Home Based Photography Studio

by Jennifer
(Vancouver, BC, Canada)

I have been operating a photography studio, out of my home office in British Columbia for the past two years. Although it seems like the perfect option for a stay at home mother of a preschooler, it poses some interesting challenges.

A home office is convenient, but it has been difficult to 'close' the business for the day and separate the business from family time. Work hours can stretch long in to the evening and night, and clients tend to have higher and more casual expectations.

I would advise someone who is opening a home business, to establish clear boundaries with their business when it comes to work hours. Some clients expect that because you work at home, you can answer their questions 24-7 and that they can arrive to the office unannounced. Have a separate office space, and treat that space as if it were an office outside of the home.

Make sure that you 'leave' work for the day, and don't return, just because it is easy to check in! It is easy for the client to think that you can work on their project at 10pm, just because the office is there. If you establish professional boundaries from the beginning with your clients, they won't be able to expect anything less.

If you have young children at home, make sure that you've allowed yourself business time, so that you are not trying to juggle both family and business obligations at the same time.

Having a home business is a wonderful option, as long as the mentioned precautions have been thought through! Good luck!

Stuart's comment: Jennifer, you make some great points about the need to set up boundaries between a home based business and family life. It's also much more effective from a home business time management viewpoint to 'down tools' and allow your batteries to recharge.

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