When a person decides to start his or her own photography business, rarely do think of how it will impact the other person in his or her life. They love photography. They have a desire to turn it into their business. And they move forward with it.

Yet owning and operating your own business is a 24 hour commitment. Even though you set your own hours, do the type of business you desire, and operate you photography studio any way you choose, the businesses is always there. It’s a completely different thought process than working a 9 to 5 job.

We learned this early on in our career. Andrew and I both worked 9 to 5. Andrew photographed a few weddings and portraits on the side, and eventually made it his full time career after losing three jobs in three years to corporate downsizing. I helped out with weddings on the weekends, and soon made it my passion too after I “saw” the perfect image with a bride, set it up for Andrew, and he took the image from the wrong angle. The very next wedding he put a camera in my hand and said, “you do it”. The rest as they say is history.

But working together day in and day out with your significant other can be trying times. Even today, we work out of our home, have desks in the same office 10 feet from each other, and pretty much spend most of our hours together.

Here are 8 secrets we’ve found that help us run a photography business as a husband and wife team.

1. Set up job descriptions. Even though you’ll probably both be involved in most of the business tasks, it still helps to define each other’s roles. There will invariably be things one of you enjoys more than the other. Split out the roles so you each enjoy what you are doing.

2. Set up systems. As two separate people, you’ll each have your own idea on priorities, and how to handle different situations. Discuss each item in the business, and establish a system for how to handle it. A notebook with checklists can keep you both on track for everything from meeting with clients, to production work. [Read more...]