Hey, friend. I am so glad you’re here. I’m Kayla, a photographer, mom, and creative entrepreneur, and I believe the work we keep in our lives should be the work that fills our calendars and our hearts.
If you’ve been carrying around a business idea for months, years, or maybe even since before motherhood… this is for you. Maybe it’s written in a notebook somewhere. Maybe it’s something you think to yourself at nap time. Or maybe it’s a feeling that keeps tapping your shoulder while you’re knee-deep in motherhood asking, “Is now the right time?”
If you’ve felt that tug… you’re in the right place.
Let’s talk about how to start a business as a mom, with intention, not chaos, and in a way that honors the life you want to live.
Step One: Define Your Why
Before the LLC, the website, the logo, the colors. I want you to start with your why.
Sit with it. Write about it. Pray about it. Let it breathe.
Ask yourself not just what you want to build, but how you want your life to feel while you’re building it.
Your why becomes your compass for the messy seasons, the slow days, the uncertain days, the “I’m not sure if I can do this” days.
Put your why somewhere you’ll see every day.
Say it out loud.
Tell people about it.
For me, my why is rooted in creating images that feel tender, timeless, and tangible. Creating work that makes women feel safe, welcomed, seen, and deeply connected… while still allowing me to be a present mom. Is it easy every day? No. But it’s true, and that truth guides me.
Step Two: Start Small — But Start
Clarity comes from action.
You do not need everything figured out before you begin.
You just need one step.
- If you’re a photographer → book one session.
- If you want to open a boutique → start going to real estate showings.
- If you want to coach women → start the Instagram account and share one story.
You can refine as you go.
Perfection is not the goal… progress is.
And if you needed a sign that today is the day?
This is it.
Step Three: Build the Foundation
Once you’ve taken your first steps, then it’s time to create structure.
This is where strategy meets soul.
Your values and why should shape your business plan and your marketing plan.
And please hear this part. Your brand is not your logo.
Your brand is the emotional imprint people feel when they interact with you.
Before you jump into Canva (I know, I know), ask:
- What do I want people to feel when they experience my brand?
- Who exactly am I serving?
- How does what I do make their lives better?
- How can I show up consistently, even when life gets full?
This is how you build a business that feels like you, and not a copy of someone down the street. If you have the financial resources, I would strongly suggest working with a Graphic Designer who specializes in branding. This might be a higher initial cost for your start up, but I promise it will take your farther than any Canva logo or Etsy design you might find.
Step Four: Market With Meaning
Marketing doesn’t mean becoming a content machine.
It simply means telling your story with intention.
Share:
- Why you started.
- What you believe.
- What you value.
- Who you’re here to serve.
You don’t need a massive following. You need connection.
You need your people, the ones who feel seen when you speak from the heart.
And yes, use AI — but use it as a tool, not a replacement for your voice.
Step Five: Balance Without Burnout
Building a business while raising a family is no small thing.
Some days motherhood will take the front seat. Other days your business will.
Both are okay.
Both can coexist.
The beauty of entrepreneurship is flexibility, but flexibility still needs structure.
Consider what works for your real life:
- Batch working during nap times
- A few sitter or daycare hours a week
- Mother’s Day out programs
- Setting theme days (marketing day, admin day, client day)
Your business should serve your life, not consume it.
If You’ve Been Waiting for Permission to Start: Here It Is.
You don’t need a roadmap.
You don’t need the perfect timing.
You don’t need to feel fully ready, none of us ever do.
You just need the first step.
And I would love to walk this journey with you.
If you found this encouraging, I would love for you to:
- Follow my new podcast The Work We Keep (launches November 7th)
- Share this with a mom or friend who has a dream tugging at her heart
- Connect with me on Instagram: @kaylamariphotography
Here’s to the work that keeps us.
the work that matters,
the work that builds our families’ legacy,
the work we keep.
