Spinning Plates
Well, Hi-Diddly-Ho Friendorinos! Sorry, I've been absent from this blog (and, let’s face it, all things interweb) over the last few months.
I had all the best intentions in keeping the world updated with the studio build and all the other things associated with this next business phase. But, alas, I am but one simple human spinning many colorful plates. For the sake of my sanity, I just couldn't pick up one more.
Today, charged with a bunch of autumn squirrel energy, I thought it was a great time to pick up the communication plate to share some studio details and let you know what's happening with Britta in Business.
The Studio!
As you may have gathered by now, I'm officially in my new Fargo studio. The building was completed this summer and I closed on the space in mid-July.
Buying a building has been the scariest business move I've made so far, but my realtor, John Lillestol at Core Property Group, made the process super easy (and eased my mind more than once when I was having minor freakouts). Everything went smoothly with closing, and even the SBA process wasn't too painful.
Since moving in, I've used every spare minute to refine the space and get the studio ready. Aside from accumulating many plants (all with old lady names, of course), most of my free time has been spent as a construction worker beautifying my office and building a cyclorama* with my dad.
*Here’s a handy AI definition of a Cyclorama: Commonly referred to as a Cyc, a Cyclorama is a background consisting of a curved wall that seamlessly blends the foreground and background, without any distinguishable edges or corners.
The Cyc is still a work in progress, but it's coming along and I hope to have it completed by mid-November. Otherwise, the rest of the space is nearly complete with a few minor caveats (and some major organization still needing to happen).
While I don't quite have a traditional studio yet, I've been getting to know the lovely natural light space over the last couple months. Like with any new space, it takes a bit of time to get acquainted with the light. I love watching it change throughout the day and I'm really starting to understand how to work it.
I hope to welcome you all to an open house to celebrate the space and my 12th Business Birthday in January. More details regarding the event soon!
Studio Borealis
Hey photographers, I hear you and I know a few of you are wondering when the space will be opened up to other photographers to use. And the answer is... soon?
There are a few things I want and need to get into place before I can start marketing the space for hourly and monthly use.
Aside from just wanting to completely FINISH the space, I'm currently working on the legal parts. I also have to figure out a proper way for other photographers to access the space when I am not available. All of this is taking much longer than I anticipated, but I want to take my time to make sure everything is near perfect before I launch.
Britta the Photographer
Things are chug-chug-chugging along at BTP. It's been a very full second half of 2023 with new and existing clients. I'm at the sweet spot for the type of work I'm doing - a healthy mix of headshots, building custom stock libraries for companies and the very occasional grad and family session. Every day is a little different which is absolutely wonderful.
With life and business being very full, I've been learning to set some boundaries with my time. I tend to book sessions Tuesday-Thursdays and keep Mondays and Fridays my "people free days" to edit and breathe. And while finishing the studio build is keeping me plenty busy on these "free" days, I hope once the studio is in a good place, I can better use that time for marketing and business development. Hey, I might even be present on this blog and on the socials again!
Thanks again to everyone who has supported me and my business through this new phase. It's been a wild ride and I'm excited to continue the journey.
