***All images in this post are copyright Carey Schumacher. ***

NEXT WEEK: Kara May

{To nominate women you'd like to see in this series please list them in the comments-or if you have a question you'd like to see in the interviews--make sure to include your info in the comment fields so that I can get in touch with you- or write to me at: davina at davinafear dot com }

As always make sure to leave comments for the women who are featured. They like comments as much as I do I'm sure...let them know if you have questions or just to say thanks! for their insight and wisdom...

Make sure to check out the rest of the series by clicking here. Tell a friend!

What 5 things do you do to keep your sanity while being a mom, photographer, business woman, and expert advice giver on forums?

Expert advice giver?!  HA!  I don’t accept that label!!  And the “sane” label is questionable, too, but I’ll take a crack at answering anyway.

Five things to try to keep insanity at bay:

1)       I don’t do weddings.  I cherish MOM time, and my family has too many weekend activities, so even though I know I could rock a wedding, I don’t take them on. 

2)       I keep my sessions short.  No multi-hour “lifestyle” sessions for me!  I love going to the beach, meeting a family for an hour or so, and going back home.  My clients are awesome, and I’m sure I’d love hanging out with them for hours and hours, but I love my family more.  I need to be home so I can get stuff done before my kids get out of school at 3pm every day.  I like to think that such a family-centered commitment makes my family photography even more heart-felt.  Maybe I’m just trying to rationalize & glorify my urge to keep my sessions short, though (HA!).  Either way, I keep my sessions short, and I work best that way.

3)       Let some stuff go!  Not everything HAS to be done.  The world will continue to rotate on its axis and my kids will survive if I don’t do everything for everyone.  Like #5 on this list for example… I’m gonna end at 4, and the world will somehow go on.

4)       I keep my computer really close to the kitchen & family room.  I debated putting my “office” in a den or a spare bedroom, but I realized that having my work computer close to the hub of family activity really helps.  In the afternoon, I can jump onto the computer and knock down my inbox a little bit while the kids are doing some low-maintenance homework.  While water is boiling for the evening’s pasta dinner, I can sit at the computer for a minute or two and work on a future blog post.  I know it doesn’t work well for everyone, and some people find that an “office with a door” works best for them, but not for me.

What does a day look like for you?

A weekday…

6:45:  I wake up at 6:45, get dressed (I like to shower at night because mornings are too busy), brush my teeth, make sure the kids are up & getting dressed.

7am: Get kids breakfast ready and make school lunches (NO IPHONE OR COMPUTER!!!!)

7:20:  leave to take the kids to school

7:45:  Kids go into their classes, and I get back to my car, and I find the nearest Diet Coke distributer (Chick Fil A drive through, or the Target cafeteria if I’ve got stuff to buy at Target).

8am:  I get back home (unless I went to Target), and start working… email, pictures, Lightroom, photoshop, the occasional (ok, more than occasional) Facebook or Twitter distraction, more email, blog posts, soccermom stuff, house stuff, figure out what’s for dinner, remember to feed myself some breakfast & lunch, and work until 2:45.

2:45: pick up kids from school.  Homework and afternoon family stuff until soccer practice or dinner.

If I have a photoshoot on a weekday, I’ll get my Diet Coke, and head off to my session, get home, work some, then pick up the kids at 2:45.

A weekend…

I schedule my photo sessions around my family’s activities (usually soccer games) and try not to let work interfere too much with the family stuff.   

What are the most important things you do in your business every day?

I’ve been trying to be really good about replying quickly to inquiry emails and making sure I put something on my blog at least once every few days.

What do you think has given your business the biggest boost over the last 18-20 months?

My new website launched Jan 1 this year, and it’s been a HUGE promotional tool.  I used ShowItSites and hired a designer to work on it for me (Spilled Milk Designs).  I LOVE the new site because it’s original, the images are HUGE, it resizes to fit each visitor’s web browser, and it really fits my brand & style.

ShowIt site

Keeping my blog fresh also really helps.  I just completely re-did my blog, moving to a new WordPress design, and I really like the new change.  It’s a departure from the current trend of single-column photography blogs, and I think it’s a good move.  The new blog style I’m using shows more of a “depth of work” than a single-column blog can ever do. Visitors have a first reaction of  “There’s so much to look at! What do I click on FIRST!?” instead of having to scroll down down down down to see a variety of posts & pictures. 

New blog

Share your take on ‘keeping it real’ as a woman in business.

I’m not sure I have a “take on” that topic.  I just go about my life as a mom, wife, and photographer.  I don’t spend a lot of time on photography forums or looking at other photographers’ websites/blogs.  I used to do a lot of that, but I found myself constantly comparing myself to others, and it’s just not healthy.    Is that “real” enough?  I don’t know, but oh well….

