A New Chapter: Paytn Blanke Photography Is Getting a New Studio!

I have been keeping a pretty big secret for the last few months, and I am FINALLY at the point where I can officially say it:

Paytn Blanke Photography is getting a brand-new studio space!

Well… “brand-new” might not exactly be the right word. 😂

The building itself is actually old, full of character, original wood floors, beautiful natural light, and all of those little imperfections that make an old space feel special.

But for me? This is an entirely new beginning.

The lease is signed. I officially have a move-in date. Renovations are happening. Plans are being made. And something I have been dreaming about for a very, very long time is finally starting to come to life.

And I seriously cannot wait to show you.

This Has Been in the Works Since Summer

This isn't something that happened overnight.

I've actually been working on this since the middle of summer, quietly figuring out all of the details behind the scenes before I shared too much.

There have been ideas, measurements, layouts, conversations, plans, changed plans, and probably an unreasonable amount of time spent standing in the middle of an empty room imagining what could go where. 😂

I've been thinking about what I loved about my previous studio, what didn't work, what my clients need, what I need as a photographer, and — maybe most importantly — what I want Paytn Blanke Photography to grow into over the next several years.

My last studio served me well and I created SO much work there that I am proud of.

But eventually, you outgrow things.

And I don't just mean physically.

My ideas have outgrown that space.

My business has outgrown that space.

And the things I want to be able to offer my clients have definitely outgrown that space.

It was time for something different.

A Space I'm Actually Renovating Around My Business

One of the things I am most excited about is that I'm not simply moving my things into another empty room and calling it my studio.

This space is being renovated specifically for what I need.

I'm getting the opportunity to look at this giant space and ask, “Okay… if I could build the studio I actually want, what would that look like?”

And that is SO freaking exciting.

Instead of trying to make my business fit into an existing layout, I'm creating a layout that fits my business.

The new studio is MUCH bigger than my previous space, and one of my favorite things about it is how open it feels. There aren't walls constantly breaking everything into little sections or limiting what I can do with a setup.

I have room to create.

Room to move.

Room to photograph more than one person comfortably.

Room to build sets.

Room to change things.

Room to grow.

And SO. MUCH. NATURAL. LIGHT.

Seriously.

As a photographer, walking into a giant space with tons of windows and beautiful natural light feels a little bit like winning the lottery.

But I also didn't want a space that felt brand new, sterile, or completely stripped of personality.

This building has character.

It has the original wood flooring. It has that beautiful old-building charm. It has history.

And instead of trying to erase all of that, I want to work with it.

I want the finished studio to feel like me — a little modern, a little old, creative, comfortable, imperfect in the best way, and constantly changing depending on what I'm creating.

First Up: CHRISTMAS 🎄

I know. 😂

Of course the first thing I'm doing is throwing myself directly into Christmas.

My plan is to start using the new space with my Christmas Minis, which means my first official sets in the studio will be all things cozy, festive, and Christmas.

And honestly, I think it's going to be such a fun way to break in the new space.

I can't wait to see families and kiddos walking through those doors for the first time.

I can't wait to build the sets.

I can't wait to figure out all of the little corners and angles I love photographing in.

And I REALLY can't wait for that first session where I get to stand there, look around, and realize, holy crap… this is actually my studio.

After Christmas, the next big project will be creating my boudoir area.

And I have SO MANY IDEAS.

Boudoir has become such a huge part of what I create, and having more room opens up possibilities that I simply didn't have before.

More sets. More variety. More room to move. More opportunities to create completely different looks without everything feeling crammed together.

I want the boudoir side of the studio to feel intentional, private, comfortable, beautiful, and like an entire experience from the second you walk through the door.

And once those first pieces are in place?

That's when things get REALLY exciting.

This Won't Just Be a Boudoir Studio

One of my biggest goals with this move is to make the studio useful for so much more.

I want to photograph families here.

I want to photograph kids here.

I want to be able to create seasonal sets, simple timeless setups, lifestyle sessions, creative sessions, and things I probably haven't even thought of yet.

Having an open space gives me the ability to completely transform an area depending on what I'm photographing instead of being locked into one specific look.

That flexibility is something I have wanted for YEARS.

And I'm not stopping at photography sessions.

I Want This Space to Become Something Bigger

This is the part where my brain has approximately 700 tabs open at once. 😂

Because when I look at this studio, I don't only see a place where I can take pictures.

I see possibilities.

One idea I am incredibly excited about is creating a wedding decor rental area.

Over the years, I've collected, used, seen, and worked around SO many wedding items, and I would love to eventually have a place where couples can come look through decor and rental pieces for their wedding.

Instead of buying a million things for one day and trying to figure out what to do with all of it afterward, I'd love to build a collection that couples can actually use.

That idea is still developing, but now I finally have the SPACE to let ideas like that develop.

