09/10/2026
✨ A personal update | A new chapter 💕
I've been sitting on this announcement for quite some time, and if I'm honest, I'm not entirely sure what's been holding me back from sharing it.
Perhaps, as a perfectionist, it's hard to admit that I've been struggling. Or maybe it's the fact that putting it all into words somehow makes it feel so much more real.
But the reality is, the last few years have taken not only a mental toll on me, but a physical one too.
I've been battling symptoms that, the more I speak openly about them, the more I realise so many other women are experiencing too 😔
Over 12 months ago, I was diagnosed with Adenomyosis. Getting to that point was a fight in itself. For so long, it felt like doctors were simply trying to put a bandaid over whatever symptoms were showing up, rather than looking deeper to understand what was actually happening.
As a mum, I've spent years advocating fiercely for my children and their needs. Somewhere along the way, I found myself having to become that same advocate for my own health. It wasn't until my health started declining and my body was practically screaming at me for help that I pushed harder for answers.
I've since discovered that both of my ovaries have 40+ follicles, indicating PMOS (formerly PCOS). It's been a lot to process, both physically and emotionally, especially after spending so long trying to get answers about what has been happening in my own body.
So, in less than two weeks, I'll be undergoing a total hysterectomy.
It's not a decision I've made lightly, and getting to this point has been an emotional journey. But it's one I'm making for my health, my future and the life I want to live.
This means I'll have a six-week recovery period, and for once, I'm giving myself permission to truly put myself first.
As mums, it's so easy to fall into the trap of putting everyone else's needs before our own. We keep showing up, pushing through, ticking the boxes and telling ourselves we'll deal with our own needs later.
But sometimes, our bodies force us to stop and listen.
This has been the ultimate reminder that we simply cannot keep pouring from an empty cup. Our health matters too, and we deserve to give ourselves the same care, patience and compassion that we so freely give to everyone else.
Between now and surgery, I'm aiming to finish as much of my current work as possible. After that, I'll be taking the remainder of the year off to focus on recovery and give myself the space I need.
I see this as an opportunity to reset. To slow down, sit with things, reconnect with myself and really think about what I want the next chapter of my life to look like.
I know my love for photography and the business I've built will still be there. But I also know that moving forward, things need to look a little different.
Photography has been such a huge part of my life for over 15 years, and Little Oak Studio is something I've poured so much of myself into. I'm incredibly proud of what I've built and so grateful to every family who has trusted me to capture their memories over the years.
When I return in 2027, I'll be taking on a limited number of clients, allowing me to be more intentional with my time, my energy and the families I get to work with.
I still have so many beautiful memories I want to help families create, but I also want to build a life that allows me to be present for my own family and prioritise my health along the way.
📷 If you're hoping to book a maternity, newborn or family session with me in 2027, I'd love for you to reach out and join my waitlist.
For now, my focus is on getting through surgery, giving my body the time it needs to heal and allowing myself the space to reset.
Thank you for being here, for supporting my business and for giving me the grace to take this time for myself. Your support means more than you know.
Here's to putting your health first, finding balance and making space for the things that matter most 🫶
Rachel x
