Studio Photography in Northwest Arkansas
Y’all! I cannot even believe I am typing this post, sitting on my new pink chair on my new pink desk with a backdrop set up on one side of me + the most extra thrifted artwork gallery wall behind me. It finally happened! Your girl got an out-of-the-home office space! And I am SO excited to start offering more studio photography in Northwest Arkansas + outdoor mini sessions at Mt. Sequoyah, too!
Why Mt. Sequoyah?
Because that’s where my new office space is! A few years ago, I joined the clay studio at Mt. Sequoyah. I am a truly terrible potter but, at the time, I really wanted to try out new art forms to see if there was anything that stuck (spoiler: digital art collages stuck). Honestly, I didn’t really use my membership that much but, during the membership, I realized that Mt. Sequoyah had a program called Creative Spaces NWA and, when I found out, I knew my next goal: to have an office / studio space on Fayetteville’s cutest mountain. And when I got an email that there was a space open in March? As Andrew says, “you signed the lease as soon as you saw the email”, lol. I was thrilled! And now that I’m (mostly!) moved in? I’m even more thrilled!
How Does This Change My Sessions?
How does this change my session types? Not a ton! Most of my sessions will be exactly the same: on location and all around Northwest Arkansas.
Mini sessions will be a little different, though!
Going forward, my outdoor mini sessions will be held only at Mt. Sequoyah. My studio sessions will be mainly held at my office space in Mt. Sequoyah (paper backdrops will still be in my garage). Before, I created backdrops in my home for all of my studio work. Now, we’re moving to the mountain!
What’s the Vibe?
Worried this means my photos will be less colorful? You know that’s not my jam!
Here’s the plan!
In my new office, I have two shooting bays. The first is a top to bottom thrifted artwork gallery wall. Making this gallery was a total blast – I lugged my daughter, mom, sister-in-law, and niece all around my fave vintage markets during spring break to find the perfect pieces – and I’m so excited about how the wall came together. It’s cozy, colorful, eclectic, and totally unique. This install will be up until I am sick of it so it’ll probably be up forever, lol.
The second shooting area is where I’ll build my backdrops!
Additionally, I’ll be switching out peel and stick wallpaper on the walls every couple of months. I love a patterned wall and I’m super excited to bring this facet of styling into my sessions. By shooting in studio, we’re not looking for boring: we’re looking to create the same kind of images I always create, just with a little bit more creative control and weather flexibility. The studio space isn’t ideal for large families but we should be able to fit up to five people with no issue… and maybe just a smidge of creative posing. I’ll be prepared with chairs! And stools! Or anything we need!
A New Era, But One That’s Been a Long Time Coming
When I texted my best friend that I got a studio space, her reply was “it’s been a long time coming.” – and it totally has!
I started shooting fun studio setups for Opal and June dress rentals in 2018. By 2021, I’d started incorporating studio shoots for some of my client work, especially seniors. In 2024, I was fully into studio, often creating elaborate backdrops for my Opal and June mockup photographs. With three kids, this got to be a bit much to manage in home and I had to scale back on my studio photos. But now that I have my own space? I am so excited to work with my people to bring together really unique, fun, and colorful studio photographs in Northwest Arkansas.
Hold tight!! There’s going to be so much for me to share with y’all!
And for now? Here’s some photos of my daughter, niece, sister-in-law, and mom seconds after we created this thrifted gallery wall.
I’m so in love with it and these photos, too!
P.S. Yessss. Yesss I’ve already added like 10 more paintings.
Galleries + Links + More
Weddings | Engagements | Seniors | Families | Personal | Photographers
Opal and June Website | Etsy Shops: Tee Shirts + Sweatshirts | Mockup Photos
Based in Fayetteville, Arkansas Lissa Chandler is a portrait and wedding photographer who celebrates life one photograph at a time. Lissa is also the owner of Opal and June where she offers fun teacher shirts, bookish + history merch, and the absolute cutest tote bags. Additionally, Lissa is the host of the laid back, conversational podcasts Your Photographer Mom and Our Favorite Villes.
As a creative photographer in Northwest Arkansas, Lissa doesn’t niche down on a genre. She niches on a feeling instead! That feeling? The huge, happy feeling of hope and excitement that you feel as a kid opening up a huge box of 120 crayons. Sound like a feeling you remember? Let’s shoot!