Back to Routine: A Day in the Life of a Photographer During Busy Season

Summer is winding down, school is back in session, and I'm heading into one of my busiest seasons of the year.

And honestly? I'm kind of excited to get back into a routine.

In this episode of Off The Memory Card, I'm pulling back the curtain and sharing what a typical day looks like for me as a photographer, business owner, mom, and someone who is constantly trying to figure out how to get everything done without working myself into the ground.

From early-morning school drop-offs and coffee to answering emails, updating QuickBooks, fitting in a gym class, editing, afternoon ice cream stops, evening photoshoots, and protecting family time, I'm sharing how I try to structure my days as we head into the busy fall and holiday season.

But this episode isn't about telling you to copy my schedule. Your life is different. Your family is different. Your business is different. The point isn't to follow someone else's routine; it's to find a rhythm that works for you.

When you work for yourself, nobody hands you a schedule. There's no boss telling you when to clock in or clock out. That freedom is one of the best parts of being your own boss, but it can also leave us constantly reacting, playing catch-up, and wondering where the day went if we're not intentional with our time.

In this episode, I'm talking about:

• Why I'm actually excited to get back into a routine after summer

• What a typical workday looks like for me during photography busy season

• Why I start my mornings by getting the "boring" business tasks out of the way

• Why scheduled gym classes are the only way I stay accountable

• How I balance editing, parenting, and evening photoshoots

• Why we almost always stop for ice cream after school

• The importance of protecting family time and creating boundaries around work

• Why Jeremy and I don't schedule photoshoots on Wednesdays

• Why I believe rest is actually part of being productive

• Why your schedule doesn't need to look anything like mine

• The difference between being proactive with your time and constantly being reactive

As we head into fall and the holiday rush, I want to encourage you to take an honest look at your own days. You don't need to schedule every single minute, and you definitely don't need a perfect routine. But having some structure to come back to can make a huge difference when life, and your calendar, starts getting busy.

Your future self, in the middle of the holiday rush, might just thank you for it.