A fashion photographer is one step closer to his dream of being published in Vogue after opening a new photography studio in Stoke-on-Trent.
For the last 10 years, Greg Butler - who runs professional photography platform PicDeck – has been taking photographs and making online videos as a hobby.
Now he has opened Studio 159, in London Road, Stoke, after spending the last four months - and all of his savings - transforming the former hairdressers into his new base.
READ MORE: Peak on track for growth after move into bigger premises
The studio - which will also be the new PicDeck headquarters - is spread across four fully-equipped rooms which include remote lighting, green screens, a three-sided cyclorama wall and Youtube-ready podcast equipment.
Studio 159 is also available for hire for other photographers and content creators.
Greg, who lives in Stoke-on-Trent, said: "I have been a passionate photographer for over 10 years now but it's only in the last two or three years that I have started to take it seriously.
"I work in the family business and, when work slowed down a bit last year because of the pandemic, I decided I really wanted to make a go of it – and when this space became available I knew it was the right thing to do.
"We have spent a few months renovating it because we wanted a place where we could bring brands and provide them with everything they need, whether that be a commercial shoot, product shots for their website or to launch a new podcast.
"I believe we have everything in place now, but the studio will evolve all of the time to suit our needs and the needs of our clients."
The 31-year-old added: "We can work with anyone and we can travel wherever we need to travel but our main passion is in fashion photography, sports and events.
"My main focus now is to build up my team. I've already got some models on board and now I am looking for make-up artists and stylists to join me so we can offer a full photography and video package to our clients.
"I want to work with as many local creators as I can and a real variety of brands.
"We want to become the go to business for fashion photography but my real dream is to be in vogue. I'm aiming high and I will make a real good go of it."
