October seems to be full of awareness months which are particularly relevant to me: Mental Health Awareness Month, Menopause Awareness Month, and Photographer Appreciation Month.
They might sound like completely separate themes. But for me, they’re actually all deeply connected. Because behind the camera, behind the small business, and behind every smiley photo you see online – there’s a human being trying to balance life, emotions, and work, just like everyone else.
Running a photography business involves so much more than pressing a shutter – there’s admin, editing, marketing, planning, client communication, and a whole lot of emotional energy that goes into helping people feel relaxed and confident. But I also am aware of the importance of avoiding burnout and looking after myself!
Balancing hormones, business, and self-care – The human side of a photographer
I’ll be honest, the topic of menopause and hormones wasn’t something I thought much about until it started affecting me personally. The brain fog, the tiredness, the “I can’t do this” moments… it’s real!
Along with mental health having a great significance with me, in not only supporting my dad, who has suffered 2 serious mental breakdowns, but like many other small business owners, I’ve learned that looking after my own mental wellbeing is also so important.
There’s this cultural pressure to show up looking perfectly put-together, but I’ve learned that allowing space for how I actually feel makes all the difference. Because when I’m rested, balanced, and kind to myself, I’m a much better photographer, business owner, and human.
Photography has, strangely enough, become part of my own wellbeing toolkit. When I’m behind the camera, I’m in the moment, noticing light, laughter, small gestures. It takes me away from any low feeling, and reminds me of the beauty of everyone. And on the days when I’m not at my best, I remind myself that showing up imperfectly is still showing up – and that is authentically me!
The power of empathy (and why it matters in photography)
One of the biggest gifts of this job is that it’s taught me how to really see people – not just in the visual sense, but emotionally too. And I love deep diving into people’s passion behind the business in Personal Brand Photographyand seeing and capturing that spark of excitement of what the business is all about and the values they bring.
People are often nervous, have insecurities, and more times than not, that feeling of “I hate having my photo taken” (which is completely normal!). I understand that feeling, because I’ve been there myself, not always feeling my most confident, not always loving what I see in the mirror. Having someone who understands you, can make a huge difference to your photos.
That’s why empathy plays such a big role in how I work. I want every person I photograph to feel comfortable, supported, and celebrated exactly as they are – whether they’re running a business, going through life changes, or just needing a little reminder of how capable and brilliant they already look.
Appreciating the people behind the camera
Since it’s Photographer Appreciation Month too, I want to give a little nod to all the photographers out there – whether you’re full-time, part-time, or just starting out.
This job takes passion, patience, resilience, and a lot of heart. We give people memories, confidence, and connection – often without ever being in the picture ourself. So if no one’s said it to you recently: Thank you.
And to everyone who supports photographers, by booking us, sharing our work, or saying kind words – Thank you too. We couldn’t do it without you and you not only keep our creative spark alive, but often, like in my case, support our wellbeing too.
So this October, I’m celebrating all of it: the art of photography, the importance of mental wellbeing, and the reminder that no matter what time of life we’re in, what struggles we may be going through, we’re all human and there’s beauty to be found, if we take a moment to look for it.
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