Year In Review | 2021

December 31, 2021 Hannah DeVries

2021, you’ve been good to us!

Let’s take a trip down memory lane as we share some of our favorite events from this year!

VISION BOARD PARTY:

Our first event of the year is also one of our favorite events of the year- the Vision Board Party! But we cannot do this event alone! Our good friend, Madi Miller guides you through an interactive activity helping you gain clarity on what this next year will look like. Our team is gearing up for the next Vision Board Party which is on January 2, 2022! If you're interested in attending, click here: VISION BOARD PARTY 2022 TICKETS

GALENTINE’S PARTY:

Galentine's is one of our biggest and most loved events at Lightbox! Every year, we transform Lightbox into a selfie museum with fun and colorful photo-op installations! For the 2nd annual Galentine's party, we had 8 different sets including a confetti wall, a disco set, and a gorgeous floral installation from Ash Floral Co! Galentine's Day is always a hit and we are so looking forward to the 2022 TWO DAY event! Stay tuned for tickets, it's going to be a blast!

COZY COTTAGE SHOOT OUT:

The first photographer's shoot-out of 2021 was a new one for the books! Remember when we had all just binge watched Bridgerton? Well, The Cozy Cottage shoot-out was inspired by all things dreamy & cottage core-esque. This shoot-out was a first in many ways for Lightbox. Instead of using the Loft, we had our morning sessions on the ground level of Lightbox, and the afternoon session was at an off-site location. Attendees had the opportunity to photograph a couple, portrait, and/or mommy and me session!

For the studio portion of the shoot-out, we opened the west facing windows on the ground level of Lightbox and encouraged each photographer to shoot from outside the building looking in the windows! This allowed the photographers to capture the beautiful stone walls and a cascading floral arrangement hung above the original windows from when Lightbox was built in the early 1900's.

For the second portion of the shoot-out we headed to Fellows Lake for a quick picnic with hot tea and cookies before three sunset photo sessions! Photographers rotated between a dreamy picnic couples session with rose wine and fruit, a maternity session, and a portrait session. Photos below by: Leigh Smith Photography

We loved having the opportunity to slow down and chat a bit between shoots with the photographers, which is something we hadn't done on shoot-out days before! The Cozy Cottage shoot-out was the perfect way to ring in the spring season and we loved seeing all of the finished images that we previously shared on The Box Blog here: VIEW COZY COTTAGE BLOG

STARTING A YOUTUBE:

One of our goals at Lightbox in 2021 was to start a Youtube channel! We had three full content days this year where Justin from Storied Dreams came in to film photographer's challenges, testimonials, Q & A's and more! These video shoots have definitely been new territory for our team here at Lightbox but we are excited to continue growing and putting out content in 2022! VIEW OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL!

MODERN MALE SHOOT-OUT:

It's no secret that sometimes photographers find it challenging to photograph their male clients. Photographers tend to put more focus on the female in a couple's session or simply run out of poses for men after the first few photos. This shoot-out was designed to help photographers practice and get more comfortable posing men. The final images from this shoot-out were TOP NOTCH. View the portfolio here: VIEW PORTFOLIO

NEW T-SHIRTS & ASANTAE JOINED THE TEAM:

This year we added Asantae to the Lightbox team. She is a studio assistant and helps with our social media. You can read more about Asantae here: ASANTAE'S BIO

Each year, we put out a new t-shirt design and this year, we worked with Skylar Grace Co to create this fun and colorful design. Oh you love the shirt too? Well, grab yourself one right here: SHOP MERCH

POP UP PHOTO-OPS!

In August we had a super cute cloud & rainbow balloon installation by Dreamy and Darling in The Loft! Pop-up events are super fun because you don't need to be a professional photographer, you can just come in and take photos on your cell phone! We had 25 minute time slots throughout the day and saw lots of kiddos, a mother-daughter duo and best friends come to take pictures! Definitely the perfect way to cap off summer of 2021!

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On the weekend of Halloween, the Loft was transformed into two spooky sets for mini session time-slots! Children in their costumes, families, and groups of friends all visited the studio to take photos of themselves in front of the backdrops! The Fall themed set consisted of bright colored pumpkins, an array of leaves, and cozy furniture items for a classic fall photo look. The “Boo” set was created using the moveable wall that is painted black in the Loft with balloons and bats that were added for the perfect background. Themed holiday props are always a favorite at the studio!

