My name is Sarah, and I run an online business called PhotoFairytales. I started a few months back after becoming a full time mum to Amy six years ago. Previous to this I had worked in theatre marketing and publishing. I started PhotoFairytales because I wanted to return to work, yet maintain a good work/life balance. I decided to start the business as Amy began school full time and spent the time leading up to that researching every aspect. It can be hard for mums to work full time – there always seems to be a major compromise to be made: whether it’s sacrificing time with your children, or getting a job you don’t particularly enjoy simply because the hours suit. It was for this reason I decided I wanted to work for myself.

From the moment Amy was born as proud parents we took hundreds of photos. I would play around with these photos and create fun images of her – perhaps peeking out of a rose, or transformed into a fairy. It was this hobby that sprung to mind when I started thinking about my own business. I wanted to do something rewarding and enjoyable. So I spent a good few months honing my skills and designing images and themes, until I had a collection of designs I felt ready to put on show to the world. Since then, PhotoFairytales has grown and I not only create digitally enhanced images from customers’ ordinary photos, but also lots of other things too, including fun spoof magazine covers and newspapers.

The day I received my first order was a strange feeling – thrilling, yet weirdly terrifying! I still haven’t lost that thrill whenever I get an order. I get such great feedback from my customers, and I think the main reason for that is down to the care and attention I put into my work. It is a wonderful feeling when a customer writes to thank me for what I’ve done for them. I think it also helps that I truly enjoy and put a lot of love into my work. I always aim to produce something which has a “wow” factor and exceeds expectations.

I fit work around our lives: I work while Amy is at school, then afterwards we may spend a couple of hours at the park or beach with friends, or just at home together. If I have a lot of orders and we have to forego this time, I remind myself that if I worked full-time as an employee I wouldn’t have the flexibility I have now. I walk Amy to school every day, we get to spend the after-school hours together, and I’m there every night for her bath and bedtime story. Yes, often I then go downstairs and put in another couple of hours work, but I feel it’s worth the effort – for all of us. (And yes, my husband is gradually learning where the ironing board is kept!)

Since beginning PhotoFairytales I’ve discovered an amazing online network of fellow women entrepreneurs who offer such a fantastic degree of support and advice to one another. It seems we have this amazing mentality which enables us to support one another without feeling threatened or competitive. I guess men could learn a lot from us! Yes, we are ambitious, want to succeed, are driven and committed – but women entrepreneurs also have a gift for supporting others and I think that is something we should all be extremely proud of!

Website: www.PhotoFairytales.co.uk