Some of you know that I actually started working with Lukas in his photography business before we were ever married. In fact, before we were even dating. Yep…you could even say…that I married my boss. GASP! It’s true. Two months after he hired me, we started dating. 18 months later he decided he wanted to quit paying me, so he proposed. ; )
That’s a little of our story on how we ended up being a husband + wife photography team. Recently, one of my friends asked me “How is it to work with your husband?” I’ve gotten that question many, many times before in passing, but it’s usually followed with a gushing of “youaresolucky! ohmygoodness! thatmustbeamazing dreamjob!!!!”- in which case I decide they don’t really want to know. But the difference was this: She. Really. Wanted. To know. The good, the challenges, what works, what doesn’t, and everything in between. So as I was describing it to her, I thought it would be a great post to share with all of you!
“Working with my husband is AWESOME!!! I get to be with him all the time, and I feel so blessed because all the time most hubbys spend at work away from their wives, I get! There is however, a *potential* downside. There are complicated dynamics that come into working together. Imagine any work conflicts you have had with coworkers, and imagine that with your husband.”
Sometimes I think that my dear friends, the “gushers”, who I love dearly, don’t really think about the fact that working with your spouse involves what is already implied: work. And for us that comes with the funnest, most rewarding, exciting job ever! Here are a few tips that have been SUPER helpful for us to avoid conflict:
Working With Your Spouse
1. Have clear cut job descriptions
2. Set clear expectations on how long things should take and how they are to be done
3. Have “close ended” jobs – jobs where you’re not waiting on the other person
4. Be humble, teachable, encouraging, and honest
5. Have boundaries on photography time and “us” time
6. Set short term and long term goals and make plans on how to achieve them
7. Pray together often!
I just told Lukas I was blogging about our marriage. He replied “Our marriage is a constant stream of daisies, buttercups, rainbows, roses and little red hearts floating through the air.” I think I forgot to mention that another key ingredient in our marriage/ working relationship is to be silly often! My last word of advice: Be twitterpated!
Photo by the fabulous Emma Leigh.
by Suzy
Alvina - “18 months later he decided he wanted to quit paying me, so he proposed.”
hahahaha :D
What is twitterpated???
melissa pidal - suz, you are SO cute!! love and miss you!!!
The Tades - Awwwwwwwww love you guys!!!!!!
Susannah - Twitterpated- a reference from Bambi. To be head over heels in love with someone. Etc! : )
Tyler & Rachael Austin - Always nice to see posts like this. One of the more important topics that seldom get talked about, yet it is a very important part…almost critical to a husband/wife team.
Q&A Part One | Lukas VanDyke - International Wedding Photographer - [...] How we met is spread over a number of blog posts, so I will save that for later. But here is another post Suzy recently wrote on how to work with your spouse! [...]