Would you partner with another photographer on a studio?

So another photographer and I, who I have known for about 4 months have started talking about going in halves on a studio here.  Neither of use need it full time and plan to mark off days to split the time.  Seems like it could work, but who knows.  This is all new to me and before spending any money with a lawyer for a contract, I wanted to see if anyone has gone in on a studio with another photographer?  Anything you could share that I need to be aware of?  Add to the contract? 

Thank you a head of time! 

I work with another guy all the time. Basically on everything.

Be warned though. If anything goes wrong it can ruin friendships.

Make sure you have a clear contract.  Will there be any common gear that both of you will use?  

I just saw an article go by that mentioned sharing studio space with 1 or more other photographers. Seems a good idea if you need space.

+1 on a good contract drawn up by a lawyer. Expense, investment costs, responsibilities, ownership, dissolution, everything A to Z. You may also need the help of a CPA to cover managing and reporting expenses. And be sure that no one cheats on that part.

And to answer your question, yes, I would partner. Per the above, especially if it were a friend.

Been there, done that and NO would be my answer......

effron wrote: Been there, done that and NO would be my answer......

Can I ask about your (perceived) bad experience?  I have not 2, but 3 friends who share a common studio space and they have been sharing this space for just about 4 years with no problems.  They actually asked if I wanted to come in on the space a couple months ago.  Tempting.  

Ideally, No.  To much could go wrong. 

Tim Burg wrote:

effron wrote: Been there, done that and NO would be my answer......

Can I ask about your (perceived) bad experience?  I have not 2, but 3 friends who share a common studio space and they have been sharing this space for just about 4 years with no problems.  They actually asked if I wanted to come in on the space a couple months ago.  Tempting.  

Tried it twice years ago, a very good friend and a little later with a serious love interest (girlfriend) and neither time did it work out. Nothing nasty or ugly, just wore us down. The difference between a business and a hobby is night from day, simply. Doing anything for a living can be tough, stressful and WILL wear on relationships. There is also a reason a ship only has one captain.....

effron wrote:

Tim Burg wrote:

effron wrote: Been there, done that and NO would be my answer......

Can I ask about your (perceived) bad experience?  I have not 2, but 3 friends who share a common studio space and they have been sharing this space for just about 4 years with no problems.  They actually asked if I wanted to come in on the space a couple months ago.  Tempting.  

Tried it twice years ago, a very good friend and a little later with a serious love interest (girlfriend) and neither time did it work out. Nothing nasty or ugly, just wore us down. The difference between a business and a hobby is night from day, simply. Doing anything for a living can be tough, stressful and WILL wear on relationships. There is also a reason a ship only has one captain.....

Nikon users are hard to live with you see.

Stealthy Ninja wrote:

effron wrote:

Tim Burg wrote:

effron wrote: Been there, done that and NO would be my answer......

Can I ask about your (perceived) bad experience?  I have not 2, but 3 friends who share a common studio space and they have been sharing this space for just about 4 years with no problems.  They actually asked if I wanted to come in on the space a couple months ago.  Tempting.  

Tried it twice years ago, a very good friend and a little later with a serious love interest (girlfriend) and neither time did it work out. Nothing nasty or ugly, just wore us down. The difference between a business and a hobby is night from day, simply. Doing anything for a living can be tough, stressful and WILL wear on relationships. There is also a reason a ship only has one captain.....

Nikon users are hard to live with you see.

Hey! 

If I didn't need too, no.  That's just a recipe of incident, if you ask for my 2 cents.

I don't know if you've ever shared office space or anything to have an idea what it might be like. I'd be concerned about it being with someone you've only known for 4 months, I don't know if you could know someone well enough in that amount of time to know for sure what you might be dealing with.

I agree about having a contract/agreement in writing, although I'm not sure how you'd cover every possible circumstance that could happen. You don't want situations like the other person dropping out and you're left with owing full rent, or coming in and the studio isn't ready to use because they left their belongings all over the place, etc.

I think if I tried it I'd make it a short term lease at first and extend it later on if things are going well, I wouldn't want to be locked into something and then be stuck with problems.

Not if I didn't have too!