Whew. It seems like forever ago that I opened the studio. On the other hand, it feels like yesterday. It’s been in the makings for over a year. I met with a retired entrepreneur last January and we devised a business plan that would allow for a studio. I’m so thankful for his help. I knew I wanted to have a storefront studio so there was an actual place for my clients to meet for consultations, hold awesome events (one is coming up next month, by the way) and for capturing babies under 1. We also knew that we would be moving back to Geneseo and the Quad Cities because we really missed our home. Last April I checked out several places and then fell in love with this space. It’s actually pretty ironic that I ended up in the building.

Here’s a little back story. When we moved to Geneseo in 1988, my mom found this amazing quilt shop downtown. She’s an avid quilter if you didn’t know. She quickly became friends with the owner and started working there. Well, here actually, in this building. Over the next 13 years, the shop had changed hands a couple of times. The last owner didn’t market very much and quickly lost business and it eventually closed. There the building sat. It was quite ugly actually. Matted down dark brown (with wear marks) burber carpet. Icky dark wood paneling. A creepy long hallway that led to a teeny, tiny bathroom. I remember it very well. I spent a lot of time in that building. In fact, I was in the Geneseo Victorian Walk live window in that building each year until I was in 6th grade. Then when I was in high school, I babysat for a gal who lived on the second floor. I’m telling you I spent a LOT of time in this building.

Fast forward to 2001ish. The building sat empty for years. In 2004, a realtor and her husband bought the building and gutted it down to the studs. They re-drywalled the entire place, gave it a HUGE facelift, changed the layout and made each floor commercial. Then the building sat empty again. There have been a few random stores in here but not for very long. Then last April, I took a peek in the window and saw how GORGEOUS the space had become. It was nothing like it used to be. I had to have it! I had heard that the telephone company owned it. It just so happens that one of my clients worked there. So I sent her an email that night asking who I would speak to about renting it. Little did I know that her husband is the general manager of the phone company. Who knew? It was fate I tell you, fate! We met up and I FELL IN LOVE! We signed the contract in August and had our first client in here in October. So, I’m a little slow getting this post up…..whoops! I could not be happier. This place is a dream. A dream come true! Take a peek my brand spankin’ new studio!

Sarah Sunstrom Photography specializes in outdoor wedding, family, newborn, baby, engagement and family photography in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas including but not limited to Davenport, IA, Bettendorf, IA, Moline, IL and Geneseo, IL.