I am going to be a stay-at-home mom, and would like to do a couple of photo shoots a week. Any ideas?

We don't have any children yet, but we are planning on it really soon. I REALLY don't like the idea of sending our kids to the babysitters just so I can go do a photo shoot because we are military and always moving. I know how to advertise on craigslist and myspace and facebook, but the whole what to do with a small kid thing kind of bothers me... Maybe I could bring a friend a long and pay her to watch the kids. Usually if I am doing an out door shoot it would be at a park or a beach or somewhere that a child would like to be anyways. Is that odd, or would it bother you if you hired a photographer that did that? If so, if the pictures/pricing are good enough, could you overlook that? I really hate to just quit while my kids are small, I've seen that with most, if you don't use it, you lose it.
Thanks for any ideas!!

Well, since you don't have kids yet, you haven't experienced the concept of "getting the hell out of the house to get away from the little buggers!!!", yet! Just kidding, but when you have children, you will come to realize that Mom, especially a stay-at-home mom, needs a little time away from the kids, sometimes, in order to refresh and recharge. It doesn't make you a bad or uncaring mother. It makes you a very REAL mother. Three or four hours a week is not at all unreasonable.

Taking your children on a professional engagement such as a photo shoot is unprofessional. You can't help but get distracted, and the people who are paying for your service deserve your undivided attention. Find a good, reliable babysitter and do you and your kids a favor -- you, for buying some time in order to do your very best work undistracted, and your kids, for being able to play, rest, eat, etc., without having to be on their "best behavior" because Mommy is working.

If you can't find a babysitter, look around your neighborhood or base for a babysitting co-op (or start one yourself!) We had one in my neighborhood when the children were small, and it was wonderful -- basically, moms traded babysitting time with each other. If you babysat someone's child for an hour, the co-op "owed you" an hour. Also, as they get a little older, look for a playgroup with kids your children's age, and get to know those moms, as they will be going through the same sort of things you are experiencing.

You should continue with your photography. It's good for the kids to know that Mommy has a life, talents and other interests that is outside the four walls of their house. Also, you'll want to find a god babysitter, anyway, because there will be times when you and your husband will want to go out without the baby, even if it's just for a dinner and movie.

I think it would be perfectly fine to take your children along. As long as they dont interrrupt your job. Its the 21st Century...anything goes. As long as you do a good job and the price is right you should be fine. I do not think it is unprofessional but wise as a mother.

Why don't you learn to do wedding photography. I used to have that as part of a wedding business and it was the BIG money maker.
I'll also give you some free advice. Do the wedding cheaper than everyone else, you can do this if you don't have a studio to work from and use your home. Use your mobile phone instead of having a business telephone line; advertise in the "green sheet" or whatever free papers are in your area.

You make real money on re-orders from the Bride and Groom and family, so the enticement is the very cheap initial package. We used to offer 1 8x10, 2 5x7, and 12 5x5 in a small album. It was years ago but the price was about $69.95. You take about 24 pictures on a small order like that, but often make $1000.00 with the reorders. Now with digital cameras and printing the proofs yourself, things could even be better.
Big studios have big bills, and people get greedy. I always made LOTS of money by being the least expensive and doing more weddings. You can easily do 2-3 weddings on a Saturday.
Good luck.

NEVER TAKE YOUR KIDS TO WORK WITH YOU. Get a sitter, The way people are lawsuit crazy now, you could end up with a sizeable suit if your kids disrupted a wedding, and the judge would likely award it to them. It is unprofessional. The one that said it was perfectly fine is a REAL AIRHEAD, Space Cadet, and living in La-LA Land. People do not want your kids around while they are paying for you to work.

Bring your kids along.