How to NOT put your life on hold because of IF?

Cara1024

I am a photographer and up until I started TTC I stayed very busy with both weddings, and children's/family portraiture. Then as it got close to my start of TTC I stopped taking on very many weddings because I didn't want to do them while I was pregnant. They are extremely labor intensive and with my health I already know it would not be a great idea for me to do one while 6+ months pregnant. Maybe even earlier than that.

So I stopped booking weddings altogether last year and have just been doing only portraits, which I love but it doesn't bring in near as much income. Now that wedding season is in full swing AND I'M NOT PREGNANT I really wish I hadn't turned all of them down. We could certainly use the money and I kinda miss shooting them. Not to mention, its a huge reminder of what I do not have right now. 

I'm considering adding them back in because I've obviously learned that I can not predict when/if I'll get pregnant. I just hate that they usually book so far in advance! I just got an inquiry for an amazing wedding that I'd really like to do, but it is March 15, 2014. Who the heck knows where I'll be in this IF journey at that point! I have a pretty high end clientele, so I want to come up with a professional way to handle this situation. I have a second shooter but I would never want her to end up doing the whole wedding herself, plus that wouldn't be fair to the client. Any thoughts on how to handle booking things in advance? Anyone else have a job that requires far off commitments? I do not want IF to have control over my work life also. Thanks for listening!

ttuprincess

This is a dilemma that I can relate to.  I am a lawyer so I am constantly having to make scheduling orders in cases which set trials or other deadlines -- not likely to be moved -- a year or more out.  Lately I have had those same t

Cara1024

ttuprincess:

Although I can sympathize with the problem, unfortunately I have not found a good solution.  Do you have

sueann911

I can't personally relate but once you get a BFP you will have 8 months to start rearranging your schedule. Like PP pointed out maybe if you do see that a wedding and end of pregnancy are going to coincide then you can give enough advance notice to the cl

Cara1024

NariaDreaming:

Life happens. What does your contract state currently in the event that you are unable to shoot a wedding.&nbsp

katib77

That is tough because of your industry.  I'd try to work into your contract about a five month out cancellation.  Once you get pregnant you could start letting farther out people know you have to back out of the contract.  Or try to

scbedi

I don't really have any suggestions for you but I have always said that I would go back for my Nurse Practitioner degree after I have a child but it took me a while to realize that I couldn't keep putting my life on hold so I applied for school and will h

Cara1024

scbedi:

I don't really have any suggestions for you but I have always said that I would go back for my Nurse Practitioner degr

Temp423319000008365

I am in the same boat as you since I have the same job as you haha! I remember 3 years ago I had a bride inquire about a date that was 10 months away. I distinctly remember tell her "I'm so sorry but I'm going to have a new born baby then, so I can't w

smilormarie

Ticker Warning...

I was looking for the grad post and saw your post and completely agree.  Its hard, so I had to share.

 I did the exact same thing (not a photographer but I justified limited activities and relationships so it had

Cara1024

Rebecki1414:

After that point, I decided that I was not going to turn away weddings due to the possibility of getting pregnant

Cara1024

smilormarie:

We ladies give up so much else because of IF, our diginity, our privacy, our time, our hormones, our resp

IBackBevo

ttuprincess:

This is a dilemma that I can relate to.  I am a lawyer so I am constantly having to make scheduling