands that come with destination photography. Her typical wedding day spans 8-10 hours, enabling her to return home the same evening and dedicate Sundays entirely to family and church.
Notable Quote:
"Sundays are also no. So like I only have three days a week where I'm like, you can schedule here, otherwise you're gonna have to wait till next week."
— Alex McCrary [24:08]
Jamie's Destination Adventures: Jamie thrives on the adventurous side of photography, frequently traveling to picturesque locations across the US. Managing destinations with young children necessitates a robust support system, including her mother and babysitter. Jamie emphasizes the importance of planning buffer days and automating workflows to ensure business continuity even when she's on the move.
Notable Quote:
"I have a small village but it's not possible without my small village... my mom calls herself my traveling nanny, Grammy."
— Jamie Tobin [14:15]
Support Systems: The Backbone of Balance
Both Alex and Jamie acknowledge the pivotal role of their spouses and extended support networks in managing their dual roles.
Alex's Support: Alex's husband is a coffee roaster who transitioned from a traditional job to co-owning a coffee shop before focusing solely on roasting. This flexibility allows him to be present for their children, enabling Alex to dedicate her work hours effectively.
Notable Quote:
"He works for our local school system... that's what he does."
— Jamie Tobin [12:35]
Jamie's Support: Jamie's husband maintains a consistent work schedule, freeing up weekends and holidays for family time. Additionally, her mother and babysitter provide invaluable assistance during Jamie's travels.
Notable Quote:
"Ashley is a godsend... I'm full-time stay at home mom, full-time business owner, never sleeping ever. Pure caffeine."
— Jamie Tobin [15:08]
Navigating Mom Guilt and Setting Boundaries
A significant portion of the discussion centers on the pervasive issue of mom guilt and the strategies employed to mitigate it.
Understanding Mom Guilt: Both guests acknowledge that mom guilt is an inevitable aspect of motherhood, especially when balancing it with a demanding career. They emphasize that experiencing guilt indicates a deep care for both their children and their businesses.
Notable Quote:
"Every mom is going to experience mom guilt if you care deeply."
— Alex McCrary [40:13]
Implementing Boundaries: Setting clear boundaries is essential for maintaining a healthy balance. Alex discusses how establishing specific work hours and automations can prevent work from encroaching on personal and family time. Jamie highlights the importance of communicating these boundaries with clients to manage expectations effectively.
Notable Quote:
"My office hours are like the clients know right where I can be reached, what times I can be reached and when I can't."
— Alex McCrary [24:08]
Managing Workflows and Systems
Efficient workflows and systems are crucial for sustaining both motherhood and a successful photography business.
Alex's Approach: Alex relies on setting aside dedicated work hours during her children's school time, ensuring she completes major tasks like editing and workflows when she can fully concentrate.
Notable Quote:
"When they're busy with school is when I work and get all my work done and then I don't work after they come home."
— Alex McCrary [25:13]
Jamie's Approach: Jamie leverages tools like Dubsado and Honeybook to automate client communications and streamline processes, allowing her to maintain productivity even while traveling.
Notable Quote:
"I have workflows and automation... work mode's already done, workflow's already automated."
— Jamie Tobin [30:18]
Pregnancy as a Wedding Photographer: Experiences and Strategies
The episode touches upon the unique challenges faced by photographers who become pregnant while managing their careers.
Alex's Experience: Alex shares her experience of photographing a wedding 30 weeks pregnant and how she manages workload postpartum with minimal downtime.
Notable Quote:
"The biggest thing for sure is being able to have that community of people."
— Alex McCrary [52:05]
Jamie's Experience: Jamie candidly discusses photographing a wedding 40 weeks pregnant, highlighting the unpredictability of pregnancy and the importance of having a trusted second shooter to step in when needed.
Notable Quote:
"I was photographing it, and like, guests are like, 'Are you okay?' And I'm like, 'No,' that's hilarious."
— Jamie Tobin [50:07]
Encouragement and Advice for Mompreneurs
As the conversation winds down, Alex and Jamie offer heartfelt advice to fellow mothers managing creative businesses.
Embrace Seasons and Set Priorities: Understanding that both business and family life go through various seasons helps in setting realistic expectations and adapting accordingly.
Notable Quote:
"Some people do really well with social media, some people do really well with something else. You just have to find what works for you and set those boundaries and give yourself grace."
— Alex McCrary [48:04]
Self-Care is Essential: Prioritizing self-care not only benefits the individual but also enhances the quality of both family life and business operations.
Notable Quote:
"The more you take care of yourself and, like, you feel happy, the better your kids are gonna be, the better your business is gonna be."
— Jamie Tobin [45:02]
Leverage Community Support: Building a network of supportive peers who understand the dual challenges of motherhood and business can provide invaluable emotional and practical support.
Notable Quote:
"Having industry friends that are moms too, that you can relate to... sometimes you just need somebody to be like, yeah, yeah, I was gonna say."
— Alex McCrary [42:17]
Final Thoughts and Takeaways
Episode 422 of The Heart & Hustle Podcast offers a rich tapestry of insights into the lives of two dedicated photographer mothers. Alex McCrary and Jamie Tobin eloquently illustrate that while balancing full-time motherhood with a full-time business is undeniably challenging, it's entirely achievable with the right strategies, support systems, and mindset. Their candid discussions on mom guilt, boundary-setting, workflow management, and personal experiences provide a beacon of inspiration for creative entrepreneurs navigating similar paths.
Key Takeaways:
- Set Clear Boundaries: Define specific work hours and communicate them effectively with clients to ensure personal time is respected.
- Leverage Support Systems: Rely on spouses, family members, and trusted babysitters to create a reliable support network.
- Embrace Flexibility: Understand that balance is dynamic and may require constant adjustments based on the seasons of both business and family life.
- Prioritize Self-Care: Recognize that taking care of oneself is integral to sustaining both family and professional success.
- Utilize Efficient Workflows: Implement tools and automation to streamline business processes, reducing the burden and enhancing productivity.
For creative entrepreneur mothers seeking to emulate Alex and Jamie's success, this episode serves as both a roadmap and a source of encouragement, affirming that with dedication and the right approach, it's possible to thrive in both business and motherhood.
Connect with Alex McCrary & Jamie Tobin:
- Cameras and Car Seats Podcast: Instagram - @CamerasAndCarSeats
- Jamie Tobin Photography: Instagram - @JamieTobinPhoto
- Alex McCrary Photography: Instagram - @AlexMcCraryPhotography
Thank you for tuning into The Heart & Hustle Podcast. Stay inspired, stay empowered, and continue chasing your dreams!