The photography industry is one that requires the best of everyone. We have to constantly be producing quality at the drop of a hat. Amid being so busy, a few key couples have found a way to maintain a beautiful relationship and thrive together. I wondered what life was like for these really prominent power couples of our industry. Being that I knew them, I simply asked! They happily obliged and the answers were so heart warming and equally interesting.

From all over the world, here are four couples that shared a piece of their life with us.

Enjoy!

Photo by Jordan Voth

John Schell and Kate Moore

John and Kate are both photographers based out of California, both specializing in lifestyle and the beauty of life. Knowing them is knowing life a little more.

Kate: http://www.katemoorephotography.com/
John: http://www.johnschellphoto.com/

Being that you’re both in the industry, how did you find each other?

Like everyone else these days, we’d been friends online for about three years but never really spoke or were in much contact except for liking each other’s photos and statuses from time to time.

In September 2014, I was in New York about ready to make the drive back home to Los Angeles when I noticed that Kate had posted a Facebook status that she was just about to make almost the exact same drive for the 11th time. Having made it about eight times myself, I felt she was someone I could relate to wanted to get to know if for no other reason than to grab lunch and maybe share some stories from the road (also, I’d already been a huge fan of her work for a few years and thought it’d also be a good opportunity to talk about photography, work, etc).

We met for lunch in December 2014 at a Chipotle. She’d prefaced our meeting with a text warning me that she eats her burritos quickly and exuberantly. Needless to say, I was charmed from the start. Ten minutes into lunch she had rice in her hair and guac on her face. From that moment I was hopeless.

What is it like dating another creative?

I’m curious to hear about your unique dynamic. (Talking about the positives of dating someone who gets you being in the same industry, about how you bounce ideas off each other, etc etc).
Overall however, dating a creative is great. I think we both have an understanding of what the other goes through in regard to creative process, workflow, and the struggle of being a freelance photographer living in Los Angeles, which is perhaps the freelance photographer capital of the world.

The benefits are many; having the ability to bounce an idea off someone at 2am, having someone to push you, to inspire you, having someone who understands what it’s like to go through those work-related dry spells when it seems like everyone else is getting hired but you and perhaps most important, having someone you’re close with to share in your success with as much excitement and exuberance as they share in yours and/or as they eat a burrito.

What’s the hardest part about being with another creative?

I’d be lying if I said dating another creative is the easiest, best thing in the world. Not that things aren’t fantastic (they are), but whenever you put two or more creative people together in any sense, there is going to be some friction. Dating a creative is no different. As we’re both established professionals, we have our styles, our routines, and our workflows pretty much set. When the other sees something that can be worked on and/or improved, it’s sometimes difficult not only to make the suggestion, but to listen objectively and take the suggestion into account as something that maybe should be added or changed. So, actually the hardest part isn’t dating another creative – it’s getting out of your own way and listening to what your partner has to say.

What’s the best project you’ve worked on together?

Oddly enough we don’t work together on projects. We both have our own look, style, and overall aesthetic each of which each attract our own, separate clients (Kate is more fashion and I am more beach lifestyle). We do however, travel together a lot. Last summer we took a month-long road trip from Los Angeles up through the Pacific Northwest into Vancouver, BC and back again. It was an incredible relationship-defining trip. Since then, we’ve traveled to Mexico, Puerto Rico, and will be returning to Vancouver again in a few weeks with plans on Hawaii and Costa Rica and Panama.
Overall, I think, if I had to choose something, I’d say the relationship itself is our best project. Between the three of us (Kate, Me, and our dog Olive), there is always a ton of laughter, travel, and of course way never enough photos.

Dan Moore and Sedona Turbeville

Dan and Sedona make up the duo that is Flashpoint Collective, a commercial photography studio based in Oakland, CA, shooting food, product, and portraits.
http://www.flashpointcollective.com/about/

How long have you been together? Being that you’re both in the industry, how did you find each other?  

We met each other about five years ago through a mutual friend, and have been together since last year. We initially started working together via Skype and instant messaging before Dan’s relocation back to the West Coast — having daily conversations about workflows, business practices, and bouncing ideas off of each other. I’ve even digital teched a few of his shoots from a few thousand miles away via Skype and Capture One.

What is it like dating another creative?

It’s definitely a nice feeling having a partner who is in the same industry. There’s never a second thought if one of us wants to pull over on a drive and climb down a hill for a shot or do something strange to get the right image. After Dan moved back out to California and we shot together more, we found out that we vibe incredibly well on shoots and can usually tell what the other person needs before they even say it. Plus, I have someone who laughs at my really terrible photo-dad jokes.

What’s the hardest part about being with another creative?  

Sometimes we can come from two different creative approaches on projects, (I am notoriously stubborn) but with some processing and good critique we usually end up making something awesome happen.

What’s the best project you’ve worked on together?  

We were working on a birthday cake shoot this summer, and I jokingly brought up the idea of someone having a beard made out of frosting. We decided to roll with it, and the next day shot Dan’s face covered in pink frosting and sprinkles. It’s one of my favorite portraits to date, and I think it’s a good example of how we collaborate together. (Link)

Benjamin Von Wong and Anna Tenne

Anna is a photographer that specializes in weddings and portraits. Benjamin is a photographer that pushes the envolope with his concept work. She lives in Australia and he’s in the US, and they travel the world on various adventures!

