Photographer Perspective with Kelsey Joy Photography: Balancing Motherhood, Business, and Everything in Between

Intro from Ellie:
As moms and business owners, we’re constantly juggling so many things—and imposter syndrome can creep in easily. Kelsey has found a rhythm that works for her right now, and I love her honesty about the fact that sometimes balls get dropped. What matters is the communication and the heart behind the work. She’s intentional with her timelines so neither of us feels rushed. It’s a rhythm rooted in grace, planning, and flexibility.

Q: After a session with a client, what does your workflow look like?
Kelsey:
I always tell clients they’ll receive their gallery in about four weeks. That timeline gives me flexibility to do my best work without rushing. I’ve learned that my brain works best when I separate tasks by type. Sundays are my planning days. I look at my week, consider our family schedule, and then plug in my work accordingly.

I don’t thrive on a rigid daily schedule—I need my week to feel calm. On shoot days, I pick up the kids from school afterward and switch into full mom mode. That’s all I do that day. I usually schedule culling for the next day and aim to send the edits to you shortly after. Then it starts all over again the next Sunday.

Working week by week keeps me from getting overwhelmed. Designating one day for planning has been a game-changer—it builds in the flexibility I need when life inevitably happens.

Q: If your delivery timeline to clients is four weeks, what’s your goal in sending edits to me?
Kelsey:
My goal is always to send edits to you within two weeks of the session so we both have space to do our best work. Planning is everything. I have a running “brain dump” note on my phone—one for home, one for work. During my Sunday planning time, I check those lists and see what needs to be addressed that week, like culling or sending my edits to you. I feel, if I don’t write something down in the moment, it’s gone.

Q: How do you balance being a mom, wife, and business owner?
Kelsey:

As a mom, you’re making a thousand micro-decisions all day, and by the end of it, you’re wondering what you even accomplished. That’s why working week-by-week works so well for me. I protect the time when my kids are home—I’m focused on them and the house. When they’re at school, I dive into work. I also plan evening sessions only on days when I have extra help. And I make sure to carve out family days, too.

My youngest is six, so I’ve had some time to figure this out—and it still requires pivoting as seasons change. To be the kind of mom and wife I want to be, I have to be intentional with my time. That even means scheduling rest.

If I see a busy week ahead, I’ll block out time to recharge. That might look like sleeping in, going to a coffee shop, or taking a hike. I’ve learned not to feel guilty about unproductive days. Grace for myself has been key. It’s so easy to extend grace to others, but we need to offer it to ourselves, too.

Q: What are some pain points you've experienced in business?
Kelsey:
Social media—always! It’s something I’ve accepted will never come naturally to me. I used to rely on it to grow my business, but now most of my clients come from referrals. For a while, I kept trying to show up online the way I used to, and it just led to overwhelm and burnout.

Eventually, I had to tell myself: it’s okay. My business is doing well. Now I use Instagram more as a check-in with current clients and focus instead on providing a great client experience. Happy clients are your best marketing tool—they tell their friends! Social media has its place, but I don’t stress about how every post performs anymore.

Q: If a photographer told you they struggle with a workflow for sending edits, how would you encourage them?
Kelsey:
Take an afternoon to write out your ideal process—step by step, including timelines. When I was just starting, I wrote it on a sticky note and stuck it on my laptop. For every session, I’d plug each step into my planner so it was always in front of me.

For example, if I wanted a gallery done in a certain timeframe, I’d ask, “What will it take to hit that goal?” If I wanted to get edits to you by a specific date, I’d plan backwards from there.

Being intentional with your time is the only way to change your workflow. It won’t magically fall into place—you have to make a plan for it. And don’t forget to build in rest. You can’t keep pouring from an empty cup.