Sarah shares all her past studios and thoughts on a better future for her Company.

In the spirit of FUN FRIDAY, I am sharing some personal feelings about how far we have come and grown through the years and now, becoming even stronger and healthier as a Company as we approach the other side of this pandemic.

This new strength has come out of resilience and having to step back this past year with a fresh set of eyes and begin again.  No one in our Industry saw the pandemic coming and much of our fellow vendors and venues have been decimated since March 2020. I am happy to share that we are finally seeing a light at the end of the very long tunnel.  Our phones are ringing.

We gave up our beautiful studio on 28^th street last October and have regrouped in my loft and home just below Union Square.  I thought it would be fun to show a collection of images of all our previous studios through the years. The first set of images were taken in the the80’s with film!!   This very first location was at 101 Fifth Avenue and was a 2500 square foot loft.   We used to host so many wonderful marketing events in our spacious studio lofts as well as Industry “blowout” parties every year.  So much fun!!!  We quickly outgrew that space and took over the rest of the floor and had a 5000 square foot studio.  After 5 years we made a huge leap and moved again!

Our second studio was on lower Fifth Avenue as well and was our largest space.  It was 8500 square feet; we had the entire floor, and it was epic!  We were there for about 15 years and then downsized after 9/11.  The world had changed, and smaller studios became the trend.

Once again, I had to adapt, and we became a more boutique studio and moved to 419 Park Avenue.  That studio was 3500 square feet and was very cool.  It was in the round and felt so great to be there and work and shoot.  It had amazing views of the Empire State Building.  I remember working well into the evening, photographing Mitzvah families and newly engaged couples late at night and we would be in awe of this iconic building right out our window!

Next stop and move were 28^th street just around the corner off Park Ave.  Of all our studios it was one of my favorites.  It was small and manageable, and my team worked so well together in our beautiful studio with sky light windows everywhere.  We painted the office the same fun colors as the previous three studios and made it home.  This studio was 1800 square feet and perfect for my team of 4 employees.  It was so sad to see it go last Fall but so happy to be where we are today as a Company!!!

There have been many silver linings post this horrible pandemic.  I have realized I do not need a fancy studio to grow and nurture my business.  It is the team and talent that makes up our company and not the four walls we work within.  Sure, a beautiful studio is awesome…and we have had several through the past 3 decades…and now I can concentrate on the beautiful images and memories we capture for our customers without overhead and operations distractions.

I have been able to take a 35-year-old business and restructure it for today.  We now can come back even stronger and better!   I miss seeing my staff every day. I am lucky to still collaborate daily with my amazing Sales Director, Lisa.  We have created a studio and office in my home and are ready for more action!!!  I am blessed with an outdoor space on my roof for private photo sessions.  Each night my home and our new office ends the day with magical views and sunsets.  Yet another silver lining.

Which studio do you remember or perhaps all of them!  I hope you enjoy going down memory lane with me and revisiting the past studios for Sarah Merians Photography & Company.  It is always so much fun to share photos!  That is why I do what I do!  😊  Enjoy and have a great weekend!          #funfriday

Xo Sarah