We’re closing in on the last month of construction on my new studio — my contractors will be wrapping up in the next couple weeks, and then I’ll be doing a lot of the finishes on the space myself. I think that we’re on track to begin sessions in the new space in early February!!

As the new studio gets closer to opening, I want to tell you about some of the things I’m most excited about, so read on for:

• 5 new photoshoot options that my creative brain is really excited for

• 5 practical little details about this new space that my logical brain is excited for

• 5 things that are just going to be so pretty in the new space!

5 new photoshoot options that my creative brain is excited for:

These are probably the things I’m the MOST excited about overall: things that I’ve always wanted in a space but have never had, and that will bring new options and inspiration to photoshoots.

Rotating wall color

I love the idea of having a beautiful dark wall as a background option for pictures, so one accent wall in the studio will be designated for a rich gorgeous color that I’ll change every season or two! I can’t decide which color to start with yet, but I’m thinking about rich green, terra cotta, or a dark gray.

2. A windowseat that works for cozy or drama

I’ve always wanted to have a built-in window seat in my studio - I love the idea of clients being able to curl up with a soft blanket or stretch out for an epic silhouette, all while being on a built-in bench at window level.

3. Plaster Wall

I love everything texture, and I’ll be adding a plaster / limewash texture to one of my studio walls for a refined, romantic feeling. It’ll make another really gorgeous background option that I think will feel very artistic and cool.

4. a Gorgeous Tile Shower

My studio’s spacious bathroom will have gorgeous natural light (thanks to a giant solatube skylight!) and a white tiled shower/tub that can be used for portraits.

5. vaulted ceiling & Draping fabrics

My new studio has a vaulted ceiling with beautiful hanging beams, and I’ll be using the beams to hang fabric during photoshoots! I love the idea of draping silks or linens as flowing backgrounds, or creating layers of sheer fabrics for artsy portraits.

5 practical little details about this new space that my logical brain is excited for:

1) A more physically accessible space. Having my entire studio on one level makes my photoshoot experience much more physically accessible than it has been before! I’m following many ADA guidelines (for example, my doorways and bathroom have been designed to accommodate most wheelchair users) and it’s just nice to not have to start the day climbing up a few flights of stairs.

2) A bathroom and changing room within my studio. I’ve always wanted to have a bathroom right inside my studio — no more having to get dressed and head to a public restroom down the hall if you need to take a bathroom break during your session.

3) My heated floors! During a boudoir session, my clients spend a lot of time in contact with the floor — walking across the room, sitting down for pictures, stretching out on the floor. I’m really excited that my floors in this space will be heated! It’ll help keep the space extra warm and cozy in the winter, and I also think it’ll just feel nice and comfy during photoshoots.

4) A designated client parking spot. Clients will always have a place to park, and it’s right outside the studio front doors too (perfect for rainy or snowy days because you’ll only have to walk outside about three steps! And if you’re not from Minneapolis or get a little intimidated by city driving, I know that it can feel helpful to know you won’t have to drive around searching for a good parking spot.

5) No outlets or light switches in the way of photos! This is probably a really funny one to read if you’re not a photographer — but in every other space I’ve ever taken pictures, there always been annoying little things in the background of photos that I’ve had to work around or edit out (like outlets or light switches right in the middle of walls!). These were never the end of the world, but in this new space I’ve literally been able to plan every detail to be amazing for pictures — and that means there’s lots of outlets but they’re all hidden away in spots that won’t be distracting in the background.

And 5 things that are going to be SO PRETTY in pictures

1) Flooring that will act as a gorgeous backdrop. I have the most beautiful floors that will be going in — they’re a gorgeous honey color and look beautiful with all skin tones. The flooring was super important to me, not just because it’ll be a prominent texture/color in the space, but also because the floors show up so much in my pictures! My clients spend a lot of time standing/sitting/laying on the floor during their session, so it really becomes a backdrop and an element in every session. The flooring is a luxury vinyl that will be really sturdy (it’ll hold up beautifully even when I drag my furniture all around during photoshoots!) and my architect recommended this brand because it looks just like real wood and is really beautiful.

2) My favorite shade of white on the walls. It probably won’t surprise you to hear that I’m particular about every detail in my space, down to the exact shade of paint that I choose!! I have a favorite shade of white that I’ll be using on my studio walls — it has a creamy tone that looks gorgeous with all skin colors and feels airy yet warm.

3) A kitchenette with light, airy vibes. I’m really excited about having a little kitchen in the studio (it’ll be so useful when I’m grabbing drinks and snacks for clients!) and I think it’ll also add a really beautiful option to the space. The kitchenette lives between a couple walls, so I can obscure it easily but when I have clients who like a more lifestyle vibe and wants their pictures to feel like they are in a real home, the kitchen can show up in the background of pictures! I chose really neutral white and wood tones for the kitchen, so that even when it shows up in the background of pictures, it won’t be distracting but will add a really beautiful sense of place.

4) Super tall frosted windows! Oh my goodness, I can’t even express how GORGEOUS these windows are going to be!! I’ll have one big window on the side over the window seat, and the front wall has the most incredible glass between the glass triple doors and the tall peak windows that go up into the vaulted ceiling! The light is just incredible and will be gorgeous for pictures, but even the windows themselves will make for a really beautiful backdrop for silhouette pictures. And all of the windows will be frosted for privacy too, so we’ll have the incredible light but no one will be able to see in or out.

5) A gorgeous brick wall for texture. I found the most amazing bricks from a company in Illinois that salvages bricks from historic buildings, and I’ll have a wall with bricks from a gorgeous Chicago building (with rusty terra cotta tones) as well as a historic Milwaukee building (with iconic ‘cream city’ brick). The mix of these two together is super warm and textural, and I love that it adds a little history to the space as well.