The Studio.

Village Photo Studio offers a comfortable, stress-free environment for both you and your clients, because we believe that a personal touch is what makes all the difference. We built this space to eliminate the typical headaches of shooting downtown. Forget lugging gear up flights of stairs, dealing with broken freight elevators, and navigating unsafe or expensive paid parking. We blend mid-century industrial design with unmatched practical utility, balancing the space with warm soft touches and tactile textures so it feels as inviting as it is functional. With a ground-floor storefront and a large free parking lot right at the door, loading gear and welcoming clients is completely effortless.

Large view of Village Photo Studio

Space & Specs

  • Layout & Dimensions: The studio is divided into two distinct rooms, both featuring 10-foot ceilings. The front shooting room is approximately 20x21 feet, and the back prep room is approximately 13x13 feet.
  • Climate Control: Keep your clients comfortable year-round with a fully controllable thermostat featuring cold air conditioning and hot heat.

Light & Gear

  • Natural Light: South-facing windows with floor-to-ceiling sheer curtains for glowing, diffused sunlight.
  • Backdrops: 96” seamless paper (White, Black, Sand), alongside tactile linen and hand-painted canvas options.
  • Lighting Control: In-house Godox modifiers, including a large softbox, two beauty dishes, an oversized shoot-through umbrella, and a large reflective white umbrella.
  • The Film Ecosystem: 35mm point-and-shoot and SLR camera rentals (film included) with optional in-house drop-off and scanning.

Curated Furnishings

Tasteful, thoughtful, and mostly on wheels or easily movable to fit your set.

  • Seating & Props: Genuine brown leather sofa on wheels, antique shop stools, and a long vintage wooden bench.
  • Workspaces: A 54-inch round classic Eames table by Herman Miller with six chairs, a rolling utility table (perfect for a mobile tethering station), and a dedicated standing desk for editing and reviewing images.

Prep, Comfort & Community

  • Wardrobe & Makeup: A private bathroom featuring flattering vanity lighting, a small clothing rack, a steamer, lint rollers, and oil-absorbing sheets.
  • Production Essentials: We keep the space stocked with the little lifesavers you might have forgotten like A-clamps, phone chargers, pens, paper, and tape.
  • The Vibe: High-speed Wi-Fi, an immersive Google speaker system, and curated photo books for browsing.
  • Refreshments: Hot coffee pods and a mini-fridge stocked with water, Spindrift, and Coke Zero.
  • Community Boards: Two bulletin boards dedicated to the local creative scene. Share your studio work, post casting calls for models or photographers, announce events, or just leave a motivating note.

Reserve Your Studio Time.

Select your time slot below. Secure upfront payments are safely processed during booking.

Who We Are.

We are two long-time friends navigating similar seasons of life—driven by family, creativity, and bringing people together. We built Village Photo Studio to be an intentional, grounded space for capturing real moments and growing local community.

Jesse Speelman

Jesse Speelman

I'm a husband, father of one, portrait & wedding photographer, and the owner of Village Photo Studio. I love people, and am focused on photographing them authentically. I'm passionate about community, and like to think I'm a pretty grounded person. I see my photography as a way to help strangers feel seen and understood.

View Jesse's Work
Tina Johnson

Tina Johnson

I’m a wife, mom of three, cheer coach, and corporate professional who has always found joy in building meaningful connections with people. I believe life’s most cherished moments are often the ones that happen naturally, and I value authenticity, kindness, and creating lasting memories with the people who matter most. Whether I’m spending time with my family or serving my community, I strive to approach everything I do with intention, heart, and gratitude.

View Tina's Work

Work Made Here.

See how local photographers, filmmakers, and content creators utilize our space.

Frequently Asked Questions.

Everything you need to know to ensure a smooth, professional shoot at Village Photo Studio.

