Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlotte Westapher.
Hi Charlotte, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I co-manage The Garden Studio with Siobhan Westapher (owner of Independent Artists Agency) and Pär Bengtsson (photographer). The Garden Studio is a photo studio and home to Independent Artists Agency. We offer photography, prop and wardrobe styling, hair and makeup, set design, locations and creative direction.
Before this I was working in TV Production in Los Angeles. One of my favorite aspects of a shoot was the location and physical set. While shooting on location with a crew is exciting I have always loved the versatility of shooting in a studio. What can be achieved is really creative and inspiring – it doesn’t have to be just white walls. Building sets and backgrounds creates something unique and tangible to play with.
Dallas-Fort Worth is growing so fast as a city as well as a production destination, it’s been incredible to see the changes happening around us and meet so many interesting people coming through the space with different projects.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t think it has been an easy ride for most people over the last ten years. There has been lots of pivoting and ever-changing content to cater to many different audiences and communication formats. It’s very fast paced. Trends have been harder to predict. We have to constantly adapt to different production styles and requests, but I think that’s what makes the studio an especially interesting part of production to be involved with. The studio stays the same while everything else is in perpetual motion and it is the creatives who transform the space into something special and meaningful for them.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Independent Artists is a full-service creative agency, offering a range of services for productions in addition to having the Garden Studio. You can select one person or a full team to collaborate with. Alternatively, you can rent just the studio as a space for your own creative needs. We have kept the interior very minimal to allow all types of projects and it is one of my favorite things about the studio. I love seeing how clients use the space each time, how they re-arrange what’s already in there or the types of pieces they bring in to build a new set. Some productions get creative and turn the space into three completely different sets to shoot simultaneously. We also shoot commercials, sit down interviews, documentaries, podcasts, cooking shows, host interactive experiential events, birthday parties, crafting workshops. Production is constantly evolving, the possibilities for using the space are endless!
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Personable communication skills and emotional intelligence are still critically important. Spend less time on computers and phones and engage with those around you. Easier said than done! Being a part of a creative team in real life is one of the most fulfilling forms of engagement.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.iaagency.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iaagency/?hl=en
Image Credits
Pär Bengtsson @parbengtsson1
Tanner Reddick @tannerreddick
Marshall Cox @marshalldavid11