ELOPEMENTS IN THE STUDIO:

Lightbox stood as an elopement venue several couples this year! This is a new territory for us but we are gearing up for even more elopements/intimate weddings for 2022! We are honored to be such a special part of your big day! If you or know someone who is looking for a small wedding venue in Springfield, MO, please set up a tour to see Lightbox and check out our elopement package here: ELOPEMENT PACKAGE

THE EDISON HOLIDAY SET

The Edison is one of our two rental spaces and is located on the ground floor at Lightbox! Fun fact, the brick walls in this room are part of the original structure and are over 100 years old! In late October of 2021 we set up a classic Christmas set in The Edison designed for individuals to be able to come in and take their Christmas card photos. Everyone LOVED this set and it saw over 100 families between Halloween and Christmas! How cool is that? We look forward to having a photo set up in the Edison year-round starting in 2022!

PROPOSALS AT LIGHTBOX:

In light of engagement season, Lightbox had three proposals happen over the past few months in the Edison! The proposals were a part of a planned Christmas session with a photographer, and during the shoot each of the gentlemen dropped to one knee to surprise their girlfriends with a ring!

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Friends and family also gathered to celebrate Justin and Holly with an engagement party that was held in the Edison! It was an evening full of smiles, delicious food, and champagne to celebrate this special moment in their life! Chris Killingsworth photographed the event to provide them with images that they will cherish forever! We snapped several clips from this evening! View the video here: ENGAGEMENT PARTY VIDEO

And just like that…2021 has come to an end!

What better way to ring in the new year than with giant marquee letters and balloons? Thank you, Alpha-Lit Springfield for making our last pop up of the year a great one!

Looking forward to seeing each and everyone of you in 2022!

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The Studio Sticker Sheet

Lightbox First Year Recap

October 1, 2020 Guest User

Lightbox is ONE!

To say we have had a crazy, fun, and exciting year is a bit of an understatement. Lightbox has had the privilege to host over 350 reservations in addition to the MANY other events hosted at Lightbox! Let's take a look back at all that has happened this year! Cue the confetti!

Lightbox Grand Opening-

To kick off the opening of Lightbox we hosted our grand opening event at the very end of September 2019! We celebrated with our friends, family, and some future clients as well! We had live music, yard games, a giveaway, and of course snacks! It was a great way to get things kicked off here at the studio.

Innovative Dental-

We love hosting other businesses here at Lightbox! One local business that frequents the studio is Innovative Dental. They use our space to shoot their client testimonial videos. We love to see the space used for videos as well as photos!

Vintage Rental Company Holiday Minis-

In November, the Vintage Rental Company hosted their holiday minis at Lightbox! Each set was unique and created an opportunity for multiple photographers to use the space at once. With winter weather, indoor photos are always a safe option!

Thomas Creative using one of the three holiday sets provided by The Vintage Rental Company.

Tis the Season Craft Fair-

Back in December, a seasonal craft fair was held at Lightbox by Sonnel Essentials. 18 local vendors of all sorts, ranging from clothing and jewelry to home decor and baked goods, had the opportunity to meet new customers and sell their beautiful creations. It is important to us to support other small businesses in the local community! Who else thinks that small businesses make the word go around?

Galentines Party-

Grab your gal pals! It’s time to PARTY! Galentines was our first themed selfie pop-up event at the studio! We had 9 different selfie sets such as our heart wall, confetti station, XOXO backdrop, and the colorful paper chain set. Rove Coffee provided yummy iced strawberry mochas and we had a raffle with over $800.00 worth of goodies from local small businesses! We are already looking for Galentines 2021!

Gather Midwest-

In early February, Gather Midwest hosted their second event at Lightbox. “At Gather we find that our attention and creativity is our most brilliant commodity as entrepreneurs, and we aim to show up for you so you can show up in your business in a way that FEELS good, sustains you and pays the bills.” - Gather Midwest

This event included guest speakers from Kansas City, Springfield and St. Louis, dining and guided conversations, networking, guided meditation by Jayme Sweere and more! Photos by: Elise Abigail Photography

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Vision Board Party

In January we hosted a vision board party, and it was a hit! We had multiple different sessions where we the guests were able to interact and there was guided discussion as well! We also had a giveaway and snacks/beverages.

Quarantine

Sadly, from mid March to mid May we were shut down due to COVID-19. We still stayed busy from home working on different marketing strategies, staying in contact with our amazing Lightbox family, and we even launched our own line of presets called The Lightbox Collection! A special THANK YOU to each person who purchased our “Lights On” tees, a sticker or a preset pack to keep us afloat during the shut down! WE LOVE YOU!!!!

