5 Ways to Elevate Your Partner Marketing (With Examples)
At Brooklyn Boudoir and Stephanie Bordas Education, we believe in collaboration over competition. That’s not just a mindset—it’s a marketing strategy.
Whether you're a photographer, creative entrepreneur, or service provider, partner marketing is one of the most underused (and most powerful) ways to grow your business, build authority, and reach new audiences. But not all collaborations are created equal. To make the most of it, you need clarity, strategy, and intention.
Let’s walk through 5 powerful ways to elevate your partner marketing—plus real-world examples and insights from industry experts to help you put these ideas into action.
1. Nail Your "Better-Together" Story
Before you even think about co-hosting a workshop or cross-promoting a service, take a step back and ask:
Why does this partnership make sense—for both of us and our clients?
If your audience doesn’t immediately get why this collaboration is a win, they’ll keep scrolling.
✨ Your better-together story is what communicates the unique value of your partnership. It’s not just “we both work in the same industry.” It’s:
“Here’s how our services complement each other and solve a shared problem—better, together.”
Whether you’re collaborating with a makeup artist, a lingerie brand, or another photographer, your message should answer:
What results do clients get from working with both of you?
How does the experience become easier, deeper, or more impactful?
What transformation is possible through this partnership?
Real Example:
One of my favorite ways to do this is through partner-led events and webinars. For example, if you're a boudoir photographer teaming up with a stylist or therapist, create an event around “Confidence on Camera”—you bring the visual empowerment, they bring the emotional prep. Together, you tell a complete story.
2. Think Beyond the Big Names
It’s tempting to only reach for the “big brands” when it comes to partnerships—those with thousands of followers or national recognition. But here's the thing:
You don’t need a mega-brand collab to create impact.
In fact, smaller, value-aligned partnerships often bring more engagement because both sides are equally invested.
✅ Local boutiques
✅ Small product-based brands
✅ Wellness practitioners
✅ Stylists, coaches, makeup artists, or even fellow photographers with a different niche
These types of partnerships are easier to manage, more collaborative, and often lead to meaningful, long-term relationships.
Real Example:
A few years ago, I partnered with a small lingerie shop in NYC to offer a styled boudoir experience. They promoted it to their audience, I shared it with mine, and we both got new leads, press, and social content out of it—no money exchanged, just mutual value.
3. Make It Easy for Your Partners to Support You
Your partners want to support you—but they need direction.
If you want them to share your offer, promote your shoot day, or mention you in an event, give them:
Clear messaging and language
Visual assets (social graphics, email templates)
A shared link or lead capture form
Talking points or FAQs about your service
💡 Pro tip: Think about how you can create a “Partner Promo Kit”—a done-for-you folder with everything they need to share your work easily and effectively.
Real Example:
A brand I partnered with recently created a mini email series for me to send to my list. All I had to do was tweak the language slightly and schedule it. I ended up doing the same for them. The result? Better conversions, less work, and more aligned messaging.
4. Budget (Time + Money) for Partnership Efforts
Partner marketing is powerful—but it’s not free. It takes some time, strategy, and potentially money to do well. That could look like:
Hosting a co-branded event
Sending PR boxes or client gifts together
Investing in a styled shoot or promo campaign
Offering a revenue share or referral incentive
If you're serious about using partnerships to grow, build them into your marketing budget and workflow.
This is especially important for photographers offering high-end experiences. If you want to elevate your client journey with a wardrobe stylist, MUA, or luxury brand, be willing to offer a paid collaboration or a revenue split.
Real Example:
At one of my retreats, I allocated part of the marketing budget to feature our venue, glam team, and other local partners in a styled editorial series. Each of them shared the content on their channels, tagged us, and referred clients who wanted the full experience. That shoot paid for itself within one week of bookings.
5. Celebrate (and Share) Your Wins
You’ve done the work—don’t forget to showcase the results!
Sharing behind-the-scenes content, results, and testimonials from your partnerships does two important things:
Builds credibility with your audience and future partners
Reinforces your position as someone who knows how to deliver value
📢 Post about:
The number of new leads or bookings you received
A glowing client testimonial from a co-branded session
A styled shoot that got published
A new offering you created through collaboration
💡 Highlight these wins in your newsletters, social posts, website, and even in future pitch decks for other potential partners.
Real Example:
One of my most successful Instagram posts came from simply tagging and sharing a mini BTS clip with a partner brand. It boosted our reach, re-engaged both our audiences, and led to several DMs asking about our next collaboration.
