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Photography Power Couples: Earn Together with Your Partner

 

1. Introduction

While it is true that in an ideal world, a married couple should share responsibilities in other aspects in order to remain balanced, sharing one common hobby can be a great way to enjoy each other's company while maintaining that balance. There are many photography activities that couples can do together, and in most cases, it is far more enjoyable than separating to do something else and then reuniting at a later time. Step one in earning together as a couple is demonstrating to your partner the potential profitability of photography, at which point, like it or not, they will be more inclined to join you in certain photography activities for the extra cash.

Couples who take photographs can benefit from the experience of working together, and combining skills and practices might be the perfect way to take a relationship between two photographers to the next level. If both partners are good photographers, then this can provide a solid base for collaboration. However, there are also many ways that couples who only have one "photographer" can share in the experience of photography. Couple photography is a relatively new concept, and I guarantee it is something that is going to be pushed very hard in the next decade. It can provide families with treasured memories in the form of photographs, and you can even make a living from it.

1.1 Overview of couple photography

It would not be an intelligent move to stake your professional reputation and your financial future on an untried and untested business model. The idea of forming a partnership with your life partner is the kind of decision that could make or break your photography business, and you will learn why couple photography has a high rate of success. The success rate and general benefits of a photography business which stems from a relationship are often a result of the personal bond between the two clients and the professional. This is due to the unique blend of strong personal relationship, combined with a professional relationship with each other, and with the clients. What this results in is being able to express a level of comfort, interaction and emotion that would be difficult to portray for clients in a similar way with a photographer of a different relationship status. And it is not too hard to sell a concept which you yourselves practice. As a pair, it is much easier to act as a model for posing shoots and set an example of work you expect from clients. In the case of wedding photography, it is common to capture shots of the bride and groom getting prepared to be married. A male photographer is going to have difficulty accessing and taking candid photos of the bride getting prepared due to the intimate nature of the situation. Although it's possible, the perspective is that it would be much easier for a female photographer to capture these special moments and emotions and vice versa with the groom. This certainly holds true in my personal experience as an assistant to my wife in wedding photography.

1.2 Benefits of earning together as a couple

Tax advantages: When a couple runs a business together, you only need to produce one set of accounts. This is useful time and money-saving information because the time and cost of maintaining two sets of accounts can be twice as much as maintaining just the one set. With only the one set of accounts to maintain, the time can be used to take on extra assignments, enhancing your learning and expertise and could help towards building a successful photography business. Also, you can share the income and expenses of the business and decide which is the most tax-effective way to distribute your income. This can save you money because there can be significant tax savings if the business income is split more equally between the partners by one partner taking a salary from the business and the other partner still working some of the time.

Higher earnings: When you earn together, from the start of your business, you can combine your income. This gives you a higher combined income since both partners' rate is added to make a higher income. Which can be very profitable in the long run. This is very useful in the future if one partner gets made redundant from their job because their income stopped, you will still have the photography income to rely on to get yourselves through a difficult period.

1.3 Importance of building a successful photography business

Entrepreneurship is becoming more and more popular in today's society. It is easier now more than ever, with all the resources available to start a small business. For a couples photography team, having a successful business venture is crucial to earning a substantial income. Many career paths in the photography field such as wedding photography allow for a couple to work together, but for those who wish to do any other form of photography it can be tough to work together. The majority of photographers work as freelancers and are self-employed. This is ideal for a photography couple for many reasons, mainly because it allows for more freedom and creativity in your work. Self-employment also makes it easier to incorporate any business ideas or partnerships you have, and this makes your own business endeavor much more feasible. When it really comes down to it, having a successful business means having a successful business model that makes a steady income. Succeeding as an entrepreneur has many advantages, but you must be aware that most new businesses fail within the first 2 years. This is why it's important to have a business plan, and as photographers, it is even wise to develop a marketing and photography business plan. A business plan will set a solid vision for your business and is a useful tool when trying to get your work and ideas across to potential clients or partnerships.

