Having your own young kids does seem to be an advantageous way in to photography, especially if i dare say it for women. Having spoken to a few female photographers at various events it seems a common way of starting being a mum obviously puts you in contact with many others, and likely their kids if they play with yours etc. Next thing you can be doing the whole family, their friends family etc. It's a natural advantage over us guys. Women trust women, guys have the cross to bear in this day and age we are probably paedophiles and so we may be better to have a studio down the road. Obviously there are exceptions.

I think you have a talent Emma, having seen a high volume of pictures of your kids they are all thoughtful, colourful and a nice quality and i am sure if you can do the same for others they will sell.

BC you just brought back a fond memory of how I got started years ago in child photography. Having your own children like Little Me is an advantage since they're captive, around the house, etc. I was never able to have children but I came up with a great idea to volunteer at my church's 2 year old Sunday school nursery. I'd bring my gear every Sunday and have dressed up little darlings as subjects. I worked along with an older woman that was a saint. People used to stop by now and then to check on their child who usually sitting in my lap in a big rocking chair reading to them. The rest of the time was spent on the floor having tea parties or playing with dolls. My partner and I made many a trip to the toy store loading up on things to occupy their time. We also bought lots of diapers, lotion and snacks because many of the kids came from poor families who didn't have much. I'll never forget those two years and all the wonderful photos I got of my captives.

I can see where you are coming from Bazza, and I think it is naivety on that person's behalf, that all you have to do is produce a few pretty pictures, it's a business, and like any business you have to be up to speed on the business side, or you will come unstuck.

However, I also admire, someone, who will say, I love this, and this is what I want to do. I am definitely in the better to have tired and failed camp, rather than, the don't do it brigade.

I do find it strange that some think it's okay to let the clients be their guinea pigs, while they learn and practice. That's not good, there are plenty of models out there, and workshops,clubs, societies for people to practice on before charging. Why should a client pay for your learning. Weddings especially, having been on the receiving end of BAD wedding photos,to this day I have no idea whose wedding portfolio we were shown, but it certainly wasn't the photographer who took ours. I've done soon to be 10 weddings as a second, and will probably do another 10 yet, each time I am better and more confident, to be truthful, I love it. It also takes time to find good vendors, who will deliver quality products, that you'd want to receive as a client.

Everybody has different standards, and there will always be a market for maybe not so good, but cheaper products, at the same time you also get high end prices, with not too clever photography too

At the end of the day nothing will replace hard work and practising , there's a big difference between saying I can play the piano, and I am a pianist.

As for having kids an advantage, sure it can be, but it is also very rare that you have any alone "photography,just me" time, if I go anywhere there are usually the kids, and a lot of time the dogs with me too. I'm not sure if women trust women more, I don't, but then I don't view male photographers as potential paedophile's either

I worked in a very male environment, and learned to prove myself as good or better than the men, so if being female gives me an advantage now, I'll take it