The Arlen Studio: Unedited

Unedited : With Christine Harris

In this episode, we welcome our first guest to the podcast, Arlen Studio member Christine Harris. What unfolds is exactly what this space was built for—honest conversation, shared experience, and a deeper look at what it means to build a creative life at any stage. Christine shares how she found photography later in life, beginning with a simple desire to learn her camera and unexpectedly stepping into portraiture. What started as photographing flowers quickly evolved into gallery work, community involvement, and ultimately international artist residencies. We talk about her experience attending a residency in France, where she spent two weeks immersed in a creative environment alongside other artists. She shares how being fully removed from daily responsibilities and surrounded by creative energy shifted her perspective and deepened her work. She also gives a glimpse into what’s next, including an upcoming residency in Tuscany. The conversation moves into the reality of building a photography business—something that rarely matches the creative dream. We discuss the challenges of marketing, the isolation that can come with this work, and the importance of having a supportive community. This is where The Arlen Studio comes in, as a space designed to bring photographers together in a way that feels collaborative rather than competitive. We also dive into passion projects and the role they play in creative fulfillment. Christine shares her ongoing “50 Women” project, a portrait series centered on connection and storytelling. We also talk about our own projects—exploring motherhood, legacy portraits, and creating meaningful experiences for subjects beyond the final image. Throughout the episode, we reflect on different learning styles, the value of observing other photographers, and the idea of bringing more education into the studio through future speaker series and live demonstrations. As always, the conversation takes a few unexpected turns, touching on everything from creative instincts to personality dynamics, and what it really looks like to balance art, business, and life. This episode is a reminder that there is no single path into photography. Whether you are just starting out or stepping into a new chapter, there is space to grow, create, and build something meaningful. About the Guest Christine Harris is a portrait photographer whose work is rooted in storytelling and connection. Her background spans creative pursuits, community arts involvement, and a deep appreciation for the human experience, all of which inform her approach to photography. Website: https://www.bychristineharris.com [https://www.bychristineharris.com] Blog feature: https://www.bychristineharris.com/blog/the-women-of-the-arlen-studio [https://www.bychristineharris.com/blog/the-women-of-the-arlen-studio] About the Podcast The Arlen Studio: Unedited offers an honest look at creativity, business, and the realities of building a photography career. Each episode blends conversation, insight, and real experiences from behind the scenes.

Unedited : How to book a session, to membership or not to membership. That is the question.

The Arlen Studio Podcast Everything you need to know about booking your session With Michelle, Natalia & Megan In this episode, the three of us finally sit down and walk you through exactly how booking at The Arlen Studio works — from finding the link to showing up on shoot day. Whether you're brand new to the studio or thinking about becoming a member, this one's for you. What we cover We break down our two booking options — hourly rentals and memberships — and explain the real difference between them. Members get early access, a 15-minute grace period before and after every session, advance booking privileges, and better pricing on additional hours. Hourly clients get a seamless, turnkey experience with everything they need ready to go. We go through all three membership tiers: our Natural Light membership ($275/month, 4 hours, natural light rooms only), our Full Studio membership ($450/month, 6 hours, full access including the getting-ready and changing spaces), and our Top Tier ($800/month, 12 hours, full studio plus your own branded sign on the wall and a dedicated storage shelf). We also cover the 4-hour package available for photographers who aren't ready for a monthly commitment. For hourly rentals, the natural light rooms are $85/hour, the warehouse alone is $100/hour, and the full studio exclusively is $150/hour. Booking 8 or more hours? You get 20% off — and yes, that applies to events too. We walk through the booking flow step by step: setting up your profile in the app, selecting your time (please account for setup and breakdown!), the confirmation email, the furniture catalog we send two days before your session, and what to expect when you arrive. There's always someone on-site to greet you and help get your space set up exactly how you want it. We also talk through our add-ons — behind-the-scenes session photography ($150/session), a photography assistant ($50/hour) — plus our maternity and motherhood gown rental closet, our canvas and paper backdrop collection, newborn room supplies, and all the lighting gear available in the warehouse. Oh, and we may have mentioned once or twice that we are fully booked this weekend. First time ever. We're a little excited about it. A few things to remember * Book enough time — always include load-in and load-out, especially on busy weekends. * Reply to the furniture catalog email the night before so we can have your space ready when you arrive. * If something you want is in our storage unit, let us know by the night before — it opens at 7 AM and we can grab it for you. * Members get booking access up to 3 months in advance. Holiday weekends fill up fast. * After your session, we'd love a review — and don't forget your mirror selfie and tag us! Links & resources Book your session or learn more at The Arlen Studio website. Find us on Instagram and DM us anytime — there's also a chat feature inside the booking app if you have questions before or after your shoot. Thearlenstudio.com [http://Thearlenstudio.com] Instagram - @thearlenstudio

