Memory Makers Blog

If you’ve noticed a lull in blog posts lately, its for good reason. I’ve been busy painting all in the name of new studio space! In case you didn’t get that let me repeat it – NEW STUDIO SPACE!!! I’m so excited, I can hardly contain myself. Although after three days of painting everything from the ceilings to the floors, a nap would be highly invited.

Chris and I, decided some months ago to combine talents and form M! Studios as a parent ‘company’. I have had Memory Makers photography for about 7 years now, and he built The Modern Mutt. Because there were so many “M” names, we decided that M! Studios would be a good fit. We’ve still got a LOT of work to do with the websites, portfolios, and information, but we’ve got our noses to the grindstone and we are pushing forward full force!

As it goes for all photographers, we started out storing equipment in our spare bedrooms, then in our garages, and then we started taking over other family members garages. Most of our shoots were on location, and if we met with a client, we had to use the tables at the local Starbucks coffee house. However, thats all changing this week.

Last week, we decided to go to breakfast at our favorite home town cafe, as we do nearly 3 to 4 times a week. After we finished, and were walking to our car, Chris noticed the ‘For Rent’ sign across the street, on the building that used to be the pool supply company. We drove across the street and peaked inside the windows, and to our surprise, it was PERFECT! So we called the number on the sign to find out how much the rent was, and tried not to get our hopes up too high, after so many other calls before this one. After three or four days of patiently waiting, we finally got a call back, and to our amazement, the rent was completely IN our budget. Seriously!?! Could we really be this close to our own studio? We met with the property owner Friday night to see the place from the inside, and discuss terms. You could imagine the grins on our faces when we came to an agreement with the owner, and he handed over the keys!

Its been non-stop since then. For the last three days straight, we’ve been cleaning, painting, fixing, filling, moving, and every now and then taking a much needed break. Its been a whirlwind of ideas, creativity, team work, and excitment. We finally started moving things like background stands, reflectors, a few props, area rugs, and other small things, in today. Tomorrow we’ll move the rest of the equipment, and begin hanging our displays on the walls.

M! Studios will provide photography services under three main brands. M! Studios for families, and senior portraits. Memory Makers for weddings, engagement and bridal photos. And, The Modern Mutt for pet portraits. Pricing and packages will be nearly uniform for all three brands, with the exception being weddings since there are so many customization options like albums etc.

And I’ve saved the best part for last. This has absolutely nothing to do with photography, the studio, or our businesses – but the new studio is exactly 20 paces from our most favorite eating place, Old West Cafe. If you’ve never had biscuits & gravy, two fried eggs, bacon, chicken fried steak, and hashbrowns for breakfast (all at the same time), then you’ve never been to Old West. Stop in and say Hi to our friends Sandy, Eva, Rebecca, Kelsie, Brittany, Samantha and Veronica! We still haven’t decided which part we are more excited about – the studio, or the proximity to Old West!