Being a Doula and Photographer sounds lovely…and it is !!! I never imagined having a job that is so fulfilling and honorable. But when I’m not directly with a client, I’m often asked ‘What do you do all day?’ or ‘Your not with a client right now - what kind of work could you possibly be doing?’ I suspect there is a sneaking suspicion I am sleeping in and binge watching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel all day. Ahhhhhhh...to live the dream life of a Birth Doula and Photographer.

If you have never run a business before - which I never thought I could see myself doing - the harsh reality of taxes, business categories, contracts, marketing, blogs, product quality control, meetings, education, cleaning, general maintenance, editing, IT issues, networking, homework (mine, not my kids), taxes, bookkeeping, sales, vendor shows, admin work, customer inquiries, damaged packages/products, and whatever else a business day can throw at me, and software to keep track of it all can be a bit (a lot) of a slap in the face.

Many times, it’s what keep brilliant, capable people from even owning a business in the first place.

I used to think it wasn’t possible to run a business and drink coffee that is still hot.

If you are someone who can relate, allow me to give you one word of advice on something I found several years ago: Dubsado.

Dubsado not only helps me serve my clients well...they serve ME well. In that ‘I seriously hope my clients feel that I am this good to them!’ well.

From invoicing to email workflows, scheduling to design, the last year has taken me from a sea of self doubt to feeling like I’ve got a grasp on at least 8 of those things I mentioned above (there were 19+ if you were counting).

Working from home can have its challenges. Dubsado can help.

I truly believe that finding that needle in a haystack shouldn’t be something to hold and keep from everyone else - it should be shared and loved by many. If you are in need of one or two things that bring some serious professionalism and relief to your day, Dubsado takes the cake.

With the recent increase of people working from home and starting new career journeys, I know there are some incredibly awesome people out there who can use the recommendation. I hope it serves well for those of you who need it (especially you, working from home Momma’s. By the way, you’re kicking ass). If you have any questions about how I use Dubsado every day to help manage my workload - or just want to check it out for yourself - visit their link here.

xo

Teresa

Searching for a software program that shows your professional AND have good taste? Look no further. Annapolis, Atlanta, DC, Oahu Photographer specializing in Birth, Babies, Newborns.

Teresa Robertson is a full spectrum Doula specializing in families experiencing perinatal loss. She is also an award winning, published Photographer whose recent work was awarded by the Larson Gallery. Her Fine Art series ‘Mele Ma’i: Procreation Chants’ can be found here. For information on Bereavement Photography, please visit Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

One of the major misconceptions with Postpartum Depression (PPD) is the assumption that it is a short-term struggle. Much like the flu, it hits some harder than others, the time frame that you are ‘out of commission’ can vary, but overall, you bear through the worst of it until it’s finally time to get back to the daily grind.

Except sometimes the worst of it never goes away. Sometimes you never get better. Sometimes it leaves and comes back.

“Something is really wrong with me because you don’t hear people talk about postpartum depression starting and then staying like that.’” Said Chelsea Reiswig in an article posted by The Atlantic, When Postpartum Depression Doesn’t Go Away.

The article continues to discuss the the long term effects that PPD can have on an individual when it goes undiagnosed. Towards the end of the article, Reiswig states, “Now I have accepted this is likely something I will deal with the rest of my life...”.

The day I met Lorena ( Motherhood Unfiltered ) I knew there was something a little deeper behind that gorgeous smile. D.C., Baltimore, Annapolis, Atlanta, Oahu Photographer.

And if you think it’s hard for the individual themselves to try and grasp what is happening to their emotional, mental, and physical health, it can be just as complicated for professionals. “It is very difficult for a person, even a trained person, to be able to distinguish between regular frustrations, hormonal fluctuations, and a mood disorder,” says Nicole Washington, a Tulsa-based psychiatrist.

I sincerely think this is why the discussion of what happens around birth - before birth, during birth, after birth - needs to be recognized as something that is not shushed and discarded. If we aren’t even near the point of being able to pinpoint and recognize certain challenges, the furthest thing from helping that is throwing up our hands, saying ‘Yep. That sucks.’ and changing the topic.

Laurena talks about her struggles after birth in her article, The Truth Behind the Photo . Newborn, Birth, Maternity photography serving the D.C., Atlanta, Annapolis, Baltimore, Oahu areas.

When I recognized that writing about the topic of Postpartum Depression was something that I felt was a necessary, I envisioned it to be a three part series: capturing the perspective of a postpartum mother I knew, sharing a piece of my own experience, and finding one article that may share some insight on this highly complex issue. Having come to what I loosely assumed would be the ‘end’ of this topic, I am reconsidering that my time exploring this is ‘done’.

I am well aware that this is not a topic that is going to be enjoyed by many; however, I am going to take the ‘quality over quantity’ approach with these writings, in the hopes that a few may be encouraged to recognize signs and symptoms within themselves or someone they know.

So, let’s keep the conversation going, so that we may feel joy, share joy, raise joy, and leave a legacy of joy.

Xo

Teresa

Teresa Robertson received her Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in Photography and Fine Art Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. After serving as a volunteer for several years with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, she became interested in Birth Photography and Birth Doula (DONA) work as well. She soulfully resides on the island of Oahu, is passionate about preserving the land and culture, and is proud to serve on The Queen’s Court.

Communication is a practice I not only hold dear to me in my personal life, but in my Photography business as well. I recognize that hiring a Professional Photographer is not something people do on a regular basis, but that each business is often run so differently that the ‘rules’ can easily change.

A very common question I receive is, ‘When should I hire a Photographer?’ No matter if you are looking for a Photographer for maternity, birth, newborn, baby, children, or family, my answer is pretty much the same across the board.

The Baby Whisperer - Alexandria Newborn Photographer

I think the best way to look at this is before you hire anyone, first jot down some basics:

• What am I looking to have photographed?

• When?

• When I look at photos of a similar photographed people, are there similar things I love? Black and white, lots of style, candid, etc?

• What is my budget?

• How important is this to me?

You don’t have to spend much time on these questions, whatever comes quickly to mind. It’s no secret that there are a many options to choose from regarding photography, so knowing a little more about what your specific desires are will help you narrow down your options right off the bat.

After that, reach out to a few Photographers you like, share your list if you’re comfortable (they should be able to honestly agree if they can meet your expectations), and then ask to speak with them a bit more. If you have children, does that Photographer seem to be good with kids? Are you a private person that needs your Photographer to have a calming presence? If you have a million questions, will they be happy to patiently answer each one for you or are you simply part of an assembly line of other clients?

Infant Snuggles - Alexandria Birth Photographer

Going back to the original question, I would say it’s never too early to being looking for, talking to, or meeting with the person you think is best for you. Once you are comfortable and you are confident your needs will be met, that is the best time to hire your Photographer.

If you think you may be hiring a Photographer in the future and would like to chat more, please reach out to me! I’d love to talk about what you have coming up and how you can best be served.

Xo

Teresa

Teresa Robertson received her Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in Photography and Fine Art Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. After serving as a volunteer for several years with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, she became interested in Birth Photography and Birth Doula (DONA) work as well. She soulfully resides on the island of Oahu, is passionate about preserving the land and culture, and is proud to serve on The Queen’s Court.