Studio Walk Through

Every career has a ‘behind the scenes’ that the public knows little about.  I’ve always been intrigued by opportunities to get beneath the hood of careers that have fascinated me.  I was encouraged by many of my clients to share my new studio space in a blog and to give a behind the scenes look at what I do.  So this will be a little walk through the spaces that Jennifer DiDio Photography occupies to create portraits that keep our clients coming back time and time again.   My husband and I are both small business owners, so we designed and built a home to serve our family and both our businesses.  Throughout this blog you will also see a sampling of portraits created in the studio space and on the grounds since we moved in 6 months ago.

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I realize that today when just about everyone takes photographs every day, the true art of photography, capturing light, has often gotten lost in the frenzied accumulation of piles of digital images.   They accumulate on phones and sd cards, but very often not proudly on our walls anymore. The audience that appreciates the skill, technique, expertise and investment required to create portraits as a professional has shrunk because just about everyone knows someone with a photography Facebook business page (which somehow along the way some believe qualified them as a professional).   A professional photography business is one which should be counted on to produce beautiful portraits for any and every job assignment accepted.  It should be a business model that is licensed and registered with the state, paying taxes, insured, etc. to protect and for the good of everyone involved. 

I remember a sweet friend of mine saying when I began my portrait business, “well I guess your overhead is really low because you really just need a camera and a few lenses, right?”  I completely understand where she was coming from; I would think the same thing if this wasn’t my career.  So I’ve decided to give a behind the scenes view of my work space (minus the overstuffed closets and hard drives full of client work & software).   This is the birds eye view inside of Jennifer DiDio Photography studio where clients can count on me to capture the beauty their life is creating in portraits they will be proud to pass on to future generations. 

Come on into the sales center which is also my office workspace where I spend most of the day.  I have surrounded myself with beauty which makes for a wonderful way to start each work day.  My awesome administrative assistant, Sara, also works here with me.   We are celebrating as Sara has recently increased her hours to take on a much larger role at Jennifer DiDio Photography to serve our clients with an absolute commitment to excellence from A to Z of their portrait experience.

Now meet my fabulous stylist, Jill Jackson.  She’s responsible for the first two hours of pampering Couture clients receive when they come to relax in the styling center.  She transforms beautiful women into the looks they have dreamed about in what I call “Unveiling your Cinderella”.   Initially, Jill was only styling Couture clients, but in the last several months many women have begun adding styling services for their family and maternity shoots as well.  Also excited to note that there has been a surge in women turning 50+ who are coming in for Couture portraiture! 

More of the styling center…

“Unveiling your Cinderella” is a time for women to slow down, relax and sit in a pampering seat for an afternoon.  They enjoy a frappucino, a glass of wine, their fabulous makeover,  snacks and their moment to shine in front of my lens.   Dawn DeMario, owner of the Spa at Roops Mill & Lux Beauty Bar recently donated a slew of gorgeous dresses to our Couture line, seen hanging on the shack below.  These are for clients to choose from for their Cinderella session. There is nothing rushed about this day…it’s all about you and relentlessly pursing your most beautiful!

I wanted to help potential clients get a comfort with my space, myself and Jill prior to booking.  So below you’ll see a few portraits we created.

Here’s the hallway leading back to the main shoot room where clients get to enjoy these beautiful canvas pieces on display…

Here’s the main shoot room and a peak of the bulk of my lighting gear…

Here’s a peek into the madness of the storage prop/lighting room which I occasionally shoot in as well.

Now here’s a peek at a sampling of additional work produced inside the studio over the last 6 months…

Now, to the final piece I am most excited about–the studio grounds!  The 3.5 acre lot offers a wide variety of backdrops that changes week by week…here are some views from the last 6 months, December–May.   More of my outdoor work will be taking place on these grounds.  My husband tilled up and planted wildflowers in the first photo below…unfortunately, we think the 4 inches of rain we got a few days later may have washed away the seeds so we will have to try again.  You’ll also see my awesome assistant Grace holding a white balance target in this mix.

I hope you have enjoyed this peek inside the portrait world at Jennifer DiDio Photography.  I am always happy to speak with potential clients to answer questions about my portrait services.  I also meet with many clients for pre-consultation meetings.   I carry a 100% guarantee on my work.  If for any reason you do not like your portrait collection, your session fee is refunded.  You can reach me at jennifer@jenniferdidio.com to set up a time to chat.