As summer approached last year, and the kids were home from school…..all day long, day after day…..it became more apparent to me that it was going to be more and more difficult to bring clients into my home for a studio session and make them feel comfortable and not distracted by my children. So….I set out to find a small, inexpensive place to rent and use for a studio. What I found instead, was this small, inexpensive place to buy. We bought it, and moved in the very next weekend. Since then, I’ve made a few small improvements, with many more to come. So..here it is, my new studio………..

It sits at 1414 6th Street…..a block from where I grew up, and 2 blocks from where Caleb grew up. I used to walk by it every day on my way home from McKinley School. But, we have different memories of the building from childhood. It was originally a corner grocery store….the “6th Street Grocery”, but closed in the early 70’s. Caleb (who is 5 years older than me) does remember visiting the building when it was a grocery. I only remember it as “K’s 6th Street Gift Store”. It was built in 1930, and there is a recipe for sausage written on the back wall.

I was able to get (or my parent’s were) the Hayes UMC Sunday School table at the auction, and also a Library Table from the back of the sanctuary.


Here’s a view of the back room, that I’ve made into a dressing room.


It’s been so nice to have everything out of my house (we were really crowded here at home!), and in one spot, so that when I’m shooting a session, all of my chairs, props, backdrops, etc. are all right there within arm’s reach.


Here’s a view of the main shooting area, but I’ve also used other areas in the building with natural light, which produces very nice results, too.


And, the former owner left this very nice antique display case, which has been fun for me to display samples and my old camera collection.




I hope you’ll stop and see me soon!