Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Lee Keeney.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am a photographer and artist who owns Studio 701, in downtown Lynchburg VA. I got started in college, at film school, which led to me owning my first DSLR. After graduation developed chronic health issues, which stopped my creative brain for a while. Inspired by the internet, I started to find power and self expression through self portraits. The Pandemic happened and I found myself living alone with my little dog for the first time. I knew I wasn’t in the life I was meant to be, so I intentionally decided to do things that scared me. I messaged some people I didn’t know on Instagram. I attended group events and started talking. Soon I found myself renting part of a photography space downtown with a few other people. It came down to losing the space, or signing the lease myself. And a little while later, Studio 701 was created.
I LOVE doing creative shoots, especially when I can envision what I saw in my mind. I am most in my element outdoors in warm weather, posing a model in a flower field. I value people and believe in supporting other photographers.
Studio 701 had our 3 year anniversary last March and we keep growing each year. We offer a fully equipped photography studio and host events, classes and so much more. I am so excited about the future!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has never been smooth, but I think that’s what I signed up for. Time, money and energy are a limited resource, both when doing my own photography and running my business.
We used to have our bathroom flood every time the upstairs neighbor did his laundry. Another time, kids busted out our large front window in the middle of winter.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have always had an artists brain, but I didn’t call myself an artist until the last couple years! As a kid I used to do the drawing anime and writing fanfiction thing. I am in the middle of a large sculpture that lives in my studio, made out of hollow CRTVs. Each one is decorated differently and fused together in a wall on top of each other. It’s going to be a photography backdrop when I get there.
Collage is where I discovered a profound way to express myself, and the things I have never told anyone. It started with a series of 4 family photos. And most recently it’s a series of 6 (so far) made from fashion and playboy magazines.
While my photography tends to be bright and floral and fun, my art is where my emotions lie.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I’m not sure how to even word this, but I see more life in the future of photography. We can do anything with AI, which becomes less impressive. Photographers & creatives will want to do more in-camera and on-location shoots with real people. Analog is coming back, which is so much fun! Film cameras and video on tape with very minimal post processing. It becomes about the art of making it, rather than the final image being “perfect”. Art will have more meaning to it.
Pricing:
- Our studio is rentable for:
- $65/ hour weekends
- $55/hour weekdays
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.studio701lyh.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studio701lyh
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studio701lyh
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/marylee.keeney