Photographers shoot outs

At the beginning of 2020 we decided to start hosting Photographers Shoot Outs, which are creative styled photo shoots for photographers of any experience level. So far we have done a femine/elegant set, the Pantone of the year [Classic Blue] set, and an up cycled set. A special thanks to Wasteless Apparel for creating all up cycled pieces for our models! We couldn’t have done this without you!

“Even before the studio opened, the idea of collaboration was key to making this space a reality. I knew that there needed to be a space where photographers and other creatives could come together and work on their craft alongside others. We need to be each others’ cheerleaders. The more we build up our photography community, the more opportunities we will receive. I have learned so much about each photographer who has attended a shoot out and it is beautiful to see each one move out of their comfort zone and grow artistically.” - Hannah | Founder of Lightbox

McKenna Joining the Team-

In July we added to our Lightbox team! McKenna, is our studio assistant and works weekends and after hour events. She is quiet natured and has a kind soul. You will always be greeted with a smile from McKenna! Oh, and she also has some really cool tattoos!

Levity Plant Pop Up-

In August, Levity Plants hosted a plant pop up at the studio! This was their first ever pop-up and we were so excited they decided to host it at Lightbox. There was a wide range of plants, a plant bar, and plant care items as well. She created the cutest selfie station and around 100 people came through that day!

Miss Mo USA-

Megan Renee Kelly, Miss Missouri USA, has used the Loft several times this past year for her Miss Missouri USA interviews and photo shoots and other promo materials. Megan is passionate about educating others on the effects of endometriosis and has been involved with disaster relief throughout her entire life. Help us cheer her on as she competes for the title of MISS USA!!!!

View Megan’s latest video HERE!

Photo by: Ozark Mtn Images

Serendipity Workshop-

Hosted by Abigail Derrek Photography and Belle Brooke Photography, the Serendipity Workshop was the first official workshop at the studio. 9 photographers from all over the midwest came to learn from two of the very best in their fields of work! They took advantage of the whole studio and had three sets for the participants to work on posing and creating an authentic connection between their clients.

Parking lot/ Advancements of the studio-

Lightbox has evolved and improved so much over the past year! In the Loft we have had multiple different styled set-ups, including our current one that is designed by Homestead Collective Co.! We also added a faux greenery wall, improved the prop closet, painted the backside of our moving back drop, and created an addition to our backdrop so that it can be seamless. In the Edison and lobby we have transformed the space into a cozier hangout area. In the Lower Studio we have added more plants… like a lot of plants, and we painted the backdrop a fun peach color! Our biggest addition this year is by far the new parking lot — about time!

We are so excited to see what this upcoming year has in store! We can’t wait for you, year 2! If you’re interested in hosting an event at Lightbox, please contact us!

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The Studio Sticker Sheet

Written by Jaylee Miller

Lightbox Community Relations Coordinator

Gather Midwest Recap

April 24, 2020 Guest User

As most of you know, Lightbox is a woman owned and women run business! With that being said, we not only try to support other creatives but also all women! We had the privilege of being the venue for an amazing organization that aligns with our beliefs and vision. Back in February, Gather Midwest hosted their second event and it was nothing short of beautiful and empowering! We decided to do a recap to show you what Gather Midwest is all about- enjoy!

Why and when was Gather Midwest started?

Gather began in the spring of 2019. Celia, Ingrid and I (Stevie) were catching up over coffee when discussion turned to us expressing our need for more community among creatives in the area. We reflected on how being surrounded by fellow womxn in creative fields and in business-owning had guided, nurtured and propelled us into becoming stronger business owners, but that it had taken us a long time to find those womxn. We wanted to create a space for those relationships to be fostered. We believe that this sense of community and camaraderie is what we need to grow into the best creative entrepreneurs we can be. Gather holds to the African Proverb, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

How was your February event different from your past event(s)?

Our second Gather in February distinguished itself from our first in a few key ways. First off, the time of year and weather influenced the way we designed and decided on the experience we wanted to create. It was important for our last Gather to feel more intimate and cozy - reflective of the energy of the season.

We find the wintertime months to be a time when folks crave more connection & feel like they are 'going it alone' in their business. Our intention was to uplift womxn creatives by utilizing an intimate indoor venue with different areas that would invite a sense of connection in creative, memorable ways (an area for yoga, a polaroid photo booth, etc.) We also added new speakers from outside of Springfield to expand our network to St. Louis, Lawrence KS, and Kansas City.

Do you have plans for any future Gather events that you would like to share?

We are always brainstorming fresh takes on Gather! We look forward to integrating seasonality, the outdoors & sustainability at Gather as the weather becomes more conducive. We have also floated the idea of creating a Gather for young girls and teens, but don't have solid plans or dates for that idea just yet!

