I’ve got a new studio! I’ve been here for a bit over a year now and the space is constantly changing, here’s what it looks like right now.
As a photographer, taking photos in a single space can become repetitive. With hundreds of people coming in every year to be photographed, the last thing I want is for them to all receive the same portrait or headshot. Many photographers therefore opt for the white box. It’s a blank slate with the idea that you can create anything look you want if you start with a clean white wall.
It would be convenient for me, but I’d honestly just not enjoy being in that kind of space. For me, the space needs to be more than just a photography studio. It’s also an office, a sanctuary, a creative space for non-photography hobbies, and a space for community too. I’ve been hosting 5 à 7s, photobook discussion clubs, grabbing coffee with fellow creatives, and even hosting a Christmas Market / Art Fair from the studio.
So my solution is to prioritize the space for me first, creating a beautiful lush space that I enjoy being in and working in. There is a corner of the studio that is essentially a white box (not pictured in this post), so I’m able to get the best out of both worlds.
It also happens to work out for many of my clients who really don’t want a studio look. For some lifestyle portraits, candid portraits, online dating headshots and even some LinkedIn headshots, some people just want photos that look like they’re taken in an interior, without it looking like anything too specific (like a home, a studio, a specific office). At this point, we’re really only looking for a few key pieces of furniture, and the rest becomes out of focus. They become just context for a photo without drawing too much attention away from the person in the shot.
One of my objectives this year is to have more behind the scenes photos from my shoots just so that people can have a better idea of what to expect if they come get photographed, so maybe more shots will be posted here.
This is the building in which I’m in now. It’s called le Chat des Artistes, it’s a space for creatives run by Ateliers Créatifs Montréal. There’s a little community there, we’re all artists / creatives / cultural organizations, some of us have lunch together, it’s great. Best part is that I live just a few minutes away, so it’s really become the extension of my home.
Thanks for reading!