When Rachel Mundy was made redundant during the first lockdown, she decided to embark on a major career change.
She had always toyed with the idea of photography and, after 15 years in fashion, decided this was her moment.
Rachel, from Harrogate, set up Boo Boo Photography and rented a studio where she could do shoots of babies and families.
Another of Rachel’s pre-lockdown family shoots. Photograph: Boo Boo Photography
She said:
“There was massive anxiety because I was no longer in my full time job and that feeling of being without security is difficult.”
But her plans were thrown up in the air again when the second lockdown was announced suddenly.
She had only officially set-up business in the last week of October and just as she was trying to build momentum, everyone’s movements were restricted again.
So she went back to the drawing board and decided to start offering doorstep photoshoots in the hope she could continue building her business safely during lockdown. She says:
“I was feeling really down. I thought I’d need to get another job but my husband convinced me to stick with it.”
Read more:
- Lockdown Stories: Harrogate DJ forced to swap his decks for twins.
- His image of the night sky won Tai Ripon Grammar School’s Lockdown Photography Competition.
Christmas doorstep shoots are among her offerings now. She is donating 10% of profits to Leeds Cares, the charity of Leeds Teaching Hospitals, in honour of a friend’s son who is battling cancer.
Christmas doorstep shoots are allowing Rachel to continue earning. Photograph: Boo Boo Photography
Rachel’s struggle has brought her closer to other small, local businesses who have offered to collaborate on projects. She says working with other businesses in the same situation has been a positive experience:
“There’s been so many other small businesses working together and seeing how we can help each other. It’s kept me positive too as I know I’m not alone.”
Do you have a lockdown story to tell? Get in touch at [email protected] as we’d love to hear from you.
