My Studio Evolution - Brittney Corey Photography, Vancouver, WA

Back in 2018 I decided that I was tired of working out of my home studio.

I had been very grateful for the spare room in my home that I was able to turn into a photography space several years prior, but, over the years I was able to identify the problem points. For instance, I had to clean my house every time a client came over. LOL For some, this may not be a big deal, but for a person with two kids and a cat, who is just generally a crappy house keeper, this was a struggle.

I also had to find something for my kids and husband to do outside of the house whenever I had a client scheduled. Or I had to find and book child care if it was a weekday appointment. And I had to make sure that my cat stayed out and away from/off the furniture.

And then, at the very end of 2017, we got a puppy, and I said “F-that, I’m out”! My life had outgrown that space, and it was time to move on.

Again, I was grateful for my good luck, and was able to find a studio share with another local photographer. The space was cute, and comfortable, and had some beautiful morning light. I loved my time there for about a year and a half.

With 2020 came a lot of unusual changes. I don’t have to tell you how weird the last year has been, but I did find it interesting that even during a global pandemic, my business continued to grow, and my boudoir bookings were increasing. I made the very hard decision to branch out to my own space, a space that I could decorate and set up with more permanent set designs and larger props.

I casually looked around for awhile, but didn’t see anything that met my (rather low) price range and was large enough for what I wanted. I had pretty much given up when I stumbled upon this unit just two blocks down the street from my former studio:

It certainly didn’t look particularly amazing at the time. These photos above were taken the day that I looked at it. “Office” carpet, an old heating vent along the ceiling, computer tables bolted to the walls, and open access to shared space beyond. After speaking with the landlord, learning that the tables could be removed, a door added, and the non-functioning heating vent removed, I started to see the potential. I took a GIANT leap of faith and signed the lease about a week later.

I got the keys in the middle of February, and was so happy to see what it looked like with the initial work done. I knew that I’d be able to work around all of the oddities that I kept finding (cables coming out of the floor, outlines in the middle of walls, chalkboard painted wall… ).

I knew that I’d need to paint, and do SOMETHING about the floors, but with a limited budget, I wasn’t sure what that would be. During a business networking event, I randomly through out that it would be AMAZING to find a vendor that was interested in doing a service trade with me for some updates to the studio. I never thought anyone would take me up on it… but I got not one, but TWO bites!

I had one amazing remodeling company barter with me for the floors, and another for fresh paint. I could have cried y’all. It was absolutely unexpected, and so so so appreciated!

We had everything set… the painter would come on a Saturday and get the place painted, and the flooring guy would come in the next day to put in some laminate flooring. I had all of the contracts signed, supplies purchased, and was READY to get it done!

And then Snowmageddon 2021 hit Vancouver. Nine inches of snow later, the city was shut down, my studio work was stalled, and I’d suddenly lost a week of time before I had to be out of my current studio. I knew that it would happen, eventually, but I was still feeling a bit extra stressed.

Thankfully, the contractors were both able to reschedule for the following weekend, just in time to get things done before my new couch was due to arrive. I spent the weekend running around getting additional supplies and being available as needed. And the space that I walked into that Monday morning, was completely different than the one I’d left the week before.

Over the next week I started to move things in, receive FedEx shipments, get things hung up and arranged, and just generally breathe a few deep breaths. My vision was coming together. It was getting done. I found myself in a place of awe many times. And immense gratitude.

I’m not “done” yet. I still have a few more things to hang, some studio samples to print, and items to purchase, but I’m done enough to start using the space for it’s intended purpose. Last weekend I hosted a handful of women for a headshot day. It was so amazing to finally get to be creative in my new studio and see exactly what kind of images I could produce in it. Looking so forward to next month when I start opening it up to boudoir clients again!

Take a look at the video below for a quick little “tour” that I put together for my Facebook group last week!