“Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible. ” ~Marion C. Garretty

Meet multi-talented and multifaceted mama Jennifer Pinkerton.  She is a mom to three darling little girls, runs a photography business, a fab etsy shop + is a part of one of my fave photography sites, The Maternal Lens.  Whew!  Do you feel tired for her yet? Read on to find out more about this amazing mama, like the fact that she might add roller derby star to her repertoire very soon!

{photo courtesy Jennifer Pinkerton}

Please tell us a little about your business and how you developed the concept for it?

A couple of Christmases ago, I made some camera strap covers for friends, thinking they were a great idea for any photog, and word about them spread like wildfire!  I opened up my etsy shop (http://www.etsy.com/shop/pinkpooka) simply to help me stay organized with all the requests I get.  I am pretty casual about it, just as I am with my photography business, working at it when inspiration strikes.  I do it all because I love it!  I love to sew and take pictures for folks.  Plain and simple.

{How adorable is this little camera?!  Jen made it! I also have the most adorable camera bag that she made–can’t wait to have time to photograph it one of these days!!}

How did you choose your business name?

The Pink Pooka is obviously inspired in part by my last name (Pinkerton) and of course, every girl’s love of pink.  The pooka part is from a play I did in high school, called “Harvey,” about a man with an imaginary friend who is a 6ft rabbit.  It’s just a fun word with a quirky meaning… from old Celtic mythology, a fairy spirit in animal form, always very large.  Appears here and there, now and then, to this one and that one.  A benign but mischievous creature.

With my photography, I’ve chosen just to stick with my name to keep it easy!  I’m all about easy.

What makes your business so fab and awesome?

I am first to admit that maybe I’m not the most business minded person.  I think the best things about my businesses are that I keep things quirky and eclectic.  My work is a pretty accurate representation of me and you never really know when I’ll pop up with something different.  I thrive on the unpredictability of my inspiration.

How many sweeties do you have and what are their ages?

I have a house full of girls.  A five year old and three year old twins!

{Ummm…how gorgeous are these four?!  LOVE the setting, too!!  Photo courtesy Jennifer Pinkerton}

How do you make sure that you are a rockin’ mama to your kiddos while still running your own business?

I try to get the kids involved in my work, so they feel like they are a part of it.  They love to pick out fabrics for my sewing projects and of course, they are my little models for everything.  We are together all the time, so when I’m not working, we try to get out and explore new places.  I really focus on doing things with the kids that will make for great memories.

What is your biggest challenge as a work-at-home mama?

Staying focused!  As any stay-at-home mom knows, you are constantly pulled in different directions, and when you are trying to work on top of that, it’s extremely difficult to find large chunks of time where you can focus and accomplish a task.

Do you have a website/shop/boutique?

Yes, I do!  I sell on etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/pinkpooka

My photography blog is http://jenpinkertonphotography.blogspot.com/

I keep my crafty+family blog (which everyone is welcome to follow!) at http://pinkertonfamilyblog.blogspot.com/

And of course, The Maternal Lens

http://www.thematernallens.blogspot.com/

{Love, love, love Jen’s camera strap covers!  I just adore this fabric, don’t you?}

If you could jet away on a vacation tomorrow, where would you go and why?

I’d definitely go somewhere new and different!  One place I *really* want to visit is a tropical island where they have little huts over the ocean.  I think Fiji would work.

What is something that people probably don’t know about you?

That’s tough because I tell everyone everything!  I think a lot of folks might be surprised to learn that I can be very systematic and disciplined, almost OCD, at times, which is very contrary to the laid back, chronic procrastinator that you usually get to see. You might also be surprised to learn that my newest ambition is to become a roller derby girl.  Those girls are hardcore cool and I must become one!

Jen, thank you SO very much–you are truly a rockin’ mama!!  Camera strap covers, beautiful photographs, fabulous blogs…is there anything you don’t do?!    Oh, and I have ALWAYS wanted to go somewhere tropical where they have those over-the-water huts, too!!  Meet you there!!

xoxo,

laura