We recently connected with creative powerhouse Amy Pearson (brand strategist, coach, designer and podcaster), through another creative powerhouse and friend of our brand, Lucy Lumen (photographer, content creator and long time radical collaborator).
Lucy paid Amy a visit at her NSW studio to capture her on film and we thought it was a great opprtunity to ask her about starting and running a female-founded creative business, something very close to our hearts.
All photos by Lucy Lumen. Hear Amy's podcast, Brand Conversations here.
How did you arrive at the brand mission for Sun Mother Studio? Also where did the name come from?
The name SUN MOTHER® came to me so naturally, as did the mission. I had just handed in my resignation for my last full-time gig (as maternity leave ended) and as I was going headfirst into my photography business with a full year of bookings ahead – covid hit (along with Melbourne lockdowns).
So the business was out, all jobs cancelled – and I had a pretty mega breakdown, I had no idea what to do. But I didn’t have time to wallow – I was a new Mum, and I’d been the primary income earner – so I dusted myself off relatively quickly, and decided to take the plunge launching the Studio.
“The mission was, and still is, simple: to help big-hearted babes in small business to magnetise an audience + make money doing what they love – which is exactly what I was doing, too. ”
So many women end up in situations where they give up their career or interests after motherhood, and need to rely on someone else to survive. I couldn’t bear the thought of either of those things myself, and I love helping other women to sustain their passion + make money while doing it.
As for the name? The SUN is the centre of our galaxy – it creates energy, provides warmth + radiates heat – these are things that I wanted us to embody as a brand. MOTHER was my new identity at this point. After a long creative life this actually confused me, but I decided to lean IN and own it – as it also attracted other Mums towards me.I also loved the concept of ‘The Mother’ – like, ‘The Mother of all things’, or ‘Motherlode’, etc.. The word Mother defines the biggest thing, the life giving force – THE reason for existence of all.
You know, someone actually told me not to name the Business SUN MOTHER® when I first came up with it? I’m SO glad I stuck with my gut as now we have an incredibly strong Brand, we get tonnes of google searches purely from our business name because it’s so memorable (we have that in common!).
You work with your husband (Radical Yes is also a husband and wife team) - how long have you and Jamie worked together? How do you manage work/life/relationship balance?
Honestly? It changes regularly, especially with 2 kids in the mix – more like flux for us!
We are a neurodivergent house, too. My brain runs at a million miles an hour (I have ADHD, so does my son) so I can come up with an idea, conceptualise + launch it in a ridiculously short amount of time – it’s my superhuman ability, but it can also be my downfall – because some days? I am fried and I don’t get much done at all.
In saying that, we do need some element of structure and routine – Mon-Thurs our kids are in daycare, so there are solid blocks of time to work in/on the Business. I have a casual design assistant with me in the home office some days, and my husband, Jamie, works on various things like: Podcast Editing + Production, Analytics, Management/Admin + Backend stuff.
The best part is, we can make the business fit around our life – not vice versa (which how it is for regular ‘jobs’). We decided pretty early on that having Fridays off, as a family, is important to us – especially before our son starts School next year – this time is so fleeting with them, and that is such a finite resource.
What would your younger self be impressed with in your life today?
“Oh man, my younger self would be completely in awe! I often have these dissociative moments feeling like, ‘what the heck, is this real?!”
The fact that I make a living being creative + using my ND brain to help people make more money is pretty wild, I was never taught that this was an option for me. But now, I’ve built this business to support my life, and now I have the freedom and flexibility to choose when I work, who I work with and what I work on – which is pretty monumental.
Recently, I had this epiphany about how I literally have everything I could ever want, right now. I mean, I could always do with more Radical Yes! 😂 But other than that.. I’m satisfied.
What is the work you are most proud of?
My ego wants to say ‘this incredibly cool brand I made’ or something visual, but honestly? If I really think deeply about it – it’s actually the ripple effect that my support + guidance has had on my clients.
When I get messages, voice memos, emails from women who say things like “You’ve changed my life” or that they’ve been able to charge more money, or quit their day job, or be around more for their kids – that is what I feel the most pride in, in terms of my work.
Do you maintain a daily practice (something you do mindfully do every day exercise, meditation, drawing, reading etc.) that helps with your creativity?
There are definitely mindful practices that I do as much as possible to replenish myself – and when I don’t, it hugely impacts my creative abilities, like: Reading – I’ve been a pretty big bookworm most of my life, Movement – pilates, solo dance parties, big walks, weights etc, Nature – it’s a classic one, but it’s true, I live in the bush but if I’m working too hard I barely notice it’s right outside my office.
But – having ADHD means that anything that I try to implement as a daily practice never lasts long, it’s just not how I’m wired – slowing down is really hard for me. I can do it for a while, but there always comes a point where I drop the ball – and that’s ok! I think more people need to speak about this, because we’re human.
Do you believe creativity comes from inspiration or hard work?
I think it’s the antithesis of hard work, which is why some people lose the thread.
Creativity is innate, we’re all born creative and we can all access it, which is why it’s SO hard to find balance – because business takes hard work!
Best advice anyone has given you?
You are the strongest element of your brand – I’m not sure where I heard this, to be honest – but it’s true. So many people try to hide behind their business (I did this for a while, too), but when people can connect with YOU – the heart and soul of the brand – that’s when you really notice a shift.
People connect with people, it’s much harder to sell something without a human behind it.
Best advice you can give female designers looking to start their own studio?
You have to want it enough to be able to both get started, and push through the rollercoaster (it’s not all rainbows like you see online). The truth is that it takes real grit and determination to start something and keep it going – but if you can handle those dips? The payoff can be incredible!
You are the only person with the power to make it happen, just start.
Last Book you read?
The last book was Miranda July’s “All Fours” which is an incredible and completely unflinching wild ride (July is an incredible artist known for pushing the envelope).
Currently, I’m reading Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser Anker – I love her cinematic writing style, it feels like I’m watching a TV series in my head!
What does the word 'radical' mean to you?
Ah, I have a real affinity with this word – I used it a lot as a teen. I love how it can represent being ‘different’, it’s a sign of monumental change but it also embodies empowerment + action – which is a huge part of what I teach.
