Going into partnership/business with family?

[Ronie]

So I've been trying to figure out the best way I actually ask this question for days, but in the past my sister has really been a big backer as far as my photography love goes. She encourages me, critique's me, pulls me out of my box, and I really owe my love of photography to her, since she was the person who got me started.

During the past couple months as things have begun to take off, and I've actually gotten several jobs, my sister has been there, and has been the first person I go to for advice; even though she's not a photographer. The thought's been continually in the back of my mind that it might be a good endeavor to bring her in, and work as a real team... maybe even eventually form a business. With an upcoming job I once again contacted her, and as we talked we both admitted to have been thinking about the idea for a couple months now...

I could get really excited about this idea, because as I see it my sister is everything I'm not as far as photography goes, and vice versa. She's a people person, and very easily outgoing, where as I am still working on being a very outgoing person around people I'm not comfortable with; along with her people skills she's a very good marketer, and quite frankly, 90% of the jobs I've done in the past couple months have been because of her involvement. She's organized while I can find myself very unorganized when approaching a job (something I've been working on since her involvement). She's fantastic when it comes to poses, me... I'm still working on that. HAHA. Quite frankly she could take off and be a better photographer than me except for a couple problems. She's had very little behind the camera experience; and she isn't very good with computers or processing programs. So in a sense we've got the makings of a very good photographer... between the two of us...

My biggest problem is I'm a bit worried about the long term effects of such a move. I've heard many horror stories of families going into business together and having things turn very sour when things didn't go right. She and I haven't had the best track record, we personify the birth order... she's the oldest, and I'm the middle child. But despite all the times we disagree and she walks all over me there is one area this has never happened... that's photography... The only way I can explain it is that we just complete each other in that respect...

What I am looking for is some advice... like I said I could get excited about the prospect and what it could mean; but on the other hand I'm a bit scared of what may be down the road. What do you all think? Is it a mistake? Should I not pursue it at all? Or should I pursue it and just lay down guides to avoid possible pitfalls? If so what kind of things should I watch out for and how can I combat them? Any other thoughts you might have I would greatly appreciate because I don't want to get into something like this without knowing ahead of time that it could possibly work. Sorry for the length of the post, haha! Thanks ahead of time for your help!

[NicoleScraps]

Some family partnerships turn out horribly while others are quite successful. I know of several family owned and operated businesses (not photography) that are just fine and dandy.
However, I would have a sit down chat with your sister. Maybe each of you make out a list of what you want to get out of this partnership, who would be responsible for what, who has the final say if there is a disagreement, etc, See how each of your lists compare to the other then make the compromised necessary so that you can both be completely clear. Maybe make a pact to keep business seperate from personal. That is easier said that done though.
I wish you the best of luck if you decide to go forward with it. For the record, going into business with my sister would be the absolute last thing I would ever do. LOL. But maybe you can make it work.

[LMAshton]

I agree - it can work out so incredibly well or bomb terribly. Depends on the people involved and the communication skills thereof.

I used to work as an accountant in Canada, self-employed, with my clients being the small and very small businesses. A number of them were husband/wife teams, or two best friends or that sort of thing. When they worked well, it was because there was very clear communication with expectations from both sides spelled out. At times, I, the accountant, had to intervene about some accounting/business related things with one partner telling me to please tell the other partner that because they just weren't listening. So, it can help to have a great accountant, too. Well, really, you'd want that anyway.

The husband and I work together. He does the bulk of the work (programmer), but I help out in my own way. Giving feedback, quality assurance (bug testing and the like - I'm great for finding ways to break programs ), documentation, accounting/finance/reading legal documents, and so on. We each have different strengths, and our strengths complement each other very well, so why not? And we have no problems working together. Actually, we're together for every hour of every day with the exception of two or three hours a week, and have been for the last five or six years and it works great for us. The point being that working with family/spouses/whatever can work very well. It does for us.

Personally, I'd suggest the two of you getting together and hashing out all the details - expectations, who does what, how many hours a week you both would expect you'd end up doing, how much of the pie each of you gets, and so on. In detail. In excruciating detail. It's been my experience that this is the best way to avoid unpleasant surprises. Then, after you've both had time to mull over the details, make any changes you both feel necessary, put it into a contract. Add in ways that either of you can call off the business partnership and under what grounds in the event it doesn't work out so that it can be ended amicably and without argument.

BUT I would not be afraid to start a business on the grounds that you describe, Ronie. If it were me, and I had someone like that in my life, I'd probably want to do it, too. I'm also not much of a people person or a marketing person. It sounds like it's got great potential for BOTH of you.