2. Getting Started with Couple Photography

Once you have an idea of what type of couple you want to work with, it's important to start building a couples portfolio. One of the best ways to quickly build a portfolio and gain experience working with a variety of different couples is to do TFP work (trade time for prints). This is great for new models and photographers because it benefits both parties. The photographer gets free models to work with and builds a portfolio, and the models get free pictures. Another more traditional approach is to hire models. This allows you to have more control over the type of couples you are working with, but the downside is you will have to pay the models. Building a portfolio can take some time, but it's important to have a strong body of work to show potential clients. A strong portfolio will make it much easier to acquire clients when you are ready to start booking paid sessions.

The process of getting started with couple photography is similar to single photography, with a few exceptions. One of the most important decisions you can make when it comes to getting started with couple photography is to choose the right niche. There are different types of couples, and different approaches you can take. For instance, a lifestyle photographer may focus on shooting elderly couples and aim for a more classic and timeless feel. Others may cater to young couples and have a more modern and trendy approach. There is no right or wrong answer here, but you should choose something that you will enjoy shooting over the long term.

2.1 Choosing the right niche for couple photography

Most of the photographers do not have a specific couple photography niche and prefer to shoot any clients who ask for their services. This is fine if you already have a lot of experience in couple photography and have a good understanding of what your clients want. However, if you are still finding your feet and getting practice in couple photography, then it is essential to choose a niche. A niche will give you some clear goals and help you to stand out from the competition. It will also make it easier to target your ideal client. For example, wedding photography is already a niche of couple photography. But even within wedding photography, there are many niche types such as elopement photography or destination wedding photography. Some other couple photography niches include travel photography, portrait photography, engagement photography, anniversary photography, and lifestyle photography. Each of these niches targets a different type of client who is at different stages of their relationship and has different needs from the photographer. For example, a couple who want to get their engagement photos taken are going to be in need of an engagement photographer. Whereas a couple who have been married for 10 years and want to celebrate with some photos together will be looking for an anniversary photographer. The type of photography that people are doing with their partners nowadays will vary a lot, and deciding on the right niche will lay a good foundation for thinking about the type of photos you can provide for your clients. Once you have found a good couple photography niche, you can mold it into something more specific. But for now, just focus on getting beginner couple photography experience with any type of client in your chosen niche.

2.2 Building a couple photography portfolio

New to couple photography and don't have any work to show to potential clients? Well, why not start by testing on yourselves. Take the time to photograph you and your partner in various locations and different scenarios. What better models could you have asking for? This will allow you to practice and experiment with your shots and camera and get comfortable posing your models. Keep the poses natural and don't instruct each other unless this is directed to you by your model to keep shots looking real and less 'posed'. Once you have a vast selection of couple shots, it is a nice idea to create a blog post and share your images telling your audience the story of how you both met, became a couple and one another's likes and interests. This will give potential clients the chance to see who you are as a couple and what they could expect to get out of a similar session. If you already have a few couple shots but simply do not have enough to create a diversity of shots for a client, gather some 'modelling' couple friends and organize a free session or two. With their permission, share only the best images you managed to capture of them. This will often lead to them wanting to purchase a few prints and spread the word of your work. Offer prints in return for on-selling your session to friends and family to continue to gather shots for your portfolio. This may seem like a slow process, but patience and perseverance will lead to the direction you want. Lastly, begin by offering friends and family a free shoot and a few prints to gain even more diversity of age groups and scenarios. Your close relations with these people may allow for you to get some real natural shots due to their comfort around you. This step may not necessarily require you to take further images, but it is the experience of stepping up into a session with people you may not know that well to follow on from here with potential clients.