Unedited : Bridgerton Brunch Grand Opening

✨ Episode Summary In this episode, Natalia, Michele, and Megan take you behind the scenes of The Arlen Studio’s grand opening brunch—a dreamy, Bridgerton-inspired celebration that brought together photographers, friends, and family to experience the space for the first time. From last-minute décor decisions and floral overload (yes, there is such a thing) to croissant towers, champagne, and sisterhood moments on the studio floor, this episode captures the heart of what The Arlen is all about: community, creativity, and building something beautiful together.

Unedited : Episode 8 Catching up

🎙 Episode — Behind the Scenes at The Arlen Beauty Campaigns, Studio Growth & What’s Next We’re back — and catching you up on everything happening behind the scenes at The Arlen. After a little break, the three of us (Natalia, Michele, and Megan) are back on the mic talking through what’s been going on inside the studio — from our first full beauty campaign production to the growing pains (and wins) of building something bigger than just a rental space. What We’ve Been Working On We recently wrapped one of our first large-scale beauty campaign shoots at The Arlen, led by Megan — and let’s just say… it was a lot (in the best way). We’re talking: • Full production days • Models, makeup artists, lighting setups • 10-hour shoot days • Multiple setups and moving parts Honestly, it felt like shooting multiple weddings back-to-back — but inside our own space. It pushed us creatively, logistically, and operationally — and gave us a really clear vision of what this studio is becoming. Real Talk: What We’re Improving With that kind of production comes a lot of learning. We’re constantly asking: 👉 How can the space work better? 👉 How can we support bigger productions? Some of the upgrades and ideas we’re working through: • Creating more dedicated shooting space • Investing in a heavy-duty boom for larger lighting setups • Improving the makeup / prep area • Better flow between rooms during multi-set shoots • Making the space easier to use for teams We’re building this in real time — and bringing you along with us. The Power of Behind-the-Scenes Content One thing that really stood out during this shoot was how valuable behind-the-scenes content is. Not just for marketing — but for storytelling. Showing the process, the chaos, the creativity — it adds so much depth to what we do and gives clients a better understanding of the production side of things. Also… we may have fallen a little in love with shooting BTS on Fuji 👀 What’s Coming Up at The Arlen We’ve got a lot in the works — and we’re really excited about what’s ahead. ✨ Bridgerton-Inspired Open House We’re planning a fully styled open house event (yes, think Bridgerton vibes) to bring the community together and showcase what the studio can do. 👉 Listen to the episode for a little discount drop 👀 📖 The Arlen Coffee Table Book We’re brainstorming a larger creative project — a cohesive coffee table book featuring local creatives. This would include: • Portrait sessions • Personal interviews • A deeper look into the creative community around us Something meaningful, collaborative, and lasting. 🎤 Workshops & Speaker Series We’re also exploring a fall speaker / masterclass series — bringing in photographers and creatives to teach, connect, and share knowledge. Education is a huge part of what we want The Arlen to be. Growing as a Team We also talk about what it’s like working together — finding our rhythm, building our brand as a trio, and figuring out how each of us fits into the bigger vision. There’s something really special about building a women-led creative space that supports collaboration instead of competition. What’s Next We’re heading into a season of growth, learning, and a lot of experimentation. We’re also planning to attend: • Imaging USA • WPPI in Las Vegas …to continue learning, connecting, and bringing new ideas back to The Arlen. Let’s Keep the Conversation Going We love hearing from you — what do you want us to talk about next? Send us a message, submit questions, or come be part of the conversation.

Unedited: The Cost of Doing Business - Photography edition

Join us for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about the real cost of becoming a photographer. In this episode, Natalia, Michele, and Megan dive deep into everything no one talks about—the hidden expenses that come with building a photography business. From gear and lenses to subscriptions, websites, client management systems, studio needs, camera bags (yes… multiple), and all the little things that quietly add up. Whether you’re just starting out or already in the industry, this episode offers a transparent look at what it truly takes to invest in your craft and grow sustainably. If you’ve ever wondered “What do I actually need to get started?”—this one’s for you. Www.thearlenstudio.com [http://Www.thearlenstudio.com] https://www.instagram.com/thearlenstudio/ [https://www.instagram.com/thearlenstudio/]