Sunshine City Studios Celebrates One-Year Anniversary with Unique Photography Event
Sunshine City Studios, a local woman-owned and family-operated photography studio, celebrated its first anniversary this past Saturday, July 13th. Owner and published photographer Sara Kane teamed up with Perplex Promotions to create an unforgettable party and immersive photography experience for attendees.
Attendees enjoyed performances by local musicians DJ Thomas Harding and DJ Mason throughout the evening. Sunshine City Studios partnered with additional local vendors to offer guests deep tissue massages, editorial hairstyling, a selfie booth and photoshoot opportunities.
Photo by Sara Kane
A highlight of the event was the opportunity to watch live photoshoots on the studio’s 14x14ft cyclorama wall. The lineup of creative teams was impressive, beginning with Sara Kane’s (@sarakckane) concept titled "The Primaries." Model Gabrielle Grodman (@grodigy) sported a monochrome red look styled by Victoria Hathaway (@veehathaway), with slick blue eyeshadow by makeup artist Michelle Drollinger (@its.michelled), and a top knot bun gilded with yellow tulle by hair stylist Amanda Elaine Killen (@stylistamandaelaine). To complete the set, Sara used red, blue, and yellow yarns strung at various angles for Grodman to pose between.
Photo by Jonathan Ward
The second concept, “Untitled,” by local photographer Britt von Steinen (@bvcollective), featured a combination of reflective mylar paper and studio lighting. Model Tea Allen (@soulatea) wore a black bodysuit with tights and an incredible galactic wig styled by Amanda Elaine, with makeup by local makeup artist Sade Killingsworth (@thespadeeffect).
Photo by Graham Oakley
The finale photoshoot was by published photographer and architect Graham Oakley (@gophotos_), featuring St. Pete model and makeup artist Alix Burgess (@alix_b) in a black dress and heels. Titled “Mirrors,” the project used two large vertical mirrors, with the audience watching as the team played with their positions to achieve various effects.
“It was a super inspiring night to watch photographers do what they do best and a great spot to socialize and meet other creatives and people in the St. Pete community!” shared attendee Erica Gonzales.
The event left everyone in attendance feeling invigorated and ready to keep the creative momentum going. “We hope to offer more events like this in the future,” Sara Kane stated after the event. “It is so vital, especially right now, to give artists opportunities to showcase their talent, network with like-minded individuals, and feel seen and supported. We are so grateful to St. Pete for supporting Sunshine City Studios throughout our first year in business. When I moved here, I searched for an affordable natural light studio with a cyclorama wall and a simple space for my own photography business. When I did not find what I was looking for, the dream of opening my own space became a necessity. It was a wonderful way to jump into this community and meet so many talented people in St. Pete.”
After receiving such positive feedback from the community, Sunshine City Studios plans to offer more events like this in the future. You can learn more about Sunshine City Studios at sunshinecitystudios.com.