I’m a freelance photographer and I work on and off for a well know clothing retailer in their studio. This year my partner lost all his work as he works in events so I have been working as much as possible as we got pregnant prior to lockdown and already have a toddler. Usually I am booked alongside another freelancer and we are sort of a team. Whenever she is booked, I am usually booked.
However during a busy period this summer they bought in a third freelancer who had just graduated (I’ve been a photographer for around twelve years now). I was slightly concerned by this as by this time, people at work had started asking about my bump and congratulating me and although I am twice as fast as the graduate, she doesn’t have childcare responsibilities and she isn’t pregnant. I was nice enough to her and showed her the ropes, but I was aware that this probably wasn’t a good thing for me.
I found out today that my original work partner has been booked for a couple of weeks and that the studio are planning to book the recent graduate rather than myself.
I don’t know what to say really other than I am absolutely gutted. My partner is currently a full time Dad, I’m bringing in a little money to cover the mortgage and I’ve been replaced in the only reliable work I had - for being pregnant! I’m sure the graduate needs money for rent etc. But we are a little family, who won’t have any money to cover maternity leave and who already have a little one to take care of. I’m just speechless really... I don’t know what to do. I’m a hard worker, always on time, reach my targets, am professional and I feel like I’m being punished in some way.
I suppose I just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this and how you coped with it? I want to provide for my children, but I can’t when I am punished for deciding to have them.
I might add that prior to my bump showing, the senior art director was talking to me about a possible full time role in the studio. That offer suddenly stopped once my bump was on show.