Rachel combines her career passions
As part of our On the Job series, Chronicle reporter Rexine Hawes speaks with photographer Rachel Pridham about combining three passions into her perfect lifestyle.
A Matamata photographer has said no to the idea of a 9-5 job, in favour of choosing a lifestyle that combines her three passions: the outdoors, photography and animals.
Solo mum of two, Rachel Pridham has just added dog walking to her job title of mother, runner and photographer.
She says the idea of working 9-5 five days a week just wasn’t appealing and she wanted more flexibility for her family.
‘‘I was in a job I loved a few years ago and one day I thought, is this it, is this me? Even though I love it, am I going to be tied into the 9-5 lifestyle?
‘‘I am lucky enough to take the bull by the horns and say that’s not for me. It’s not working, in the holidays I freak out because I have to find childcare as well as the worry what if the children are sick?
‘‘Working is important to me, but I also want to be able to be there for my children at their important moments. With photogra- phy you can combine with something.’’
So, the self confessed animal lover came up with the idea to become a dog walker.
‘‘The idea of being able to help people, take the dogs for a walk and turn it into a little business, just seems like a great avenue for me.
‘‘The people who are working, the older folk, and others who don’t have time to walk their dogs because of their busy lives, I could free them up and make use of the opportunity.
‘‘I like going for a run, it what if I run a business on top of that and later down the track, use my photography to capture the dogs? So I could use all the things I love into creating one business.
‘‘It’s allowing me to have a dog, without owning a dog. Giving me a reason to run when I don’t feel like it, motivating me now and really just giving me purpose.
‘‘Certainly over the last year, I feel free. I don’t know of anything I would want to do, more than what I am doing now.’’