What do you think are the most important things you do as a mom every day?

Drop off my kids at school and pick them up on time every day.  They know I’m there, and they have me with them every afternoon to help with homework and spend time with them.  No daycare.  No babysitter.  No “after school care.”  When they’re teenagers, they’ll probably resent me being so “there,” but too bad! 

I feel very lucky and blessed to be able to do that, but it’s not all luck.  My husband works hard, we work hard as a team, and I’ve worked hard to build my business over the years to be able to be there for our kids every day.

What do you see women in business doing that you wish they would stop doing?

Spending so much time on photography forums and spending hours and hours looking at other photographers’ websites.  There are things to be learned from forums & websites/blogs, but only in moderation.  Getting sucked into “drama” on forums doesn’t help their families or lives at all.  Staying up until past midnight looking at other photographers’ websites, convincing themselves that they suck, doesn’t help at all, either.  (I call it “I-Suck-itis”  it’s a nasty disease).  Looking at other sites is great for sparking creativity (only sparking, though, not copying!!!), but unhealthy “I SUCK!” hours on the computer are an unhealthy waste of time and energy.

What three products make your business life simpler?

1)       My 5D cameras.  I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again:  Cheesy 80’s love songs (usually Survivor or Journey) play in my mind when I think about how much I love my Canon 5D cameras.  I don’t have to do all of the Photoshop work I used to have to do with other cameras.

2)      Zenfolio for client galleries.  Easy easy easy.  And so pretty!!!!  (zenfolio discount here: http://barefoot-memories.com/blog/check-out-zenfolio/

3)      Diet Coke.  (from a fountain, not a can)

What three products make your life simpler?

1)       The soccer goal I bought for my son’s team.  It’s awesome.  I love it.  I would marry it if I ever lost Jason.  http://www.golme.com/

2)       Does hiring a cleaning lady count?  It’s my interview, so I say it counts!  She’s awesome!!!  I will make dinner every night instead of going out so often before I get rid of her (for people who don’t know me, that’s like saying something really really dramatic, trust me)

3)      Diet Coke. 

What do you think was the turning point in making your business really take off and blossom?

Getting on TV & radio in San Diego.  That, and launching a really clean, fresh, flash website with my waves theme/branding.

 When you started getting more busy how did you keep your personal life yours and not taken over by business?

I shortened my “mini” sessions to 2-3 families in a row instead of 5-8.  Why on Earth did I think I could meet 8 families in a row & keep my sanity!!???  Some would argue I lost my sanity, but for this answer’s sake, let’s say I’ve still got at least a tiny desperate grasp on the last thread of my precious sanity. 

Years ago, I started do “mini” sessions (which are not all the rage, it seems), where I’d meet a bunch of families in a row, starting a new session every 30 minutes.  When they got really popular and were selling out in minutes, I raised the price and only took 2-4 families instead of 8.  I make more money and work a fraction of the time.  It’s awesome, and the best move I made 

How did you gain confidence in your work and as a business woman?

Who’s the wackadoodle that said I’m confident???

OK, I fake it really well. 

But I’ve always been that way (maybe it’s part of being a Leo).  I always seem to have a leadership role, I’m always taking on new things with a (stupid) fearlessness, and I seem to be able to discover pretty quickly if I’m going to suck at something.  If that happens, I quickly drop it and move on to something that won’t bring out the sucker in me. 

What do you think are the 3 most important marketing things to do to get started?

1)       get on radio

2)      get on TV

3)      I did a print ad in a local parenting newsletter & did playgroup sessions for that parenting group.  (a bunch of kids at the park, really cheap, they each got a few prints & could buy more if they wanted)

What do you do to have time to yourself aside from being a mom and business woman?

I play indoor soccer, which is SUPER FUN.  I try to get out with friends to see movies every now & then, or just to go hang out.  Nothing fancy, just a life outside of photography (I know!  Crazy talk, huh!?)

You’ve become very well known in the industry in the last year or so, how did you make that happen?

I introduced myself to my favorite vendors at tradeshows and the muckeemucks of WPPI.  I made sure to meet them in person, got to know them, made sure they knew who I was (without being pushy), and followed up with emails & phone calls.  Once I got to know them a little better, I invited myself up to have lunch with the bigshots at WPPI’s offices up in LA, and I drove up there to meet with them all for a fun lunch of just chitchat.  Nothing fancy, just dog-with-a-bone determination, but as subtle as I could be.  (and there were fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies & ice-cold milk involved) 

 To see more of Carey's Work:

Website

Blog

My Fun Camera

My Fun Camera Workshop

WPPI 2010 Master's Class

***All images in this post are copyright Carey Schumacher. ***