Today we’d like to introduce you to Josiah Kowles.
Hi Josiah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I bought the studios because I couldn’t find a space in Hampton Roads that was worth what it cost and would help my content stand out.
I was building a tech startup and needed to make content consistently to help market the brand, but the spaces I could rent were expensive for what they were and weren’t unique. Most of them looked like the same white or generic podcast setting every podcast has; when I look at branding from the visual side, you have to create a visual experience that gets a person to stop scrolling.
In June, I bought The Studio Hampton Roads, which had two studios located in Virginia Beach and Suffolk. They already had a following for portraits, lifestyle work, and boudoir. The goal wasn’t a complete change, but to improve what was already there and add another avenue with the podcast space.
The old model focused only on photography rentals but struggled to retain customers, with only 15% coming back more than once. One of the main issues was that our location needed more space to support the new podcast area, so we secured a new location at 2310 Princess Anne Road. Upstairs is geared toward lifestyle photography, with plenty of natural light and lighting if needed; downstairs is for podcasting and video work, and can also be used for moodier-style photography. The Suffolk location is a brick, industrial space with a boudoir room. Both locations have the same hourly rate, include white lighting equipment, and are great for hosting workshops and small events.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
For a few years, the business had been sliding. Marketing was thin, and the website and SEO were built more for someone looking to hire a photographer than for a photographer trying to book a space for their client. Those are two different customers. If the public-facing story is off, you spend every month finding a new first-timer instead of seeing the same people back.
Communication had to change with that. Slow or missed replies and messy scheduling made double bookings easy.
This rebrand was more than a name change. It’s been about adding a new customer segment, working to win back past customers, creating relationships, and creating a space that has a wow factor from the customer experience to the visual experience.
As you know, we’re big fans of Baseline Studios. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Baseline Studios is an hourly studio rental in Virginia Beach and Suffolk for photo, video, podcast, and small workshops.
It’s $80 an hour at either location, with memberships available that can lower your hourly rate to as low as $37. Studio lighting, audio equipment, and backdrops are included, but you can also bring any props that you need aswell.
When people think of us, I want them to think of us as the place to be in the area for creating high-level content at an affordable cost.
I’m most proud of the podcast space in Virginia Beach; that is a unique, raw podcast vibe. This space is new and has a creative visual that will make your content stand out.
If you book an hour, our space offers backdrops that will help you stand out.
What are your plans for the future?
The next build is a four-chair podcast setup at the Virginia Beach studio.
Most of what we have downstairs works for two people, a conversation, an interview. The plan is to add a four-chair configuration that is another completely different and unique set.
Pricing:
- $80 per hour at either location (Virginia Beach or Suffolk)
- 6 hours: $402
- 12 hours: $720
- Membership: $250/month for 6 hours, or $550/month for 15 hours, usable at both locations
- Book at baselinestudios.io/pricing
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.baselinestudios.io
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/_baselinestudios
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebaselinestudios
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/baseline-studios
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@baseline.studios1
