Estúdio Abuenos: The
rise of a
hybrid photography studio
in São Paulo
In the vibrant heart of São Paulo, a unique photography and video business is pushing the boundaries between art and entrepreneurship. Led by Patrick and Lucas, this venture is more than just a studio – it showcases the power of creative collaboration and technological adaptation.
The duet of design and photography
Two years ago, Patrick, a product designer in the corporate world, crossed paths with Lucas, a seasoned photographer with a decade of experience. This meeting sparked a business idea that would blend Patrick’s eye for design with Lucas’s mastery behind the lens: a hybrid photography studio, Estúdio Abuenos.
Patrick’s motivation for starting this business was deeply personal: “I wanted to get back into the artistic area. In tech, design is driven by metrics and a lot of screen work. I missed exchanging ideas with people and wanted to connect with São Paulo’s artistic community.”
“I missed exchanging ideas with people and wanted to connect with São Paulo’s artistic community ”
Patrick elaborates on their roles within the business: “Lucas is our main photographer and has already been taking shots for 10 years. He is quite experienced in the artistic field. I’m quite new in this business, but I’m more in the part of administration and organization.”
The hybrid studio
By combining Patrick’s design and business acumen with Lucas’s photographic skills, they’ve created a hybrid concept that not only offers a place for photography but also the flexibility to provide on-location services for various events and projects.
Their business model is both innovative and adaptable. “We have two branches,” Patrick explains. “We have a studio, a public place where people can visit and rent for photography, events, or video productions”. And on the other hand, we offer on-location photographic services for portraits and events.”
This approach allows them to cater to a wide range of clients, from individual artists seeking professional headshots to production companies needing a well-equipped space for their projects. What makes this studio business unique, is the amount of automation and integration of technology to offer all the clients a neatless experience, reduce the amount of time with repetitive administrative tasks, and allow them to focus on human interaction.
Challenges and learnings
Like any new business, Patrick and Lucas faced their share of challenges. Patrick candidly shares four main hurdles they encountered:
- Navigating brazilian bureaucracy: “Brazil is a challenging country for founders. Creating a business and understanding taxation is very complex,” Patrick notes. The duo had to invest significant time in understanding and complying with local regulations.
- Balancing friendship and business: As friends venturing into business together, Patrick and Lucas had to work on maintaining open communication. “We work a lot on active communication and expressing what we don’t like about each other or what we fear, so that we don’t lose our relationship and the joy of doing art,” Patrick explains.
- Financial management: Coming from a product design background in the corporate world, Patrick had to learn the intricacies of managing a small business’s finances. From choosing cost-effective tools to making decisions about studio equipment, every financial decision required careful consideration. Patrick stresses the importance of cost control. saying, “Have control of the costs... it is really the difference between breaking or winning.”
- Efficient time and capacity balancing: The studio is a side gig for both. Patrick continues working full-time as a designer and Lucas as a photographer, expanding his skills studying psychology. Most of the efforts for Estúdio Abuenos happen in evenings and on Saturdays, trying to grow something new while combining it with our main businesses.
Emerging on the scene
In a city where Instagram reigns supreme, Patrick and Lucas have had to adapt their marketing strategies to build awareness for their hybrid photography studio. They primarily use Instagram for promotion, leveraging its widespread use in Brazil for both personal and professional purposes. Patrick notes, “Brazil is an Instagram-first country. People find their dentists and their doctors on Instagram.”
However, the journey to establish Estúdio Abuenos has been much more than just mastering digital marketing. From the outset, Patrick and Lucas knew that building personal connections will be key to their success. They took their first steps by promoting their services within their own circles of family and friends, creating a foundation of support and trust. To gain more visibility, they also offered some of their work for free, allowing the quality of their services to speak for itself and encouraging word-of-mouth referrals.