2.3 Pricing packages for couple photography sessions

There are two popular ways to price your photography packages. You can either charge per print or you can charge for your time. The first pricing method is the best option for a part-time or amateur photographer. This method can produce a great source of additional income for the photographer. If clients are paying per print, the income for the photographer is steady and it is not reliant on the total amount of time spent on a session. An amateur photographer should take into consideration that their time is worth money and therefore still decide on a set rate to charge for their time in addition to charging for the prints. Charging for the time it takes on a shoot can be done in several different ways. The easiest way to go about it is to charge an hourly rate. This can be determined by adding up all of the expenses you incur from your photography annually and then decide on a reasonable hourly wage you would like to receive. With that number in mind you will be able to determine how many hours of shooting you will have to do in a year to break even with the amount you spend on your photography. An alternative to charging an hourly rate is to charge based on a session fee. With this method you will decide beforehand what the photoshoot is worth and how long the photoshoot is expected to take. During the shoot take as much time as is necessary to fulfill the needs of the client and then spend any remaining time taking additional photos that can later be sold at the price of an additional session. Charging for additional sessions essentially turns the session into an event based package and can be a more attractive option for clients as it shifts the burden of price from the time of the shoot onto the prints. A package deal that includes multiple event sessions will be more enticing to the clients and prove to be more profitable for the photographer. This method is the least reliant upon the cost of prints and is therefore very profitable but it may also lead to shooting more photos than are necessary and the best ones are not always the ones that end up getting printed.

3. Marketing Strategies for Couple Photography Business

Utilizing social media to attract couple clients It's nearly impossible to get around the social media craze. With more people than ever connecting online to share news, photos, and stories, it's becoming an essential part of life and, in turn, an essential part of marketing one's brand. For photography couples, using social media can be an effective way to reach new clients, showcase personality, and even show potential clients that you practice what you preach. Take, for instance, a Facebook fan page. From here, a couple can network with friends, family, and other clients while using engaging content to potentially spark interest from visitors. Uploading and tagging engagement photos or anniversary photos can evoke a sense of romance and ambition to someone who may be seeking out a similar photography session. Regular status updates can keep viewers interested, and posting personal or behind-the-scenes photos and stories can help to potentially form a stronger connection with viewers. Social media can influence and lead to invite clients or potential clients to become friends, thus giving you a barely invasive way to constantly update them on business, service, and promotions, and of course, an invite to become your next photography clients. Basically, if it's done effectively, social media can be a way to market your photography brand in a very organic nature.

Couples who own and operate a photography business together face a unique set of challenges; not the least of which is marketing their own photographic skills and simultaneously showcasing the unique dynamic of their partnership. They are not marketing to two separate clients, but rather to one client who will ideally hire both photographers as a team or family unit. Making a couple’s photography business successful from a marketing standpoint requires the right tools and a solid strategy.

3.1 Utilizing social media to attract couple clients

Let's face it, social media is no longer an option to opt out of in today's world. As a couple photography business, actively engaging in social media platforms can boost your sales. It is a cost-effective method and if used correctly, can bring in desired couple clients to your business in no time. The most common known social media platform is Facebook. A Facebook page is where you can actively engage with your audience and include as much detail as possible to communicate what you offer. Communication between posts and messages to potential clients can give a more personal approach. Scott & Ashlee O'Malley, a well-known photography couple and educators, recommend to "Post albums instead of single images. This encourages viewers to look through all the images and spend more time on your page." More views mean your business is reappearing on customer homepages and attracting others through image likes and comments. Creating a Facebook Ad is a much simpler and quicker way to market to your targeted audience. An ad can be directed towards engaged couples on users' pages and invites a like towards your page. The ad can specify package deals or limited-time offers to create a sense of urgency. Ideally, it is said that Facebook ads have the potential to target users who haven't necessarily liked your page but have viewed your website or app, hence attracting "warmer leads". This can be done through a Facebook Pixel, a code that tracks users' activity within your site and builds custom audiences for future detailed targeting.

3.2 Effective marketing tips for couple photography

Networking Although we have already mentioned networking with wedding vendors, it is also important to network within the photography community. Join a local photography club or organization to swap ideas and to learn from others. Building connections with other photographers can lead to them passing potential clients onto you if they are already booked for a certain date.