What all took place at your February event?

At our February event we dove even deeper into learning sessions from speakers and guided discussion among attendees. We held 4 speaker sessions, each discussing a different facet of creative entrepreneurship: How to connect to your ideal client using self worth, how to scale your business, business tools and marketing, and maintaining creativity. We had a catered brunch, professional headshots taken by Elise Abigail Photography, a grounding yoga session led by Jayme Sweere and lots of giveaways.

What are your goals for your organization in the future?

From the beginning, Gather Midwest is about connection. Connection to ourselves and to others in our community. Our goal is to help womxn creatives and entrepreneurs deeply resonate with their immense value, identify their dreams, and equipment with community and tools that can help them achieve their goals. We recognize that we're not the "answer" for anyone, but instead part of the collective resources to be part of womxn's stories of fulfillment and contribution to our amazing community.

We're not entirely sure what the future holds, but we constantly return to our foundation and values as we navigate each opportunity that presents itself.

How can others get involved with your organization?

So many ways.

- Become a sponsor of Gather Midwest. Sponsorships allow us to offer discounted tickets to womxn wanting to attend and keeps the overall price more affordable.

- Donate a service or product! In the past we've had so many amazing donors gift the attendees with amazing and inspiring gifts and resources. It also gets the donors business name out there!

- Attend! Joining us at Gather not only presents you with opportunities for connection and business/personal growth but also your presence adds to the collective growth. We need each other.

- If you're passionate about an aspect of business or personal growth and love to speak or want to give in some way at Gather, reach out. We have some ideas of who we want to be part of Gather, but we also know that we're not aware of everyone. If it aligns, we're so open to bringing in new amazing friends to be part!

- Share about the event and experience! Share about us on social pages or talk about Gather with your friends. Maybe someone you know could really benefit from this experience.

If you would like to follow along with Gather Midwest and see what they are up to their information is listed below!

Email: hello.gathermidwest@gmail.com

Instagram: @gather_midwest

Written by Jaylee Branch

Community Relations Coordinator | lightboxjaylee@gmail.com

Springfield Small Business Highlight - The Vintage Rental Company

April 11, 2020 Bekah Schooler

Hi guys, Bekah here! I may be biased, but Springfield has some of the coolest, creative small business owners ever! In the months before Lightbox opened Hannah, Jaylee and I talked and daydreamed about all of the amazing people we would have the privilege of watching create, style and transform Lightbox! I I have absolutely loved getting to know these beautiful people and the work they do, so I thought you might like to get to know them a bit better too!

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Jaime Lile, owner of the Vintage Rental Company! The Vintage Rental Co. has a super unique collection of furniture and styling elements for all events, big and small! Jamie styled a gorgeous lounge area on the front patio at Lightbox’s open house back in October and has styled Christmas & Spring minis here at the studio as well! Jamie is SO talented at curating pieces that completely transform an event into something beautiful and special! I could go on and on about how wonderful she is, but let’s hop right in to this blog and get to know her and The Vintage Rental Company a little more!

Meet Jaime

Hey Guys! I'm honored that you're taking the time to read this, so let me start by telling you a little bit about myself. I'm Jaime--owner of The Vintage Rental Co. I'm married to the most talented man on the face of the planet, Clayton, who manages to run our other business Tantara Farms, while helping this one run smoothly. He builds things for me, and rescues me with larger orders that require our trailer....because this lady doesn't do trailers! We have two incredibly fun children, Winnie (5) and Cohen (2.5) who are always ready and willing to help me organize inventory and prep rental orders! Our little family is my absolute favorite, so you'll probably hear me talk about them if we ever meet (or have met) because they're my life! The Vintage Rental Co. is so special to me because I love being able to make a uniquely curated inventory, available to people so they're able to create an atmosphere for their special event that really feels like them! It has been so fun to see this baby of mine grow, and I absolutely love the people that I now get to call friends thanks to this business! I'm blown away by the talent in this 417 land we get to call home, including so many photographers that capture those special moments!

When did you start your business?

I officially established in August of 2015.

What do you feel is unique about your business?

Our inventory! I've curated a rental collection that is versatile and unique, with the idea in mind that you want something that reflects your personality! I also operate as an online storefront, so you're able to browse our full inventory from our website and create a wish list of the items you'd like to use from there. I try to make the whole process as easy as possible!

What is your favorite piece in your collection?

Can it really be narrowed down to ONE?!?!? If I had to choose, I think I would say our mismatched goblet collection. They're like jewelry for your table, and I absolutely love what they add to a tabletop!

