Outside her day job as manager of Boo La La Costumes, Danielle Barnes moonlights as a stylist, amateur photographer and photo shoot producer.
She had long contemplated how she might combine her hobbies and her business, until a thought came to her one night over a glass of wine in the bathtub - "where all my best ideas come," she says with a laugh.
The idea was to open a photography studio inside the Lower Lonsdale costume rental shop. For years, Barnes had been hauling suitcases and racks of costumes and accessories to various studios and shooting locations around town. It made sense to build an in-house studio.
"How much more convenient is it that I have my whole collection here? Sizing doesn't matter, because we have all the sizes. I have a full wall of wigs. I have accessories. If someone's stockings get a tear in them, I've got 15 on the wall - you can just get another pair."
Last September saw the soft launch of Boo Studios, a costume makeover and photography studio located in the store. The business started off strong with a largescale photoshoot featuring 20 models, six makeup artists, six hair stylists, two wardrobe stylists, and three camera assistants. Two more shoots followed shortly after, both involving close to 10 models and a full style team.
Barnes shut down the studio over Halloween, the busiest season for Boo La La, and, after ironing out a few kinks, she reopened the space for public bookings in February.
From Hollywood glam to horror, and from ancient Egypt to vintage boudoir, there is no shortage of different looks and packages that customers can choose from. "We have costumes to do just about anything," Barnes says.
Customers can pick one look or multiple looks. They can come with family, friends or as a couple. Many clients are performers who want professional photos to beef up their portfolios, while others just want to dress up and enjoy a moment in the spotlight.
"We bring you in and we do a fitting and we do your makeup and we do your hair, which is usually in a wig, and then we get you in front of the camera and we help you with your posing and it's a whole session," Barnes says.
Barnes compares Boo Studios to those old-timey Wild West photo booths found at country fairs and in tourist hot-spots, but with a Vogue editorial influence.
"We have a much higher level of costume quality and of photo quality."
A photo shoot at Boo Studios could be a fun activity for a birthday party or a girls' night out, Barnes suggests, as it gives people the chance to get primped and polished and feel like a star.
"This is an opportunity to do something that they don't normally have access to. The idea of costumes and dress-up is really fun, but for a lot of people it's also very intimidating," she says.
The new studio space is "focused on fun" and creating a comfortable environment, she adds.
"It's a really friendly and safe space for people to experiment with different
looks, experiment with something that they're not used to," Barnes says. "It's a dress-up adventure."
Packages start at $300 per person. The studio is also available to rent for $75 per hour. Visit boolalacostumes.com/boo-studios for more information.
