Being an on-location family photographer for 5 years, I was often asked if I’d ever open a photography studio. My answer was always the same: nope, nuh-uh, not going to happen. In my mind, studio photography was synonymous with boring, old-fashioned, and two-dimensional. But never say never, because as I write this, I’m sitting in my new Wake Forest photo studio and loving it.
Opening the studio was certainly a lot of work, but every minute and every tear has been worth it. It helps legitimize my business in the eye of the consumer, and I’m looked upon as a professional business woman rather than just another mom with a camera.
The studio clearly communicates my brand to my clients as well. I put a lot of thought into everything I included, from the artwork on the walls right down to the changing table in the bathroom, and the space is direct reflection of my personal brand.
My clients love coming to the studio to see, touch, and feel the different fine art products that we carry. They value our design service to create gallery walls, albums, and other displays. And of course, they adore the beautiful, refined artwork of their family on the walls of their home. It’s important to me that all of my clients receive quality images that showcase their love for one another, and that the images aren’t collecting dust on a CD in a drawer somewhere.

Having a studio separate from my home has meant welcome changes in our family life as well. Now that both of my girls are in school full-time, I need to be able to turn off “betruechristy” and just be mom when they’re home. When I worked exclusively from home, it was hard to ignore the work piling up while I tended to my family and home. But now I feel much more present when I’m spending time with my children and husband, and they notice the difference. Of course, as a small business owner, my mind is still on my work a lot, but I’m better able to compartmentalize. And that’s been the best benefit of all.
Latest posts by Christy Johnson (see all)
- Never Say Never to a Raleigh Photography Studio - August 13, 2014