Does my booked time include setup and cleanup?
Yes, your booked time must include your entire setup and teardown. There is no buffer before or after your scheduled slot, and any time used past your booking will incur an overtime fee. We highly recommend booking at least a two-hour block to ensure you aren't rushed.
What lighting gear do I need to bring?
Unless you rent lighting equipment directly from us, you will need to bring your own light stands, strobes, speedlights, triggers, and continuous video lights. (We provide the modifiers, V-flats, and C-stands).
Is there a guest limit?
We welcome up to six guests per session. If you have a larger crew or production, just reach out to us for prior permission. Please note that all guests will be asked to sign a standard liability waiver.
Are messy shoots like cake smashes allowed?
Cake smashes and confetti are totally fine. However, smoke machines and glitter are strictly prohibited. We provide a broom, mop, and wipes for your convenience. Just be sure to clean up thoroughly before your time is up to avoid an extra cleaning fee.
Are pets allowed in the studio?
No, pets are not permitted inside the studio.
What time of day has the best natural light?
Our south-facing windows get the best natural light from early to late morning. However, our floor-to-ceiling sheer drapes diffuse the light beautifully throughout the entire day. Evenings can get a bit dim, so bringing a constant fill light helps significantly if you are shooting late.
Is the studio soundproofed for video and audio?
The studio features beautiful brick walls, which does create a bit of natural acoustic reverb. I regularly record interviews here and they sound great. Nothing a quick pass through a tool like Adobe Podcast AI can't instantly resolve.
What is your cancellation and rescheduling policy?
Because time slots are strictly reserved and taken off the market, we unfortunately cannot accommodate cancellations or rescheduling. However, if something comes up, let us know and we would be happy to provide a discounted rate for your makeup session.
Can I rent the studio for a meeting, workshop, or class?
Absolutely. The space isn't just for photo and video shoots. It is a fantastic environment for small creative workshops, educational classes, off-site team meetings, and more.
Can we bring outside food and drinks?
Yes, you are welcome to bring in outside food, beverages, or catering for your team and clients. However, please note that alcohol is strictly prohibited inside the studio.
Is the studio wheelchair accessible?
Yes. Because we are a ground-floor storefront, the entrance, the main studio space, and the private bathroom are all fully wheelchair accessible.
Can I hang things from the ceiling for my set?
Yes! We have an in-studio rolling ladder that you can use to easily and safely clamp lights, fabrics, or set decorations directly to the exposed ceiling trusses.
Is the studio private from the street?
While our address is on Mound Road, our storefront does not directly face the main street. We have floor-to-ceiling sheer curtains that obscure most of the view from the outside while still letting in beautiful natural light. However, because the curtains are sheer, they do not block 100% of the view into the space.

A Dedicated Work Space.

Designed for dedicated photographers, artists, and filmmakers who want a reliable space to shoot and grow their craft. We offer two highly limited membership paths to give you the consistency of your own studio without the heavy overhead of a commercial lease, while ensuring plenty of calendar availability for everyone.

The Studio Member

$500 / month
  • 12 Studio Hours: Lock in a highly reduced hourly rate. Slow month? Unused hours seamlessly roll over to the next.
  • Premium Lighting Included: Free access to our 3-point video lighting system for all your sessions.
  • Co-Working Drop-Ins: Drop in and work alongside Jesse during studio editing days.

The Mentorship

$850 / month
  • All Resident Perks: Includes your 12 monthly hours (with rollover) and premium lighting.
  • Monthly B&W Branding Shoot: One medium-format film portrait session per month, or candid BTS coverage during one of your own shoots.
  • Co-Working & Shadowing: Drop in during editing days, plus exclusive invites to shadow Jesse on real studio sessions.
  • 1-on-1 Mentorship & Critique: Monthly sit-downs to review your portfolio and dive deep into lighting, film, scanning, and editing.
  • VIP Event Access: Guaranteed entry to all Village Photo Club events, public and private.

Get In Touch.

If you have any further questions that weren't answered in our FAQs, we would love to hear from you.

Email Directly

jesse@villageportrait.com
Thank you! Your message has been sent. We'll be in touch soon.