At FOTO, we are committed to helping our fellow creatives flourish. In our new Q&A style blog series, Coffee with Creatives, we are highlighting the unique expertise of some of our favorite professionals, sharing tips and information on relevant topics to bring you some practical insight and inspiration for the important work you do.
Today, we are uncovering how to run a photography business with your spouse with professional portrait and wedding photographer, Caroline Jurgensen.
First things first, how do you take your coffee?
Caroline: Black
Luke: Iced with cream
How did you end up working with your spouse?
Caroline: The business was growing at a rapid pace and I realized I wasn’t able to juggle it all on my own. I was considering hiring an office assistant. Luke was working a full-time IT job and helping me 2nd shoot on the weekends, and his job was demanding he work overtime on the weekends. He was faced with having to choose one or the other, and he wasn't in love with what he was doing, so after crunching the numbers we realized we could make this work and both do photography. Of course, right after Luke quit his job we found out we were pregnant with our first-born! So, ever since then we've hit the ground running with juggling a photography business and taking care of our babies - all from home.
What makes working together as a team so special? Most challenging part?
Caroline: We definitely have a unique situation as we get to spend so much time together owning our own business, traveling for shoots, and raising our kids from home. At weddings, we can split up to shoot the guys and girls as they get ready and then again for their formal portraits. During wedding days, we just seem to have that chemistry to know what the other person is thinking without even saying anything, so it makes the day go smoother having that experience and anticipating what needs to happen next.
Working together definitely has its challenges. Trying to find that balance each day between work and taking care of the kids isn't always easy, but we try our best to accommodate for the other so that we can get work done. Since we're around each other all the time it's important we get some time to ourselves, but at the end of the day we are husband and wife, and lucky parents to two precious little girls.
What does a typical day look like for you guys? How do you divide & conquer?
Caroline: On a typical day, Luke gets the girls going in the morning while I get to emails and editing. We try to squeeze in a walk or do something fun together before lunch. Then during the girls naps, we get to our desks or head out for shoots to churn out any and all work that we can. After naps, one of us will usually take the girls to the park or let them play outside while the other can get some more work or shoots done. We usually do dinner, bath time, and bedtime together. After the girls are down for the night, it's back to the office for a few more hours.
What advice do you have for other couples who are considering working together?
Caroline: Working together from home (especially with kids!) makes you realize you have to be intentional with your time. Any time the kids are asleep means it's crunch time for us. It requires a lot of self-sacrifice and a lot of unconditional love. We know it's tough, but having this time together and with our kids at their age is priceless!
And for fun, what Fotostrap(s) do you wear?
Caroline: I have been wearing Fotostrap for years but my new favorite is the Dutch Skinny.
Luke: James
Looking for more inspiration from industry creatives? Check out these other Q&A's:
Coffee with Creatives: Misty Rodda's Tips on Keeping a Fresh Perspective
Coffee with Creatives: Katie Lamb's Tips on Finding that "Mompreneur" Work/Life Balance
Coffee with Creatives: How Lottie Royten, Destination Wedding Photographer, Preps for Trips
