Rockford photographers have fun group in shared downtown house
There’s a creed or philosophy many within the pictures trade embrace and stay by.
“We at all times say, ‘Neighborhood over competitors,'” Meg Dunn stated. “It’s one thing I’ve at all times welcomed. I’ve preached it, celebrated it, and embraced others the way in which I’ve been helped and embraced.”
That spirit of camaraderie is on show day by day at 211 E. State St. the place Dunn of Meg Dunn Images and Elizabeth Steed of ellAdele Images have been sharing studio and workplace house since February.
Every are married with households of their very own and each have launched into careers as skilled photographers specializing in capturing particular occasions equivalent to engagements, weddings and household gatherings.
However make no mistake, “We’re two separate companies simply working in the identical house,” Dunn stated. “We’ve two very separate manufacturers, separate shoppers, two separate all the things.”
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Their willingness to work below the identical roof is an fascinating dynamic constructed on mutual respect for one another’s work and the dedication it takes to be a profitable photographer. Dunn is also fast to let you know she likes working with a like-minded co-worker in what is usually a one-person gig.
“Ten % of being a photographer is simply taking pictures. The opposite 90% is being behind closed doorways,” Steed stated talking of the huge period of time photographers spend modifying and processing images and selling their model.
Though each of their incomes go towards paying the identical payments, Dunn stated:
“We positively have been in direct competitors with each other, nevertheless it’s a kind of conditions the place I really really feel like each couple finally ends up with the seller they’re speculated to be with as a result of all of us do give totally different experiences, and personalities mesh in a different way. So, there’s by no means been any type of like friction.”
Paying it ahead
Dunn is a Rockford native who lived and labored in Chicago however returned dwelling after getting married.
She and Steed, nevertheless, met in 2014 when each shot an occasion with fellow photographer Christopher Tyson, Adele’s future husband. Three years later, Steed and Tyson moved their studios into the East State Road constructing and utterly transformed the inside.
“We had been two separate companies as nicely,” Steed stated.
Tyson, who’s now married to Steed, moved out of the studio in February. Steed will do the identical this fall as each will likely be shifting out of state leaving the studio to Dunn.
Realizing Dunn had lengthy desired to have a downtown studio of her personal, Steed stated it was a straightforward determination to show the studio over to her.
“We’re passing the torch,” Steed stated. “Christopher and I actually talked about it and felt like Meg was an ideal match to start out the method of shifting her in right here and getting a check run to see if she needed to take over the lease.”
“Christopher and I poured a lot love and work into this house. I am unable to think about not having one other photographer right here. It simply makes a lot sense to have someone that we all know and belief and who desires to be downtown and proceed constructing downtown.”
Chris Inexperienced: 815-987-1241; [email protected]; @chrisfgreen
