Becoming eight8: Identity, Confidence and a Photography & Content Masterclass at Grace Cottage

What happens when you step away from a long corporate career and decide to build something that feels entirely your own?

Midlife is often painted as a time of slowing down. Yet for many of us, it is a quiet awakening. A gentle (or sometimes not so gentle) nudge towards rediscovering who we are, what we want, and how we want to show up in the world.

For me, that awakening became eight8.

This journey has been about far more than starting a new venture. It has been about identity, grief, courage, visibility and learning to trust myself. Along the way, it has also become about creativity, travel, books, photography and the power of being held in spaces that allow you to grow.

If you are navigating your own midlife transition, whether that is a new venture, a creative dream, or simply a desire to reconnect with yourself, I hope this gives you both reassurance and practical insight into what the initial part of the journey can look like

From Corporate Structure to Complete Uncertainty.

I have always wanted my own business, to lean into my natural strengths and have the freedom to explore and travel.

I knew eight8 was part of who I am. I also knew that I wanted to travel to beautiful places and share unique experiences. Whilst showcasing amazing artisans and women in business. Although I had a clear vision, initially I couldn’t quite see in what capacity or how it would evolve.

I thought my biggest challenge would be tech skills, or more precisely, my lack of them. I had never had a Facebook or Instagram account, so social media was completely unfamiliar territory. I had always relied on tech systems and programs that were pre-designed for me. All I had to do was learn how to use them. If there was a tech issue, I simply called the IT department. If I had a marketing query, I went to the marketing team. Pricing? There was a department for that too.

Suddenly, it was all down to me, and quite honestly, I had no idea where to start.

The Challenge I Didn’t Expect

But I quickly realised that tech wasn’t the main challenge.

The biggest challenge was understanding myself, the need for self-reflection and discovering who I am.

Never before have I been faced with so many mixed emotions or been forced to confront my anxieties and fears head on. The initial loss of identity quickly moved to loneliness, self-doubt and a layering of limiting beliefs. The self-belief and resilience required to keep going, even when you cannot see the outcome and the voice in your head is screaming, who do you think you are?

As I was relying on a small inheritance from my mum to support me and invest in this new venture, I felt an added burden and guilt to make this next chapter a success.

Eight8 initially became part of my grief and healing. Many of the experiences I first took myself to required enormous strength and will power, particularly finding the courage to walk into a room of unfamiliar faces.

As time progressed this became easier, but there are still days when I have a wobble or feel the imposter syndrome creeping in.

Learning From the Beginning

So I started to retrain. Taking one step at a time.

I learned how to create a website and design my branding with the help of Chloe and Ceri from The Brandmuse.

I figured out how to build a newsletter in Flodesk. I mastered domain names with Godaddy. I began to understand terminology like SEO, funnels, reels, carousels, Pinterest and CANVA. Milla at PinkStorm Social, gave me Social Media training.

I took courses. I found amazing inspiring mentors like Philippa Craddock to guide and support me.

Learning new skills from inspiring female entrepreneurs has been a real joy. There are so many women who are not only incredibly skilled and experts in their own field but who are actively supporting other women. I have had the pleasure of meeting many of them and sharing their unique talents with you.

Whilst many of the experiences that I share are fun and relaxing, giving you the opportunity to simply spend time with interesting and like-minded women. Others expand your brain, like book clubs and talks by industry specialists. Some experiences nurture wellness and spirituality. Many are focussed around amazing places but others stretch you creatively and technically.

And then there are the experiences that quietly hold up a mirror and help you discover things about yourself that come as quite a surprise.

Why Photography Became Part of the Journey

When I wanted to learn how to take more professional photographs for my website and social media, I looked for someone whose style I wanted to emulate.

That’s how I found Lauren Barber. But style wasn’t the only reason I wanted to experience learning from Lauren.

I first met Lauren at a Content Creation workshop in Derbyshire. When chatting afterwards, I explained what I wanted to achieve with eight8. Lauren did something unexpected for someone I had just met — she gave me a warm hug.

That hug told me she understood. It told me that, at that moment, I needed reassurance. It told me she was someone I would feel safe with and could trust.

When you are building something that feels deeply personal, safety matters.

A Day at Grace Cottage

I booked a day with Lauren, although if I am honest, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was looking for.

I needed portfolio photographs so I could be more visible. But visibility brings its own insecurities. I wasn’t keen to show my face on social media, I am still not to be honest. A couple of photographs on my website felt enough. However, I recognised that eight8 needed a face.

Lauren quite rightly asked brand-led questions so she could take photographs that reflected my personality, the ethos of eight8 and my audience.

Understanding eight8 meant understanding myself.

That feels incredibly exposing.

Instead of simply taking portfolio shots, we spent the day exploring my brand image, my intention and how to tell a story. I focused on my style of photography and what I wanted each image to say. How I want to share experiences with you, to enable you to feel what I feel through a picture.

Lauren’s home, Grace Cottage, was once her grandparents’ home. When Lauren and her husband moved in, the house came complete with her grandparents’ furnishings, artwork, photographs, ornaments, and a lifetime of memories.

Lauren and Lee’s renovation journey was featured on Channel 4’s Building Home with George Clarke. The stories behind each element of the cottage, family gatherings, meaningful objects and inherited treasures, add an extra layer to learning there. It genuinely feels a privilege and joy to be in that space and Grace Cottage creates the perfect homely environment to relax and be yourself.

The Seasonal Masterclass Experience

I went away and began putting Lauren’s tips into action. But if you are anything like me, only so much sticks the first time. My ability to retain information has definitely decreased in recent years.

It was wonderful to experiment, but I wanted to learn more.

So I joined one of Lauren’s Seasonal Masterclasses. It was the perfect way to revisit what I had learned and gain clarity from our original day together. I became more confident with my photography, and I believe this shows in the images I now create.

It was also a lovely opportunity to spend an afternoon with other creative women. Some came simply to enjoy the beautiful interiors of Grace Cottage. Others to sharpen their photography and content creation skills.

The Seasonal Masterclass is a gentle way to dip your toe in,  whether for your own pleasure or to elevate your business content.

What This Chapter Is Really About

As we gently transition from one chapter to another, the ability to understand ourselves, and to continue to learn and grow, becomes essential.

Whether that is creativity for joy, connection with others, learning a new skill or embarking on a new venture. Crafting your own path as an entrepreneur, or turning a hobby into something income-generating, inevitably pushes you beyond your comfort zone.

Finding female artisans and business owners who not only share skills but also hold space for you is invaluable. That space can be deeply missing during what can feel like a confusing and discombobulating time.

Finding people who align with not only who we are, but who we are becoming, is part of the journey.

Sometimes we quite literally stumble upon someone who brings a warmth and energy into our lives that we didn’t even realise we were missing.

That, for me, is the real joy of this period of exploration.

You simply don’t know who, or what, you will discover along the way.

Summary

Midlife rediscovery is rarely just about changing careers, learning new skills or finding new hobbies. It is about identity, courage, visibility and knowing yourself, whilst also connecting with people that you can be yourself with.

For me, eight8 has become a vehicle for grief, healing, creativity and growth. Learning photography at Grace Cottage with Lauren has not just improved my content, it has helped me step more confidently into myself and helped me move further along my journey.

You do not need to be starting a new venture to experience Grace Cottage and learn from Lauren but if you are looking for a photography and content experience that is both practical and nurturing, Lauren’s Seasonal Masterclass offers exactly that.

If you do have your own product business, you can also hire Grace Cottage for product shoots.

Alternatively, if you love Lauren’s interior style and want to follow along with Grace Cottage’s renovation journey, Lauren’s details can be found here.

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