Understanding the importance of community engagement, Patrick and Lucas expanded their efforts beyond social media. They attended film screenings, partnered with acting schools and art institutes, and actively engaged with São Paulo’s vibrant artistic community. Patrick explains their approach: “I believe in a presence, and I also believe people need to get to know the owners of a business, especially of a small business.”
By combining their digital efforts with these personal connections, Patrick and Lucas have created a multifaceted strategy for growing their business.
Experiencing Vev
During their search to manage reservations more efficiently and save time from being connected to WhatsApp 24/7, they discovered Vev, which became integral to their business operations. “It felt like something starting, something fresh, something modern,” he said.
After using Vev for a while, Patrick highlighted the key aspects that kept him using it:
- User-friendly interface: The ease of use was a significant factor in their decision to adopt Vev. “Lucas was able to use it from day one, and that was already a big decision maker for us,” Patrick shares.
- Multi-account management: “We have two Vev accounts. One for the studio and one for on location photography,” enabling them to separate different aspects of their business.
- Streamlined booking: “It's saving us a lot of time,” Patrick notes, comparing it to the previous 10-20 minute WhatsApp chats for each booking.
- Easy rescheduling: “We have a lot of reschedulings, that’s crazy. And I think that's great that Vev can manage this,” highlighting Vev’s ability to handle their dynamic scheduling needs.
- Integrated online payments: “It's something that is really innovative and also clients are really surprised if we can offer this kind of a game changer,” he enthuses.
Patrick appreciates how Vev evolves based on user feedback:
“It's important that we are part of this journey and that's how I believe software is made ”
Future vision
Looking ahead, Patrick and Lucas have ambitious plans for the future of their business. Their vision focuses on growth, diversification, and empowering other artists in the creative community of São Paulo and beyond.
One of their primary goals is expanding the studio. They aim to create a larger, more versatile space to accommodate diverse creative needs. This expansion will allow them to offer a wider range of services and support more extensive and varied projects.
Developing creative talent is central to their vision. Patrick emphasizes: “I believe in this empowerment of artists and also people in this creative field. I would love to hire people and love to let them grow.” By nurturing new artists, they hope to foster a thriving community of creative professionals who can contribute to and benefit from their shared success.
Additionally, they plan to strengthen artistic collaborations by deepening their ties with educational and cultural institutions. These partnerships will help integrate their business further into the local and broader creative landscapes, facilitating mutual growth and learning.
These plans reflect their commitment to fostering a vibrant creative community in São Paulo. As Patrick powerfully articulates: “We believe in the power of artistic potential of Latin America and Brazil. I think that's something that drives us. I totally believe that we create with our awareness an environment that helps people to grow and to make the best out of them in the artistic field, in a way that is as good or better as somewhere else.”
“It's how people identify you and how people speak about you when you’re not in the room ”
Insights for aspiring entrepreneurs
Drawing from his experience, Patrick offers three key pieces of advice for aspiring entrepreneurs:
- Sleep on your ideas: “Sleep one night over, then sleep a week over, and then sleep a month over.” He explains that this approach helps ensure your business idea is not just a fleeting thought but a sustainable passion.
- Control your costs: “Have control of all the costs.” He stresses the importance of keeping a close eye on your expenses and income, which will lead you to manage your business more efficiently and make the right decisions.
- Invest in your brand: “I believe in the appealingness and the beauty of things, so I think investing in the brand is important.” Patrick believes in the power of a strong brand identity, encompassing not just visual elements but also how you present yourself and your business. “It's how people identify you and how people speak about you when you’re not in the room.”
Create your own page, just like Estúdio Abuenos
Describe your business
Vev will create a custom page for you.
Get started
Click around to see how Vev works.
Customize your page
Add photos, descriptions and set your pricing.
More to read...
Teatro & Docencia: Leave all your fears behind with Flor.
A place to learn, socialize, and empower yourself.
Cali Cultural Tours: From curiosity to a successful tour business
Personal connection in guided tours.
Russ Barbershop: The rise of a modern barbering business in Junín.
Reshaping Junín's grooming scene, one cut at a time.