Courtesy of Gabriela Barrantes Photography
Meet Jen Blauvelt, the owner of Location 215, a photo studio, event space, wedding and meeting venue for hire in the Spring Arts District of Philadelphia.
What motivated you to start your business?
Upon moving to Philadelphia I noticed the lack of proper commercial daylight photography studios and the Spring Arts area seemed like the perfect place to set up shop. Converted from commercial warehouse facilities, the studio boasts 15-ft ceilings and unencumbered floor-space. Location 215 is a modern, industrial venue that is easily accessible to the rest of the city in safe area with parking. I decided to dive into the events and weddings world as well knowing that could be my next endeavor with a gorgeous space for couples looking for something different.
Tell us what makes your business different from other wedding companies?
Because our studio is home to photoshoots and events ranging from corporate parties to art exhibitions and so much more, we understand the importance of the big day. Weddings require the utmost attention to detail and planning. Owning a production company and being a producer my whole life certainly helped with my understanding of this process and I was able to apply that knowledge to Location 215.
How did you handle the pandemic? Did your business model change?
Due to the pandemic many couples have had to postpone their weddings or even scale down their guest count. During this time we have been able to offer micro weddings for smaller parties in a more intimate setting. We also helped couples re-imagine their day by putting the party with friends and family on hold for later date and having ceremony somewhere just for them. This challenge was not new to us, owning a Production company and being ready for clients changing locations and entire concepts just weeks or days prior I was ready for these types of challenges. Co-vid was not something we were prepared for after being open only one year. The pandemic also resulted in a split from a long time business partner who didn’t share the drive or vision to keep us moving forward. This only increased my motivation to look ahead.
What is the most gratifying part of your business?
The shared experience of presenting a couple with an essentially blank canvas and working alongside them to bring their vision to life is an incredibly rewarding process for me. We also know how the space look best with simple touches if going all out isn’t within the budget or vision. My favorite part is peeking in when the room is set of course but really when the Bride and Groom walk into the Gallery as husband and wife!
How far in advance should couple book?
For a Saturday 2 years in advance for Friday we still have some open for this year.
Schedule a consultation here!
Courtesy of Gabriela Barrantes Photography
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