CLIQUE STUDIO – a place for photographers

posted in: Photography Studio | 4

Well here it is… the post that will fill you in on exactly what CLIQUE is all about!

So first of all, if you don’t recognize the buildings – they are located right in the heart of Schenectady – Center City.  Right on State Street, a  few doors down from Proctors, across from Johnny’s, and right about Aperitivo!   I’ve had my eye on this area for a long, long time – always the dream and thought… what if I had a studio?  I wanted it to be the right time, for it to make sense, and most importantly for it to be successful.   So although I met with staff at the Metro Plex probably 1.5 years ago – it wasn’t until 10.1 that this whole thing really began!  The lease has been signed, and LLC has been filed.  CLIQUE – is official!

Before I let you see the progress and transformation – there’s a bit more to share.  I’ve been lucky enough to meet some pretty wonderful, and talented photographers in our area.  Ones I consider my good friends, and peers that I admire.  A core group of us get together from time to time – to socialize, talk shop, ask advice etc.   Through many conversations, one thing I picked up on was the desire to have a “shared” studio space.   How we all wish there was something like that in this area.  Running a studio on your own can be tough to justify when you shoot many of your sessions on-location, and outdoors.  But I heard it, I heard it more than once and I felt the same desire.  A little idea planted itself in my head – and I just kept thinking on it.  Why not?  Why couldn’t a shared space be developed?  Why not in the up and coming artsy area of downtown Schenectady?  Why couldn’t I be the one to do it?  And there it is… the thought, the question that has now become a reality. Clique Studio is a shared photography space just waiting to officially open it’s doors!

Right away I saw the tremendous potential in this space.  Just looking at the windows would make any photographer drool.   What you can’t see here, is that there is brick behind that sheet rock – a lot of brick and old character.  Of course there was no other option than to expose it.  In a few other areas in the building it had been done and looked incredible.  We had a suspicion that there may be some treasures behind that sheet rock.

Thrilled to find these very cool openings – many ideas for how these will be developed. Next up was to decide on flooring – this has a driftwood affect, and works perfectly with the rustic meets modern vision i have for the space.

 

There will be an option for local photographs to become members of the space (and yes there are some lined up already).   Once a member, each photographer can select what type of usage option makes the most sense for them and their clients.  CLIQUE will allow for studio sessions as well as client meetings.  Fully equipped with everything you would need to store equipment, and run consults as well as in person sales.

The changes in there are huge day to day.   I will keep posting in-progress pics so you can see it’s transformation for yourself.    It is going to be amazing!

 

4 Responses

  1. Very cool Genine!!!! Congratulations!

  2. maria maynard

    CONGRATULATIONS Genine….I love this area and johnny’s is one of my favs as is proctor’s and apperitivo….BEST of luck to you:)

  3. Gayle DePan Cartiet

    What a great idea Genine!! Congrats on Clique and your vision, what a beautiful space !

  4. Congrats, Genine! I know how it feels to just “go for it!” So proud of you!