I keep hoping I'm going to have BIG NEWS to report here, so I've been putting off updating....but so far I'm still waiting. 
So I just decided I'd update anyway and maybe that'll bring the news! 
I've got a lease proposal out on commercial space for the studio, and just waiting to hear the response back from the property owner. Hopefully in a week or so I'll have a lease in hand!! This space is FANTASTIC! It's right downtown (504 East Broadway, between the Carharts store and the new billiard hall, for those of you who know Columbia, MO), which is exactly where I wanted to be, and it's fucking enormous!
Seriously, it's got almost 6,000 square feet plus another 3,000 or so in basement storage & parking area (access from the alley). The main floor has both a great retail entrance with lots of storefront glass AND a garage door entrance into the really big space in back. Yep, that's right. I'll be able to bring CARS in to shoot! I'm already making plans to build a 20' or so cyclorama and a home-built fisher-light (basically a 6' x 25' 5000W softbox!) to use there. I'll be getting more light and lots of props, sets, backdrops, etc., too.
In addition to the commercial photography business I hope to be doing (see my website for that), I'm also going to be running it as a rental studio. My plan is to make it THE one-stop shop for people wanting family pictures, senior portraits, wedding photography, etc. -- where people can come and look at several photographers' portfolios and marketing materials, decide who they want to work with, etc. Why chase down the freelancers when they can go to a downtown storefront and pick amongst several? And the photographers will have their stuff shown without having to be there, and will have access to the best studio in 100 miles any direction. What's not to love?
I'll also be doing the odd class/workshop/seminar type thing, too. Probably hosting a local photography club. Who knows what all else. Might even shoot an SG set or two every now and then.
So... lots of plans. Lots of money to spend, wih no guaranteed paycheck, so lots of anxiety(!!). But lots of excitement, too. Now I'm just DYING to know I've got the space, and to get a date when I can open so I can really start getting my ducks in a row.
I hate waiting.
So... think lucky thoughts my way. I'll post again as soon as I know what's happening. And start making your plans to come down to Columbia, MO and check out ArtSmit Photography and Su Casa Sudio!
So I just decided I'd update anyway and maybe that'll bring the news! I've got a lease proposal out on commercial space for the studio, and just waiting to hear the response back from the property owner. Hopefully in a week or so I'll have a lease in hand!! This space is FANTASTIC! It's right downtown (504 East Broadway, between the Carharts store and the new billiard hall, for those of you who know Columbia, MO), which is exactly where I wanted to be, and it's fucking enormous!
Seriously, it's got almost 6,000 square feet plus another 3,000 or so in basement storage & parking area (access from the alley). The main floor has both a great retail entrance with lots of storefront glass AND a garage door entrance into the really big space in back. Yep, that's right. I'll be able to bring CARS in to shoot! I'm already making plans to build a 20' or so cyclorama and a home-built fisher-light (basically a 6' x 25' 5000W softbox!) to use there. I'll be getting more light and lots of props, sets, backdrops, etc., too.
In addition to the commercial photography business I hope to be doing (see my website for that), I'm also going to be running it as a rental studio. My plan is to make it THE one-stop shop for people wanting family pictures, senior portraits, wedding photography, etc. -- where people can come and look at several photographers' portfolios and marketing materials, decide who they want to work with, etc. Why chase down the freelancers when they can go to a downtown storefront and pick amongst several? And the photographers will have their stuff shown without having to be there, and will have access to the best studio in 100 miles any direction. What's not to love?
I'll also be doing the odd class/workshop/seminar type thing, too. Probably hosting a local photography club. Who knows what all else. Might even shoot an SG set or two every now and then.
So... lots of plans. Lots of money to spend, wih no guaranteed paycheck, so lots of anxiety(!!). But lots of excitement, too. Now I'm just DYING to know I've got the space, and to get a date when I can open so I can really start getting my ducks in a row.
I hate waiting.
So... think lucky thoughts my way. I'll post again as soon as I know what's happening. And start making your plans to come down to Columbia, MO and check out ArtSmit Photography and Su Casa Sudio!
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So glad to see things seem to be going well for you, awesome Art!!
and yeah... i hope things work out