Our studio is closing its doors.
For over 17 years, this business has been my heart and soul. I photographed thousands of sleepy newborns, first birthdays and growing families across Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand.
I got to watch so many of you build your own families right alongside mine.
That kind of trust is not something I take lightly, and I’m endlessly grateful for every session, every referral, and every family who let me into some of the most tender moments of their lives.
Why are you closing?
To put it bluntly…
Storefronts are expensive.
Like, really expensive.
It costs over $3,000 a month just to keep these doors open.
Yes, you read that right.
$3K a month to simply exist.
That bill comes before I can take a single dollar home.
Out of my 17 years in business, the last two have been the most difficult. Non-essentials are the first things families have to cut from their budget when the economy crashes, and I completely understand that.
At the end of the day, I also need to be able to support my family. Unfortunately for me, that means letting go of a beautiful studio space that is no longer sustainable.
What if I have a photo session already booked?
You’re taken care of. Full stop.
An amazing local photographer has opened her studio to me so that I can continue to photograph the sessions already on my calendar for this year.
Same care, same Crystal… just a different address.
Your session is still happening.
And your photos are going to be amazing!
Why not just run a studio in your home?
FACT: Running a photography studio out of your home is NOT legal in Horry County.
In Horry County, you cannot operate a customer-facing business on residential property. It has to be in a commercially zoned space, PERIOD.
This means:
NO photographing clients in your own home.
NO doing mini sessions in your backyard or garage.
NO building a “studio” on your personal property.
Are there photographers doing it anyway? Yup. Seasoned photographers that know better. Which means they’re not licensed to do business within the county, or they lied to the zoning department.
I have always operated my business the legal way… licensed, insured, and in a real commercial space, because my clients deserve a small business that operates with honesty and integrity. I won’t break laws just to stay open and make a buck.
I truly implore you to support LEGAL photographers… the ones paying taxes (not getting corporate tax breaks), not operating illegal studios on home property… many of them are fighting to stay afloat simply because they choose to operate legally. People who take their business just as seriously as your photos.
When you hire legit, you’re not just paying for pretty pictures, you’re helping someone keep their dream alive and put food on their table.
