The {{new}} Studio - Brandy Goldenberg Photography Studio & Prop Boutique

WOW! I can't believe I have been in my new space almost two weeks. It is AMAZING! I can't even describe how much I am loving this. We still have lots of work to do including setting up the Prop Boutique, and changing out some light fixtures {you know I love chandeliers!}

I'm located in Governor Square off University {the surrounding businesses include Babies R Us, Toys R Us, Pier 1, TJ Max, Starbucks, K. Renee, Skeffingtons, and many more}. 

Governor Square has two buildings, one facing University {K. Renee/Skeffingtons} and one behind the front building with a big parking lot in between. I'm in the second building. I'm kind of alone back here {I have Madhat Ballroom and Kees Camp Studio as my neighbors with many empty suites in my building}. Stil waiting on my building sign to arrive {will definitely photograph the front so you know what to look for}.

This shopping center was recently purchased by a local investor and is now managed locally as well. This means a lot of renovating is going on. They completely renovated my studio for me down to all new bathroom fixtures. Beautiful new landscaping, roof, and soon they will be fixing the parking lot and re-doing the parking lines. While it is never any fun to 'live through' construction - it is so nice that this shopping center is being invested in and soon many new businesses will be my neighbors. 

It was time for me to seek a studio outside of my home for many reasons: space {my prop and wardrobe collection has really grown}, clientele expansion {photographing more seniors, modern glamour and boudoir for women, as well as maternity session I desperately needed a space that could accommodate all of my 'little people' and 'big people' props/backdrops}, and a growing client list {while I loved being able to offer a home-setting for my clients - it was time to have fewer people coming into my home space}.

Having an in-home studio offered the luxury of giving clients with newborns a space to rest and relax for the 2-3 hours that my assistant and I would be photographing. I wanted to maintain that sense of 'home' in my studio as well. Providing a quiet space with a comfy sofa, beautiful textiles, magazines, beverages and snacks. 

To separate home life from work life, I also moved my office into the studio. All editing will be done during my business hours {no more editing while my kids are playing without me, no more editing into the wee hours of the morning}. This goes a long way to allowing me to LOVE both my work and home life. When I'm at work - that's all I'm dedicated to and when I'm home I get to snuggle and play with my babies without them asking me if I have to edit instead of play with them {trust me, the first time my five year old said this to me - it broke my heart}. 

A space to create! I have space to create new sets, new props, design dresses for sessions, unlimited options. If I attempted to do this at home, ha, my 21 month old daughter would have been all into it. This week, I started to create a maternity gown {in photo}.  My female clients can add-on a some Glam Pampering to their maternity, family, Modern Glam or boudoir portrait sessions. We have an in-studio space for Jill, my amazing make-up/hair stylist to pamper you. 

The studio has a front reception/boutique area. Then there are 4 rooms plus a restroom. This space used to be an insurance company {from the 80s/90s lol} complete with hideous wallpaper. It was very closed off with lots of little offices/spaces. We knocked down lots of walls. I removed the tiles from the reception area to give a nice tall/open space {kind of wish I would have painted the ceiling a solid color but too late now}, new ceiling tiles and nice bright white light through-out the rest of the space, new carpeting and wood floors. As well as light gray painted walls with a BGP logo blue accent wall. I'd like to charge the reception lighting to include track lighting for the boutique side and a beautiful chandelier for the lounge area {all in good time}.

The newborn room is a cozy space. This room is heated separate from the rest of the studio keeping newborns happy and sleepy. The great thing about this room is that there is a window for parents to view in while my assistant and I photograph. Parents get to relax in a temperature controlled space, nap on the sofa, and enjoy beverages/snacks while we take care of the rest.

We have plenty of space for all the various textiles: posing fabrics, newborn prop outfits, and wraps. And trust me - I have tons of fabric, wraps, and rugs!

                              

                                       

The long hallway provides access to the BIG STUDIO {my pride}, a changing table, a textile room/packaging room {which I'm not going to show you right now because it is a mess}, a storage room/break room {which I'm not going to show you right now because it isn't organized well ha}, and a restroom.

THE BIG STUDIO SPACE! I just love this room. It used to be a couple of office spaces. I had the dividing wall knocked down and the two doors removed to create a big entry space. 

In this space, I have plenty of room to photograph large families, boudoir, Modern Glam Portraiture, seniors or just have multiple sets ready to go for my littlest of clients. In this space I can have 4-6 different sets all set-up and ready to go at ONE TIME! This reduces young children growing impatient between sets being taken down/put up, and is just plain efficient! 

My quick pictures don't do the space justice but all these sets that you see are all set-up at one time in the same room! And I still have room in there for backdrop storage and small furniture storage. 

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One of the things I like to offer my clients with young children is my wardrobe rack. I want you to invest in great photography and not worry about spending tons of money on outfits that your child might only wear once. This rack {and baskets} contains LOTS of little girl {mostly} and boy outfits, dresses, tutus, rompers, diaper covers, birthday/smash cake sets, and accessories. Many of my outfits are custom created from etsy designers, or well known high end children's brands such as Mud Pie, Matilda Jane, etc. And, I'm always adding new things to the collection. 

My goal is to create a catalog/inventory of all of my prop outfits, photograph them, and have them available for clients to view online. This may help you make a decision about what outfits you want to buy {if any} before a session and what outfits {if any or all} from my collection. 

My prop room has three big racks full of various posing/staging props that can be used in a session. My goal is to inventory/catalog them all along with my backdrops so that my clients can view before a session and pick their favorite 2-3 {while I pick 1-2} sets that I can have prepared and ready to go for session in advance. 

As the weeks go by, we will get more organized and finish the 'boutique' side of the studio. BGP Prop Boutique will be geared for the photographer. Providing newborn prop outfits, wraps, fabrics, furs/basket stuffers, small posing props, maternity gowns, and more. Although anyone is welcome to drop by to purchase including my clients, I wanted to provide local photographers a place to make last minute purchases {as we know most vendors take anywhere from a week to months to provide a photography product} or just to see in person fabric colors/options.

My products come from known and unknown etsy prop vendors, local and international suppliers, and some items made by and exclusively for BGP. 

I can't wait to introduce this boutique to you all.

If you are still with me to the end of this LONG post ... thank you :-) Thank you for your support!

If you are a new client, you can book a session and receive $50 off the session fee when booked by the end of August {excludes: newborn, mini sessions, boudoir/glam, and senior}. Session doesn't have to occur in August - just needs to be booked. Also, be aware that my fall weekend dates are pretty much filled. There are a few here and there but next to go will be week day sunset times. Because of my full calendar, at this time I am not anticipating any mini fall sessions.