Anna: http://www.annatennephotography.com/
Benjamin: http://www.vonwong.com/

How long have you been together? Being that you’re both in the industry, how did you find each other?

Yesterday was our 1yr anniversary. (Feb 13th)
Sadly I hate to admit I emailed him – let’s avoid the term “fan girl”. Being a photographer too, my friends kept tagging me on his fb posts but I never thought anything of it… until seeing his post about delivering himself in a box to surprise a sick fan on the otherwise of the world. That’s when I knew he was as crazy as me so I thought I’d reach out.

We first met a few months later when he invited himself along on one of my projects – I was traveling Asia photographing a quadruple amputee that gets around on a skateboard, so he met up with us in Cambodia. So let’s just say I lured him in with a man with no limbs.

What is it like dating another creative? I’m curious to hear about your unique dynamic.

The fact we both have similar goals is definitely a bonus – not just in terms of photography but more importantly because we both want to use it to make a difference in the world.

Obviously it’s handy having someone to bounce ideas off and help you grow too, but for us in particular aside from both being photographers, we see things very differently and come from completely opposite backgrounds – which means we balance each other out and offer completely different viewpoints – both in our industry but in our personal life.

The best thing though, because of our profession we both have a lot of flexibility (ie being our own boss), which makes living on opposite ends of the globe easier to plan adventures and work on things together.

What’s the hardest part about being with another creative?

Snapchat. He’s just discovered it and I feel like he loves it more than me. I’m only half joking – being a creative there’s no set work hours, no clear division between work and play. Which in one way is totally awesome but at the same time there’s hardly an opportunity to just switch off. There’s always emails to answer, calls to make, blogs to write, shoots to plan, people to meet, snaps to update, it’s sometimes hard to keep a balance. He won’t complain though, he loves being productive.

What’s the best project you’ve worked on together?

My personal favourite was storm chasing through the US. We brainstormed the idea together and I did what I could behind the scenes to help Ben pull off some kick-ass shots to raise a bit of love and awareness for the environment around us.

David Talley and Kiara Rose

Kiara and David are both photographers. He make conceptual art, and works with companies and brands worldwide to make their products and causes known. He also teaches photography. Kiara shoots portraiture, owns a wedding business, and a Lightroom preset business, called The Colour Collection. “Weboth spend way too much time on two things: taking photos in nature and drinking coffee in coffee shops.”

David: http://www.davidtalley.io/
Kiara: http://www.kiararosephoto.com/

How long have you been together? Being that you’re both in the industry, how did you find each other?

Almost 9 months! So crazy. Kiara and I have actually know each other for almost 5 years, and we were friends for 4 years before we started dating. We met online through Flickr.com during our respective “365” projects and became mutual admirers of each other’s work. Over the course of a few years, we became close friends – Kiara writing me nearly 15 letters from Australia… and me returning them…. um, twice. I think. Haha! When the time was right, after a bunch of ups and downs and other relationships, we gave “us” a go – Kiara flew out to the States last May, and the rest is history.

What is it like dating another creative? I’m curious to hear about your unique dynamic.

Hahaha. It’s actually the best thing in the world. I’m a huge idea guy, so Kiara is able to fill in the gaps and details and brings me back to Earth when my ideas go crazy. I’m able to help her with other parts of her approach to art on a more idea-based level. We both completely understand each other’s vision – which is the coolest thing. We hardly need to direct each other when we model for one another, and we constantly get to encourage each other to pursue our dreams. We also get a HUGE level of involvement with each other’s businesses, which is fun. I like telling her my ideas and seeing what she thinks, and vice versa. It’s also awesome having a super hot girlfriend to always shoot photos of….. ;)

What’s the hardest part about being with another creative?

I’d say there’s 2 super difficult things. The first, more obvious – is that Kiara lives in Australia. When we’re not together, it sucks. A ton. We don’t get to let our creativity flow and our muse is missing. The other hard thing is trying not to step on each other’s toes, over shadow, or belittle each other’s ideas by putting too much of our own approach behind it. I can tell Kiara some crazy idea but get down because a detail might be off – and it usually is, but I’m stubborn. Or I might knock her down with a big-vision approach when she wants to focus on the relationship being built, and I don’t fully get it. It’s an operational thing. We’re figuring it out, but it’s good and healthy conflict. Dating a creative only becomes difficult when you forget to respect each other’s ideas.

What’s the best project you’ve worked on together?

We did 2 workshops in Australia last Autumn, in Melb and Sydney. It was an absolute blast – Kiara killed it with organization and I brought the structure. We tag-teamed teaching and the course just went so smoothly between the two of us. We’re both so passionate about inspiring others that teaching together comes more naturally to us, and we’re able to flow off of each other’s lectures. Those workshops helped so many of our students get inspired. It was awesome.

About The Author

Pratik Naik is a high end retoucher, photographer, and retouching teacher under his Solstice Retouch brand. You can catch Pratik on social media on his Instagram, tumblr, twitter and facebook. This article was also published here and shared with permission.