Humble Beginnings: The Story of Gem City Pin Up Photography

How it started… and why it was never really about the money.

There’s something wild about hitting a milestone and realizing this little thing you started with your whole heart… somehow became real.

As Gem City Pin Up Photography comes up on another anniversary, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about where this all began. And honestly? It started the same place a lot of beautiful things do — with curiosity, passion, and probably just a tiny bit of chaos.

Before I was the one behind the camera, I was an aspiring pinup myself. I fell hard for the style, the glamour, the confidence, the history… all of it. But beyond loving the final images, I was always fascinated by what happened behind the scenes. I wanted to know how the magic was made. I was probably every photographer’s favorite little pest — constantly asking questions about lighting, posing, angles, equipment, editing… you name it.

And truthfully, I was incredibly lucky.

I had some truly wonderful mentor photographers in my corner — people who took the time to teach me, guide me, answer my million questions, and help me understand not just how to take a photo, but how to create a feeling. A few of them were even brave enough to step in front of my camera while I was still learning, which was either very kind or very risky depending on the day. You know who you are, and I’ll never stop being grateful for that.

The Garage Era

Like many glamorous success stories… mine started in a garage.Very chic. Very high-end. Very “watch out for that extension cord.”

My very first “studio” space was literally at home, in my garage. It wasn’t convenient. It wasn’t polished. It definitely wasn’t temperature controlled. But it was mine, and it was full of laughter, trial and error, creativity, and some really special early memories.

At the time, I wasn’t even officially a business yet.

I was just a girl with a camera, a love for pinup, and a growing obsession with creating something beautiful.

That dark little garage taught me a lot. It taught me how to make things work even when conditions weren’t perfect. It taught me how to be resourceful. It taught me that you don’t need a fancy setup to create something meaningful — you just need heart, vision, and some very patient friends.

The “Let’s Actually Do This” Phase

After a while, setting up and tearing down every single weekend started getting old real fast. Somewhere in the middle of all that chaos, my husband basically looked at me and said, “You know… maybe you should just do this for real and get a big girl studio.”

And honestly? He was right.

My first step out of the garage was a tiny studio space in the basement of a small church. While I was always completely respectful of the space, let’s just say… it probably wasn’t the world’s most natural pairing. Still, it was a huge step for me. It gave me a taste of what it felt like to have a dedicated place to create.

And once I had that taste? Oh, it was over. I wanted a real studio.

Finding Home

That next chapter brought me to what would become one of the biggest parts of this journey — the Davis Linden Building.

When I first moved in there, my space was only around 400 square feet. And to be honest, I barely had enough stuff to fill a corner of it. I had a solid set of lights, a great camera, two seamless backdrops, and a bunch of amazing, supportive, patient friends who believed in me enough to show up and create with me.

That little studio came to life quickly.

It wasn’t perfect. It had no heat. No cooling. Which, if you’ve ever tried to be cute under studio lights in Ohio weather, you already know… that was a full-contact sport. But somehow, that little space became home. So much growth happened there. So much learning. So many firsts. So much magic.

And if you’ve been in the studio now, you already know the funniest part of this story: I went from not having enough to fill 25 square feet… to somehow being out of room in nearly 2,000.

Classic.

The Studio That Saved Me

Three years ago, we made the move into the larger studio space we now call home.

And I don’t say this dramatically — that move truly came at the exact right time.

I was tired. Burnt out. Frustrated. Running into the same limitations over and over. There were honestly moments where I thought maybe this was as far as it was going to go. Maybe it was time to throw in the towel.

But then this space happened.

And it felt like a second chance.

This studio gave me room to breathe. Room to build. Room to dream bigger. Room to create the kind of experience I had always wanted to give people. It allowed Gem City Pin Up to become more than just a place to take pictures — it became a place to make memories.

And that part matters more to me than I can explain.

What Gem City Pin Up Has Always Been

I think one of the biggest things I want people to understand is this:

Gem City Pin Up was never built to make me rich.

It was built because I loved it.

It was built because I believe everyday women deserve to feel beautiful, seen, glamorous, playful, powerful, and celebrated exactly as they are — not “once they lose weight,” not “once they feel ready,” not “once life calms down.”

Now. As they are. Today.

This studio has always been a passion project first. A labor of love. A creative outlet that somehow grew into something much bigger than I ever expected. I still work a full-time job. I still do this in my “spare time” — if we’re being generous enough to call it that. And if I break even at the end of the month? That’s a good month.

Because for me, this has never been about squeezing every dollar out of people. It’s never been about becoming some giant luxury brand that feels out of reach. It has always been about keeping this experience as reasonable, approachable, and achievable as I can for everyday women who deserve to have this moment too.

That’s why I try so hard to keep pricing fair.That’s why I care so much about giving people a full experience, not just a gallery.That’s why I will always choose authenticity over ego.

Because yes — the photos matter.But the confidence? The laughter? The memory of finally doing something for you?That matters even more.

Where It All Started

The image I’m sharing with this post is the first official photo I ever took as Gem City Pin Up Photography.

And man… what a full-circle feeling that is.

That image was created under the guidance of my mentor and friend, Robert Parkey, aka That Pinup Guy, and it represents the very beginning of this journey. Not a polished empire. Not a perfect brand. Just the start. A moment. A spark.

And sometimes, that’s all you need.

Looking back, I can see every version of this business — the garage, the basement, the tiny studio, the cold winters, the cramped sets, the budget builds, the self-doubt, the breakthroughs, the friendships, the risks, the growth.

And I’m so damn grateful for all of it.

To every person who has booked a shoot, stepped in front of my lens, supported my work, shared my posts, believed in me, cheered me on, helped me build sets, tolerated my ideas, or simply reminded me to keep going…

Thank you.

Gem City Pin Up has always been built on more than photography.

It was built on passion.On trust.On creativity.On friendship.On women showing up exactly as they are and leaving feeling like absolute magic.

And somehow… it all started in a garage.

Not bad for humble beginnings.