Mismatched goblet collection - photo by Kailey Watson Photography

What is your favorite event you've been part of?

So, since I began Vintage Rental Co. I've been invited to help Dogwood Ranch with their yearly fundraiser dinner. It's something I look forward to because I love their heart and what their non-profit does. Their vision is to see that every foster youth and at-risk family within the heart of the Ozarks has the opportunity to function fully in their God-given gifts and destiny, impacting future generations. This dinner is one of the ways that they're able to run and provide the services that they do to foster youth, and so it's such an honor to help them with their decor every year for it. I have loved EVERY wedding, shower, birthday, photo shoot and party I've had the chance to be a part of, but the Dogwood Ranch event holds a special place in my heart for sure!

What is the most rewarding thing about what you do?

It is absolutely rewarding when I hear back from a client how our decor was able to help bring their vision to life, and when they share pictures with me of how it all looked in action!!! I don't always get to see the final product since we're there for the drop-off and pick-up, so I LOVE getting to see how clients have utilized the pieces they've rented! You can see their personalities in the look that they design, and I LOVE that!

What is the best thing about your clients?

Just reading that question makes me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. My heart truly swells when I think of all the people I've had the chance to work with! I love the creativity and kindness of my clients. It's the absolute best to see their unique personalities come out in the pieces they select to use! I don't know what it is, but Vintage Rental Co. clients are arguably the coolest people out there!

What is your favorite thing about your job?

This is another one of those questions that feels like it merits a 12 point bullet list because there's just so much that I love about it! My FAVORITE thing is the people that I've had the chance to get to know and become friends with because of this business. There's an AMAZING community of wedding professionals and creatives in this area, and I have loved the change to get to know so many of them! Oh, and this "job" gives me an excuse to buy all the pretty things I find and love!!!!!

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

I'm proud of the slow growth. *vulnerable moment to follow* It might seem silly, but my constant struggle is wrestling with the end-goal vision I have in my head with this business and where I'm currently at on that road map, and the comparing to other specialty rental companies I know across the nation. There are times where I want to rush ahead and check things off my dream list, but the timing just hasn't been right. So, rather than trying to force the growth, I'm learning to celebrate the process. It's an accomplishment that I am where I am right now with the rental collection I have! Especially when I think of the 50 milk bottle drinking glasses, 2 vintage suitcases, and 4 wooden crates that I started with nearly 5 years ago in my spare bedroom.

What do you wish you would have known when you first started your business that you know now?

CRM softwares are God's gift to the overloaded brain. I recently decided on one, and I wish so badly I'd been doing this since the beginning. It improves and regulates the client experience, and has helped so much not slip through the cracks on my end in being a one-woman-show.

What inspires you?

Quiet. Being a work-at-home mom with two kids that aren't in school yet, I don't often get to work in quiet. But when I do, I feel the most inspired and focused!

If you could add one dream piece to your collection, what would it be?

AH! This is a fun one! I don't want to tell you fully because it's a surprise, but I'm planning to add a special tool to my "work belt" that will make it possible to make some really amazing custom pieces!

What are some fun facts people may not know about you?

I went to school to be an Occupational Therapy Assistant and have a Bachelor's in Psychology as well. I'm allergic to peanuts (that's not really fun, but I feel like it's good for you to know so you don't open a Snickers bar next to me). We recently built a chicken coop and are about to make some raised garden beds (fingers crossed because every garden attempt I've ever made has failed epically). I'm left handed. I'm an enneagram 1w9. I'm a sucker for ALL personality tests! I LOVE talking motherhood and business owning! So, if you're a mom who owns a business- I am ALL about coming alongside you to cheer you on in those endeavors! It's not for the faint of heart!

What is one way you would love to see your pieces be used in the future?

Well, at the time of writing this we're in the midst of the Stay-at-Home order with the COVID-19 pandemic. (This also explains my incredibly lengthy answers because I'm starved for adult human interaction at this point, so this ALMOST feels like a conversation I'm getting to have). That being said, I CANNOT wait to see our inventory in action again for everyone's special days. It's been so sad to have to delay some of the most special get togethers in people's lives including weddings, proms, baby/wedding showers and birthday parties. That being said, my dream event right now is the get together I want to have in our backyard with our friends and family when all of this is over using our farmhouse tables and bistro chairs, table top decor, and dinnerware!!! I can't wait!

Jamie, thank you SO much for taking the time to share your story with us! We are so looking forward to working with you more in the future and seeing the path that you continue on!