When to quit??

camillerenee622 · October 2014

Good morning beautiful mommas! I am working full time now and have a freelance photography company that keeps me busy most weekends as well. I'm due at the end of April and plan to be a SAHM.

I have a huge wedding to shoot in Febuary and we are moving across town at the end of the year/ start of next year.

When do you suggest I stop working? I don't want to over do it and I want to enjoy this experience! But I don't want to be unproductive at the same time.

Sorry for the long post! I'm just curious what the other soon to be SAHM's plans are.

Thanks so much!

PinkDahLia44 · October 2014

This really depends on you and your financial situation (and how much you enjoy your work). I'm going to work until I pop this time because, money, but last time I quit a week before DS was due.

Honestly, after your AS in the middle of your pregnancy, it's really just a lot of waiting around. I would keep working just to keep busy.

lexyraejay · October 2014

With my first, my last day at work was the Friday before my Thursday due date. It worked perfectly for me. During my free week, I made a bunch of freezer meals (I'm definitely doing that again!) and finished the last details to be baby-ready. Of course, the big unknown is when the baby will actually be born, so sometimes all the planning gets thrown out the window!

n0soup4u · October 2014

I am a FTM and intend to work up until I go into labor. Since you enjoy what you do, maybe trying working until you can.

pepperjack76 · October 2014

I am working up until perhaps the day before my scheduled c-section. At least that is the plan right now. You never know, sometimes these babies have different plans.

amandamarie2 · October 2014

I'm a student so I don't really decide what to do on that end but with my part time babysitting job I'm going to be done at the end of March since it's just me and the kids so if I went into labour early there wouldn't be anyone to just cover for me.

bowman958 · October 2014

Go as long as you can. Sitting around waiting for a baby is boring.

Critter015 · October 2014

I would say not to book anything really big after 36 weeks or so. At that time you will probably be very uncomfortable and lacking in stamina. Also, if your baby does come early you wouldn't want to ruin someone's wedding plans or something. I think around that time you'll be able to determine what you feel up for and would probably be able to do smaller shoots just fine.

I worked an office job where I didn't need a replacement during my leave so with my first two I planned to work until my due date but both came early. At the end I was so miserable that I wasn't very productive and my commute was excruciating. Also, my mom had delivered both of her kids at 36 weeks, so I was prepared that my body might follow suit. My DD was born at 38+3 and my DS at 37+6.

abc829 · October 2014

I can relate to you on this 100% I own a photography/beauty business as soon as I found out I was pregnant I stopped taking weddings around januarary because I have no idea if I'll be able to run around or stand for hours on end at that time. I will continue doing photoshoots till about mid feb-March.

mrsalvidrez · October 2014

To be honest if money wasn't an issue for me I would quit today! I don't have any other kids so that might sound ridiculous but as tired as I am these days I would love to stay at home. Call me unproductive lol.

twinklepits · October 2014

As of right now, I'm planning on my last day being around mid March. It'll give me a couple weeks to rest and get any last minute items ready. It just depends on your financial situation and how you feel towards the end.

But, I agree with @mrsalvidrez‌... if I had the money, today would be my last day.

tinaphoto · October 2014

I am a photographer as well! I am actually not booking any weddings for the new year, just because I live in Canada and winter time is super slow anyways. I will however to small shoots until February so I can get the photos to my clients before baby comes. I work a full time job as well and I'll be done 2 weeks before my due date to get freezer meals and other things together.

Sharon&Paul · October 2014

The earliest I started labor with my three pregnancies was 36 weeks. I would be cautious scheduling anything after 35 weeks if you do not have a replacement. I work up until I go into labor, because i have a replacement that can fill in when I leave.

Megispreg · October 2014

With my first, I quit about a month before my due date. I thought it was awesome! The money was not critical, and I was going to be a SAHM anyway. I got to nest, and relax before all the chaos of a newborn.

bsdub · October 2014

I'm thinking of starting my mat leave 2-3 weeks before baby comes so I have enough time to get myself mentally ready and my home ready. I wanna nest the shit outta the place! I agree with @Audrey1787 I wouldn't want a super pregnant chick as my wedding photographer.

AMShark · October 2014

Audrey1787 said:

With many jobs, I would go a long as I could. With your job and needing to book in things in advance I would stop making big commitments (like weddings) past 36 weeks. Maybe you can do some smaller things that are more impromptu for longer or find someone to be your backup. If I was getting married, I personally wouldn't want to hire a super pregnant photographer unless she had a backup that I liked as well. Love pregnant people and pregnancy but I would be afraid of ending up with a terrible last minute photographer.

I was going to give similar advice. If you have a good relationship with another photographer, you should make arrangements to set up back up plans for any jobs you book closer to your due date. And, of course, discuss these back up plans with your clients, to make sure they are comfortable with the arrangement too.

I'm not a photographer, but weddings sound like an exhausting job for a single person. You might consider taking on an assistant for any large jobs booked Feb or later, or just stick to smaller jobs for that time.

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