Samples and testimonials Display a large portfolio of your best work in your studio and create photo albums that clients can easily flip through. It is also a good idea to build testimonials from your clients to display in your studio. Couples looking to hire you want to know that you have a good track record with other couples. If you were working with a couple that was thrilled with your services, this is a great time to ask them to write a testimonial about your work and their experience.

Cross promoting Build a network of related businesses in your area and offer to promote them in your studio and on your website if they, in turn, promote your services. Many other wedding vendors, such as wedding planners, will be open to this suggestion as it often produces cross-referrals. Cross-promoting can be done simply by swapping web links with the vendor, and it can be a very cost-effective way to generate increased business.

3.3 Collaborating with other wedding vendors for referrals

Consider the example of a referral relationship with a wedding planner. Wedding planners often come into direct contact with their client's wedding photographer. If the photographer has clients that are also searching for a wedding planner, the relationship can be beneficial if the photographer can provide the clients with the wedding planner's information. Conversely, if the wedding planner has clients who are in search of a wedding photographer, the wedding planner will be more inclined to recommend the photographer if there is a benefit for the wedding planner's business. An effective collaboration would involve providing the wedding planner with the photographer's contact information and website link and placing a stack of business cards or other advertisement in the wedding planner's office. This is just one example, and there are several ways that a wedding vendor collaboration may work, but the idea should be focused on providing mutual benefit for both parties involved. A referral relationship will only be effective if both vendors see a benefit to their respective businesses and are willing to actively promote the other vendor to their clients.

One unique aspect of marketing for wedding photography businesses is the ability to collaborate with other wedding vendors for referrals. These relationships can save time compared to other forms of marketing and can be effective in producing a steady stream of client leads. Collaborative referral relationships can be formed with a number of different wedding vendors, including wedding planners, florists, bridal boutiques, and caterers. Essentially, the goal is to develop relationships with various vendors who are serving the same ideal client as the photography business. The ideal client for a wedding photographer is a client who understands the value of quality photography and is willing to invest in it. Often, these are clients who are spending a significant amount of money on their wedding. For this reason, the ideal referral relationship is with high-end wedding vendors who are also targeting clients that are willing to make a significant financial investment in their wedding. An effective referral relationship with other wedding vendors may have various forms, but generally speaking, it will work best if there is a two-way exchange of client information which provides benefit to both vendors.

4. Creative Ideas for Couple Photography

Couple photography is about connection, much like the connection you share with the partner who is also your second shooter. Whether your partner is your spouse, your photography BFF, or an associate you team up with for double bookings, these ideas will strengthen your images and bolster your business at the same time by capitalizing on that special rapport. How often do you as a photographer stand under the lights? Using yourselves as models will give you not only great shots for your portfolio but a better understanding of what your subjects feel when you direct them. It will also help you develop pose ideas to suggest to subjects that feel unnatural in front of the camera – you can be your own guinea pigs without wasting anyone else's time! One of the best reasons to schedule a swap of photo shoots between you and your partner is to get fresh content for your studio's website and/or blog. You know how clients love to see "behind the scenes" shots of the photographer in action! And candid shots of the two of you over coffee, going over your photo gear, or taking a walk in a picturesque setting discussing client ideas can make great blog post material to show potential clients the rapport you have with each other – just set a self-timer and forget about it while you talk and walk.