[Jim Poor]

It will go swimmingly well, horribly, or somewhere in between. How's that for helpful?


The only real advice I'll give is to outline the whole arrangement in excruciating detail IN WRITING! That's best for everyone involved.

[Jim Poor]

On a tangentially related note, I've considered this with members of my wife's family.

Among us, we have a Newborn Photographer, A wedding Photographer, A pet & sports photographer, a minister and an undertaker.

We'd call it "Circle of Life - We're with you from beginning to end."

[BK553]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

On a tangentially related note, I've considered this with members of my wife's family.

Among us, we have a Newborn Photographer, A wedding Photographer, A pet & sports photographer, a minister and an undertaker.

We'd call it "Circle of Life - We're with you from beginning to end."

Where's the divorce attorney?

[Ronie]

Thank you everyone for your advice. And thank you Jim for the laugh I needed that! I think that's a fantastic idea, that way no one has to go looking for people it's all conveniently located within one business.

I have considered that, and we both agree that there has to be some sort of contract written up so that in event of issues there will be guides in place on how to deal with them. Is there any thing else we should consider?

She actually helped me tonight with a mini-session; and things went very well. She was very helpful; especially when it came to posing the baby. I've not had to much experience with babies as of yet so it was nice to have some back up. So I don't know, things seem to be going very well... I want to be sure to have all the bases covered before we jump in. So like I said anything else we should take into consideration.

[Peter Ahrens]

Ronie,

My fiance and I work together on my photography business for the last year and no mishaps yet!

In my opinion, you will never know what will happen if you don't go into business together. If things bomb, you still have your photography skills - nobody can take that away from you.

[TheEagleSpirit]

Originally Posted by Ronie

So I've been trying to figure out the best way I actually ask this question for days, but in the past my sister has really been a big backer as far as my photography love goes. She encourages me, critique's me, pulls me out of my box, and I really owe my love of photography to her, since she was the person who got me started.

During the past couple months as things have begun to take off, and I've actually gotten several jobs, my sister has been there, and has been the first person I go to for advice; even though she's not a photographer. The thought's been continually in the back of my mind that it might be a good endeavor to bring her in, and work as a real team... maybe even eventually form a business. With an upcoming job I once again contacted her, and as we talked we both admitted to have been thinking about the idea for a couple months now...

I could get really excited about this idea, because as I see it my sister is everything I'm not as far as photography goes, and vice versa. She's a people person, and very easily outgoing, where as I am still working on being a very outgoing person around people I'm not comfortable with; along with her people skills she's a very good marketer, and quite frankly, 90% of the jobs I've done in the past couple months have been because of her involvement. She's organized while I can find myself very unorganized when approaching a job (something I've been working on since her involvement). She's fantastic when it comes to poses, me... I'm still working on that. HAHA. Quite frankly she could take off and be a better photographer than me except for a couple problems. She's had very little behind the camera experience; and she isn't very good with computers or processing programs. So in a sense we've got the makings of a very good photographer... between the two of us...

My biggest problem is I'm a bit worried about the long term effects of such a move. I've heard many horror stories of families going into business together and having things turn very sour when things didn't go right. She and I haven't had the best track record, we personify the birth order... she's the oldest, and I'm the middle child. But despite all the times we disagree and she walks all over me there is one area this has never happened... that's photography... The only way I can explain it is that we just complete each other in that respect...

What I am looking for is some advice... like I said I could get excited about the prospect and what it could mean; but on the other hand I'm a bit scared of what may be down the road. What do you all think? Is it a mistake? Should I not pursue it at all? Or should I pursue it and just lay down guides to avoid possible pitfalls? If so what kind of things should I watch out for and how can I combat them? Any other thoughts you might have I would greatly appreciate because I don't want to get into something like this without knowing ahead of time that it could possibly work. Sorry for the length of the post, haha! Thanks ahead of time for your help!

My best friend and I are amateur photographers. She uses automatic and point to shoot cameras. I use Nikon D90 shooting in aperature mode graduating to manual mode at times. I take great photos and she is supporting me in all I do with her various organizations but guess who won ribbons in the County Fair Competition. She did. She must be like your sister, having a great eye for composure etc. I am learning but also doing different settings on my camera to see the different results.
As far as doing business deals with my friend is not my cup of tea, as well as some of my relatives, After awhile my relatives begin to get greedy.

[Peapod Photo]

I wouldn't risk it. Just my 2c, but there's just too much to risk ruining relationships over in business. I could say a lot more, but I won't right now...