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

When it comes to business, it’s one thing to be an employee and it’s another to be the owner. Even if you don’t own a business, wearing multiple hats for multiple jobs is far from abnormal these days (however, if you are a Parent reading this, I will strongly suggest that you own and operate a small business).

How are we staying sane?

Having been around the ‘job block’ more than once, I have been a part of multiple lectures and ‘courses’ on organization over the years. Nothing - and let me emphasize, nothing - seemed to help the overload I held in my brain, the heart stopping anxiety, the body numbing fear when I failed to deliver, or the defeat that I simply was a ‘Scatter Brain’, ‘Flighty’, ‘Disorganized’ employee/business owner.

Working on the plane. Photographing in Maryland, DC, Michigan, Georgia, Florida, and Hawaii keeps me busy - The Savor Life Planner keeps me sane.

Until, recently I thought it was me. But it wasn’t. It was the systems and the planners that were designed only for people who needed to keep track of appointments, meetings, client call reminders, or holidays.

Those planners didn’t help create. Those systems didn’t inspire. And I certainly didn’t feel less stress.

Complaining for the millionth time to a friend that I was cursed with having my ‘head in the clouds’ forever, she said, ‘I think you need to try the Savor Life Planner’. Another planner seemed far from helpful. But when she showed me how just one week in the planner had TEN dedicated pages to (literally) take me from brainstorming to brain dumping, daily ‘to-do’s to separate compartments for each of those ‘to-do’s to be crafted, designed, executed...fulfilled?! It was seriously nothing I had ever seen and I saw immediately what a perfect fit this was for my intelligent, crafty, innovative mind.

Let me be clear: I wasn’t asked to write this post or offered anything in return. I seriously feel like this has changed my day to day stress level DRAMATICALLY and if I can help you do that as well, I’m more than happy to.

Interested in what I do (or just want to oooh and ahhhh over cute babies)? See my work here.

Interested in how I keep track of it all? Visit Savor Life Planner.

xo

Teresa

Savor Life Planner is a 90 day planner perfect for busy entrepreneurs, on-the-go moms, managers, and professionals who need a system to "remember it all" for prioritizing the day.

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.