A few days ago I was ask what it’s like to work with my wife. If it was hard. If I enjoyed it and how we keep our personal relationship separate from the business. So I really wanted to share my thoughts with everyone.
First let me tell you about how Sara and I became a team. We talk about this a little in our bio on the ABOUT PAGE. Sara never really had an interest in being a photographer other than the occasional selfie or pictures of the dogs. We had been together for about 3 years when I finished college and really wanted to take photography more seriously. After second shooting and doing some small weddings I decided I wanted to book a wedding and do it as the main photographer. I knew I would need a little help in keeping things organized and staying on track. Which is something Sara helps me do daily! So I asked Sara if she would assist me. She said she would defiantly help but she had no clue how to use a camera. So after a few weeks of training her how to work the basic functions of a camera she felt confident enough to help me out. That wedding went surprisingly smooth. And that’s where it all started.
After that she was hooked. We started working more and more together on weddings and me teaching her more advanced techniques. Now almost 2 years later she is an irreplaceable part of this business. She brings a second perspective to everything we do. Not to mention her own projects she has started. With her starting the Boudoir and Newborn portion of Al Weddings she has helped us cover more ground. Although our focus will always be couples this has helped us stay with our clients and want us to take newborn pictures after starting their family. To go along with that having a woman on the team helps us relate to our couples and do some things that brides might not want a man to do. Such as be in the room while the dress is being put on. Although most guys could probably care less who’s in the room while they are getting ready, I think it adds something that the groom can relate more to a man and the bride can relate more to a woman. So me and the groom can talk about last week’s football game and Sara can talk to the bride about flowers and make up ( or whatever women talk about =] )
But us being a husband and wife team goes beyond connecting with our bride and groom. Sara has a way better understand for finances in our business and does all of our packaging, while I can do anything to our website and handle most of the editing.
Personally I love working with my wife. We have developed a 6th sense with each other. Working together is just so easy at this point. Knowing someone so well and having them be a part of your business is so beneficial. We know each other strengths and weaknesses. We can communicate without speaking, and we know each other’s styles. So we can both assist one another to get the shots we love. I know Sara loves her detail and bridal shots and she knows I love my wide / dramatic shots.
Yes we are business partners and life partners BUT we know when it’s time to switch business mode off and turn on relationship mode. No matter how “heated’ discussions get or stressful times can be in the business, It usually ends with “Well… What’s for dinner?” And we switch into our relationship mode.
Now, figuring out what’s for dinner is a whole other discussion. If you are one of our bride and grooms you know this because of the gift we give you after your wedding =].
I hope this sheds some light into what we think make Al Weddings so well rounded and possibly help other husband and wife teams out there.
-Alex
One Comment
Beautiful story! I can’t wait to experience this love! ♥