4.1 Unique poses and settings for couple photography

The best way to get a good start on this is not to instruct the couple on what to do, but instead to let them interact between themselves as they naturally would. Once they fall into a comfortable rhythm, start to let them know things that they could be doing. It is important to keep the free-form shooting going, don't let the "pose" become a motionless thing. Instead, let the subjects continue to move and interact. Some couples are happy to lay comfortably in each other's arms while others are more impish and like to race each other to the next spot. Reflect their personalities. One of the best methods is to be prepared to shoot from some distance away using a long lens. Nietzsche mentioned that a good philosophy sets the mind aquiver. The idea is that from a distance the couple will be less self-conscious and allow their genuine interactions to come forth. Often, some of the best shots come between the more formal poses when the subjects are not completely aware that the session is still in progress. In terms of specific poses, there are a few classics that nearly every couple will be glad to try. Sitting together on a small rise with city lights in the background. On a bench in a park. At some famous landmark. These are all good, although the landmark option comes with the cost that there's going to be a heap of tourists in the background of that shot! High key lighting works especially well with the young and the "young at heart". Think posed picnic shots in which the subjects play games, pour out cups of tea and so on. This setting adds a natural and uncontrived feel to stills because the actions are genuine and are a good deal of fun for the subjects. With this method, the shooter can hold back and let the couple's mood be the primary subject of the shots taken.

4.2 Incorporating themes and props in couple photography

After the setting and props have been established, it is time to plan out the actual photography. It is best to pick a time when the weather suits the theme and will not have a risk of rain, snow, or high winds. This may require some patience as the weather can be unpredictable. It might also be difficult to coordinate the photo at a specific setting, so be sure to set aside enough time to allow a relaxed and carefree photo shoot. During the photography, be sure to keep a relaxed and carefree atmosphere and let the subjects act out their own interpretation of the theme. This will allow for candid pictures and will give the subjects more ownership of the photos. If all goes well, the end result will be a collection of themed images that will tell a story without any words.

The next phase is to plan out what the setting and props will be. Setting and props are what will bring the theme to life in an image. A good way to get ideas for setting and props is to simply brainstorm and jot down ideas. Think of what props could symbolize the theme and feel of the image. After a list has been made, it should be divided into what will be easy to obtain and what will be more difficult to obtain. Usually, it is best to begin with the easy stuff and work towards the harder stuff. Props can be obtained from a variety of places including making it yourself, buying it, or borrowing from someone else. Setting can take place anywhere, but for a themed picture, it is best to find a location that not only fits the theme but will not conflict with the theme. A good atmosphere can bring a setting to life and can make it feel like a different world.

The first step in creating a thematic styled image is to decide what the theme will be. It is best to base your theme around something that you love and are passionate about. Also, make sure that the theme fits the personalities of the subjects in the photo. A creative couples photo could go in a number of different directions. It could be a photo of a couple cooking if they enjoy cooking and are messy eaters. It could be a photo of a couple wearing their everyday clothes fixing a tire with tools if they enjoy working with cars. Another location-based idea could be to take pictures of a couple at an amusement park. This would provide the opportunity for a lot of fun pictures with bright colors and the playful atmosphere of the park. No matter what theme is chosen, it should be something that the subjects will enjoy and will bring the theme to life.

Thematic styled pictures are informal pictures centered around an idea. They typically contain a message, are lighthearted, and tell a story. Thematic styled pictures can be used for personal portraits, couple portraits, or family portraits. It is a great way to add creativity to your pictures and capture a story within a single image.

4.3 Capturing candid moments and emotions in couple photography

Candid photography is about capturing unplanned and spontaneous life on the go. Couples may find it as a very interesting idea since it helps them to remember their love story at that time, and also it helps to improve their relationship by knowing their partner better. Taking candid shots will be much easier for the photographers because they just need to take a few hundred shots and choose the most emotional ones. This task may sound easy but it also has its own challenge. There are times when the couples felt awkward and stiff with each other so they do not know what to do. This is the time for the photographers to show some examples and let the couples absorb it. Choose the most romantic and emotional spots for the couples such as the place where they first met, or the place where they first said "I love you" to each other. Let them interact with each other and take their shots from afar, they will be so into their own world and this will make the shots more natural. Another tip from photographers is to play their favorite music while doing the photo session, the couples will spontaneously dance and hold each other while singing and this is the precious moment that needs to be captured. Personality is the unique characteristic of someone so why don't we make use of it to enhance the emotional value of the photos? Candid shots that show the couple's true colors will be great, take some shots when they are arguing, playing around, or when someone is consoling the other. This may sound weird but it's the personal touches that come out from these photos which make the couples love it.