02/09/2026
A difficult post, but one I feel needs saying
I've been a photographer for 17 years.
17 years of building my business, investing in equipment, props, backdrops and training. Learning, adapting, and, most importantly, putting my heart into what I do.
Something has changed over the last couple of years, and honestly, it's becoming incredibly difficult to ignore.
No-shows and people simply not turning up without telling me are becoming increasingly common.
My clients receive appointment reminders. There is communication before the session.
And I want to be clear: I'm not talking about someone who messages me to say they can't come.
Babies get poorly. Children get poorly. Cars break down. Emergencies happen. Plans change. I understand.
If you message me and say "I'm so sorry, we can't make it" and you've given me notice, that's okay. We can talk about it and work out what we can do. Or the day of the session if something's happened; that's ok too.
What is incredibly difficult is simply not turning up and not communicating at all.
For a newborn session, I can spend around an hour preparing the studio before you arrive. The session itself can take up to 3 hours.
Then I can spend another 4-5 hours editing your images afterwards.
That's 9 hours of work for one session, and that's before you factor in the emails, messages, ordering props, cleaning, washing, backing up images, running the business, paying bills, insurance, equipment, studio costs, software, electricity and everything else that goes into keeping a photography business running.
And if you don't turn up? All of that time is simply lost.
I can't sell that newborn session to someone else at the last minute. That time was reserved specifically for you.
And the sad thing is, over the last 12–18 months, I've watched photographers I know close their businesses almost weekly.
Not because they don't love photography. Not because they're not talented.
But because the cost of running a business keeps rising while, increasingly, people don't seem to understand or value what actually goes into providing the service.
We aren't just clicking a button and handing you a photograph.
There are hours and hours of work behind every gallery you receive.
There is a person behind the business who has bills to pay, equipment to maintain, a studio to run and a family and life outside of work too.
And after 17 years, I can honestly say that I have never taken what I do for granted.
I love photographing your babies.
I love creating beautiful memories for your families.
I love seeing your reactions when you receive your photographs.
But I also need my business to be sustainable. So please, if you've booked an appointment with me, value it.
Value the time I've put aside for you.
Value the preparation that happens before you arrive.
And if you can't make it, please just tell me.
You don't need an excuse. You don't need a long explanation. You don't need to worry that I'm going to be upset.
Just communicate. ❤
Because I can work with a cancellation.
What I can't work with is an empty studio, a wasted day and complete silence.
And to all of my clients who do communicate, who turn up, who appreciate what goes on behind the scenes and who continue to support my little business after all these years . Thank you.
You genuinely mean more than you know.
Please remember that when you book with a small business, you're not just booking a service. You're booking someone's time, their livelihood and often a huge part of their life.
And that deserves a little respect too. 🤎