I also want to be able to host events.

This is a BIG one for me.

My previous studio had stairs that basically felt like climbing a ladder every time you went up them. 😂

They worked for me for a while, but they weren't practical for the things I want to do.

Hosting events? Difficult.

Bringing a bunch of people in and out? Difficult.

Carrying things upstairs? Definitely not fun.

Accessibility for different clients? Not ideal.

This new studio gives me so much more freedom.

I can actually picture people gathering here.

Workshops.

Creative events.

Boudoir events.

Photography events.

Holiday events.

Girls' nights.

Collaborations.

Pop-ups.

Maybe things I haven't even dreamed up yet.

For the first time, I have a space where I can think, “Wouldn't it be cool if we did this?” without immediately following it with, “Yeah… but where would everyone go?”

And THAT is an incredible feeling.

Could Other People Rent the Studio?

Maybe. 👀

I'm still deciding.

I have definitely tossed around the idea of eventually making the studio available to rent for other photographers, creatives, or certain small events.

There are still logistics I'd need to figure out before I officially say yes to that, so don't hold me to anything just yet. 😂

But the fact that it's even an option is exciting.

That's what I love so much about this space.

I don't know exactly what it's going to become yet.

I know what I'm starting with.

I know what I need right now.

I know what I've been dreaming about.

But I also know myself well enough to know that six months from now I'm probably going to have ten more ideas.

And now I finally have somewhere to put them.

This Is More Than Just a Bigger Studio

I think that's the part that is hardest to explain.

Yes, it's bigger.

Yes, the natural light is incredible.

Yes, I am obsessed with the original wood floors.

Yes, I'm excited about all the new sets and possibilities.

But this move means more to me than getting some extra square footage.

It feels like another one of those moments where I get to look back at where Paytn Blanke Photography started and realize just how much this business has grown.

There have been so many versions of this dream.

So many ideas I've scribbled down.

So many times I've said, “Someday, when I have the space…”

Someday I want a studio big enough for this.

Someday I want to photograph families indoors.

Someday I want more room for boudoir.

Someday I want to host events.

Someday I want a space where people can actually gather.

Someday I want a studio with gorgeous natural light.

Someday I want somewhere I can build, change, create, and make completely my own.

Apparently, “someday” is finally here.

And that's a little surreal to say.

There Is Still A LOT of Work Ahead

I don't want to make it sound like I'm unlocking the door and walking into my perfectly finished dream studio. 😂

Definitely not.

There is work to do.

This space is being renovated around my needs, and that means there will be plenty happening before everything looks the way I have pictured it in my head.

And honestly?

I'm excited about that part, too.

I want to document it.

I want you guys to see the before.

I want you to watch walls change, sets go up, furniture move around 14 times because I decided I hate where I put it, and all of the weird little decisions that go into creating a photography studio.

I want to be able to look back a year from now at photos of the empty space and barely recognize it.

Because this isn't just somewhere I'm moving into.

I'm building it into what I need it to be.

And I think that's what makes this whole thing feel so special.

And Eventually… An Open House!

Once I get settled and the studio starts feeling a little more like home, I would LOVE to host an open house sometime this winter.

I want you guys to actually be able to come see it.

Walk around.

Check out the sets.

See the boudoir area.

See what I've been working on.

Hang out.

Ask questions.

Take photos.

And celebrate this gigantic new chapter with me.

I don't have a date planned yet because, again, I should probably actually MOVE IN first. 😂

But it's absolutely something I want to do.

I Can't Wait to Show You

I've been sitting on this news since the middle of summer.

I've imagined it.

Planned it.

Changed the plan.

Measured things.

Dreamed about it.

Probably annoyed everyone around me talking about it.

And now…

The lease is signed.

I have my move-in date.

It's actually happening.

There are still so many decisions to make and so much work ahead of me, but I don't think I've ever been this excited about the future of my studio.

This feels like the space I've been waiting for.

A space where Paytn Blanke Photography can grow.

A space where Paytn Blanke Boudoir can grow.

A space where families can make memories.

Where kids can be kids.

Where women can celebrate themselves.

Where couples can plan pieces of their wedding.

Where people can gather.

Where I can host things.

Where I can build ridiculous sets because I had an idea at 11:47 PM and apparently need to see it through. 😂

Where I can create without constantly wondering if I have enough room.

And most importantly, a space that can grow and change right alongside this business.

I have absolutely no idea what every corner of this studio will look like a year from now.

And I LOVE that.

Because there are so many ideas in my head that I cannot wait to finally bring to life.

For now, though…

Christmas Minis are first. 🎄

Then we're building that boudoir space. 👀

And after that?

Just wait and see.

I cannot WAIT to show you what I've been working on.

Welcome to the next chapter of Paytn Blanke Photography. 🤍