After years of planning and preparation, in May, Kelly King opened League City's first membership photography studio, Nine 24 Studios, which offers studio space, props and equipment for budding and professional photographers.
The need
Nine 24 Studios offers monthly membership tiers, beginning at $250, where photographers can book studio time to grow their business, King said. Members will access the studio's lighting, tripods, shooting umbrellas as well as professionally designed sets and backdrops, which are can be swapped out on the studio's 18-foot wide magnetic wall.
The studio itself is located near Helen's Garden's, one of League City's most photographed outdoor areas, which members can access through a private walk-through gate, King said.
"There's nothing like it in our area," King said.
The backstory
King left a career in property management after a 2002 car accident left her neck broken in three places and a spinal cord injury. King spent the next four and a half months in inpatient care and the next two and a half years in rehab to relearn basic life skills like walking and writing her name.
When her new physical limitations prevented her from returning to her property management role, King said she seized upon the opportunity to finally pursue her passion, photography. King said she spent over 12 years curating the props, furniture and backdrops, including several hand-painted canvases worth over $1,200 each.
"[With] the business ... God has generously blessed me with a second chance at life, and the opportunity to...reinvent myself," King said.
Who it’s for
Nine 24 Studios will offer workshops covering technical skills and photography's business side, which King said will be especially valuable for new photographers who may be trying poorly to self-learn on the internet.
"So many people are just cobbling together YouTube University, and you can do it, but it's going to take you about you know four to ten years to really learn all the ins and outs, and you're going to have to unlearn some really unhealthy habits," King said.
Looking ahead
The studio will welcome its first members in August, when King plans to host a back-to-school themed grand opening celebration.
