New Gahanna Portrait Studio
Before and After

The lease on my Gahanna portrait studio space was coming due and my rent was scheduled to go up.  I liked my old studio but I felt like I was growing up both as a brand and as a photographer.  The old studio had low ceilings, a weird security gate on the front (think East L.A. drugstore at night with steel gates covering the windows) and was tucked in the back of a parking lot of another building. It didn’t scream specialty, fashionable or boutique.

It was November and my lease officially ended in December.  If I was going to move – it needed to be quick.  On my way back from a commercial portrait shoot downtown – I decided to drive around Gahanna to see what real estate was available.  I didn’t want to leave the east side because it’s close to home, close to my kids’ school and close to a lot of my current portrait clients.

I did a drive by on a couple of properties near the new golf course in Gahanna. I called my real estate agent to look at about 5 properties.  When I arrived at the door to look at 845 Claycraft, Suite K – my realtor fumbled with the keys trying to find the one the right one to open the door. Finally he gave up and said – “Sorry, I don’t seem to have the key that opens this door”.  I asked if I could give it a try. He threw the ring of probably 20 keys to me and said sure.  I grabbed a key, stuck it in the door and to my surprise – it turned.. It unlocked the door!

Now I believe in karma, kismet or whatever you want to call it – which means picking the right key out of about 20 was a sign.  The address is 845 Claycraft Road, Suite K which happens to to be oddly close to the first studio where I shared studio space, Studio K Photography – “K” another sign.

We walked through the door and I had a look around.  I knew the minute I opened the door that this space had potential.  I was visualizing everything about my dream studio. Hardwood floors through the entire space, white doors and trim, pencil lead grey walls with high school senior portraits adorning the wall.  This was to be the next phase of Robb Shirey Photography.

I came across the initial iPhone photo’s I took when walking the space and decided that we need a before & after shot.  I think the transformation is perfect.  I’ve built the studio I can be proud of and enjoy bringing people into.  If you are in the area – stop in and take a look. There are always drinks in the fridge!

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