LA GRANDE — A fully equipped photo studio is being made available for area photographers to rent by the hour or day to conduct photography sessions with their own clients.

Studio Slate owner Abby Stonebreaker is marketing the idea of photo studio-sharing to area photographers and creators. The concept is simple. Stonebreaker provides a fully equipped photo studio with backdrops and props, then leases it out to trusted photographers who don’t have a studio of their own in which to conduct their business.

The idea of photo studio-sharing has been successfully launched in other cities, but this may be La Grande’s first business model. Stonebreaker’s decision to try a studio-sharing business here came from her own commercial passions and family needs.

One year ago, she was working for a health insurance company as an associate marketing manager.

“I was enjoying it, but it was taking a huge toll on me, and I couldn’t give my best self to my family because I was putting myself into the work,” she said. “There wasn’t enough of me to go around.”

So, she decided to explore entrepreneurship. For years she had a side business of photography. She would have the occasional portrait session or real estate property shoot, but she never thought she would pursue it full time.

“I considered it a side gig, basically, but because I realized how life-changing this would be for my family, I decided to see how this would work,” she said.

Stonebreaker left her insurance job in June 2023 and poured herself into a business plan. She considered how her business would naturally evolve into something the community needed.

Up until last March Stonebreaker was doing photography work of her own, such as marketing and branding projects like real estate photography and professional portrait work.

“What I discovered is that I really like working with other businesses,” she said.

In the process of working with other businesses, though, Stonebreaker realized she could really use studio space of her own because it was chaos for her to be hauling all her equipment in her vehicle for her projects. She also had to rent out space, so not all her sessions were consistent. Often, she had to work at different business sites, which didn’t allow her to control all the variables in the sessions to produce her best work.

“It wasn’t a completely controlled environment,” she said.

Stonebreaker knew she had to search for a studio, but she never thought she would find one so fast. But when she learned about the space at 1211 Washington Ave. that was available within the next month, she had to look at it.

“I walked through the door and I could see everything and how the spaces could be used,” she said. “Spaces like this weren’t going to come around often, so I made it happen.”

Stonebreaker also envisioned sharing this studio space with other photographers. She remembered times she’d had an awesome photography gig, but no photo-ready environment to do it in.

“It was frustrating because I had all this creative energy but no appropriate space,” she said.

Surely, other photographers have had similar experiences. Consequently, her goal for Studio Slate is to be a studio-share situation where she can invite other photographers or content creators to work. For example, people who create reels need a clean space to create video content in.

It’s a small space — about 300 square feet in the front room. But it has white walls with nothing attached to them and every piece of furniture can be moved.

The primary shooting space is the front room and there is a hallway with shelving space for equipment and props. The entire back room is exclusively used by Stonebreaker and her photography business.

“I want people to make it their own so that we all can benefit, especially during the winter months, in a shared space like this,” she said. “The reality is I’m not going to be there all the time, so why not share?”

As of right now, Stonebreaker is opening her studio doors to other photographers and creators that she knows and trusts. There will be a contract in place that protects both Stonebreaker and leasing clients.

“It would be really cool to have several photographers who commit to using the space a certain number of times a month, people who all work together well and can share space collaboratively and lift each other up,” she said.

Abby Stonebreaker already has some photographers signed up to share the studio, but more are welcome. To talk to Stonebreaker about the details, message her on Instagram @StudioSlate.