i've been working out of my home for 3 years now. I've decided to start looking for a studio space. I am looking for several reasons, which are the same as many others who have posted here.

Currently I am meeting with clients either in their homes or a local coffee shop. I feel that this approach has worked well in the start of my business, but now I feel that I need more control over the presentation and presentation environment of my work.

The second part of that is that I am moving into a higher tier client base, and I feel that having the environmental control, as well as being able to show more work (without carrying a second suitcase) would benefit this end.

While my house is nice, I’m in the middle of an industrial part of town that isn’t visually pleasing to drive past. I don’t have clients come to my home because of this, my dog, and I don’t really want people to know where I live and keep expensive gear. Not to mention, my home is my home, and if I don’t feel like doing the dishes the night before, or if I want to hang a crazy piece of art... Well, you get the picture.

And, while we are on the home topic, I’m having trouble separating work from life. I’m work-aholic and can sit in my office for days at a time... Ignoring my dog, my significant other, the dishes... Haha. So I’d like to bring a little more separation.

Also, while I don’t intend on having a fully functional studio in the space, it would be nice to be able to do small portrait sessions on site.

That being said, i found a broker and started looking. I found the perfect (on paper) space right away. i drove over to look at the building (which i was already familiar with), and to see which floor was for lease. etc. Giddy as a school girl... until i noticed that another photographer is already in the building. Right across the hall from the available unit. i cried.

Now i'm still looking.

I was looking in a few, select Detroit subburbs, but now i am thinking i might go into Detroit. I love the city, but i'm not sure clients would be "willing" to come to a studio there...

i don't know. just looking for some insight or a few, "cheer up kid" comments. it's been a rough day.

Please don't let it get to you too much, I've learned over the years that things definitely happen for a reason, but I have to ask....

Why does it matter that there is another photographer there? I used to have a studio across the street from another photographer. We moved in the same week, didn't know the other was there until my sign went up. She came over and said "uh-oh", but you know, it was great. We'd have lunch together sometime and swap stories. I was there when her camera was stolen and lent her one for the week. She was there when my little one got sick and ran across the street to meet my clients to tell them what was going on (I tried to phone them, but missed them. She was REALLY sick.) Our styles weren't anything alike, therefore we drew different types of clients. It was really not an issue.

Just something to think about. If it is otherwise a perfect spot for you, don't give up too quickly.

Good luck!!

i've been trying to decide if i just want to call them up and see what they think of us being in the same building, on the same floor, across from each other... i'm very open and friendly, so i think it could be fun. But we do have the same styles and client base (though they are more established, and way cooler than i am- haha) , so i'm not sure it would be polite of me to just barge in to their territory.

Ahh, it would be harder to do in that kind of situation. I wish you the best, I'm sure something else great will come up.

I feel the same way about having people come to my house, Alison. I just don't want them to know where I live, necessarily. What if one of them gets really mad at me and wants to come yell at me in person? Yikes!

But I do want a more upscale place to meet with clients, too.

I've considered going in with a few different people who are not photographers but who want/need a nice meeting space for their businesses and splitting the rent on a small space, but I don't think I really want to get financially entangled with other people, either. Office space in this area is SO out of my current price range, unless it's in a really old brick building that's just waiting to crumble in the next earthquake, and then it's not really worth having since you can't get earthquake insurance on it! Arrrgh!!

It's hard to know what to do - I guess for now I'll just keep meeting with people at nice public locations.

That is SO heartbreaking about your perfect space with the other photog right across the hall. Keep searching, let us know how it goes! Good luck!!

Alison,

My suggestion for an office.

Currently you use your home.
Isn't the ideal solution for your next step in growing your business and client base.

You are looking at leasing.
The cool place has "cooler" competition.
The lease will impact your bottom line.

My solution:

Build a relationship with a local hotel that has a nice conference room and suites.

How crazy does it sound to invite your client to meet you at a suite where you have nice comfy chairs, without the noise of coffee grinders or music that is too loud.

I worked with a local hotel manager to arrange to use a room in 4 hour blocks twice a week. I would tell them 2 days in advance if I wasn't going to need the suite. If the hotel was extremely booked, they would offer me a conference room as a backup. They aren't as comfy but they work.

For a 3rd backup solution the Starbucks that I frequented had a meeting room, that I could borrow and close the door on. It was formally a bank and they used the room as a community building room.

You might ask why the hotel would do this and I will say that I am salesperson first, then a photographer.

The rate I negotiated was fantastic. I first offered doing headshots for the hotel management. I also sent everyone I knew there as guests and they gave my name when they made their reservations. The guests were given a discount so they would be reminded to give my name. It was a standard discount the hotel would typically give so it really wasn't a financial loss for them. It was however a way for the hotel to see how much business I was sending them. They also were getting some income on a regular basis that they wouldn't normally be receiving.

This is outside of the box. It might not be for you. Just remember, if you never try, you will never succeed.

-Bill

It doesnt have to be an office space. Sometimes a nice Apt in a classy part of town will do. I'm pretty sure thats what Mike Colon does/did.

He got an apt in the area he markets to. Keeps it nice and home like. Has meetings there with his team, etc...

You probably would have to check the rules of the complex but its an alternative.

if you go to mikecolon.com and click on portfolio, then click about, and then tour the studio, you can see what Im saying

Wow, Bill! I love your idea for the hotel/suite. That is awesome.

As a follow-up you could check out:

http://www.regus.com

They are a great resource for temporary office space.

-bill