The Arlen Studio: Unedited

The Arlen Studio
  • 5.0 (3)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The Arlen Studio: Unedited pulls back the curtain on the creative industry. From studio ownership and branding to motherhood, burnout, and business growth, this podcast dives into the realities creatives don’t always share online. Hosted by the founders of The Arlen Studio, these unfiltered conversations are for photographers, content creators, and entrepreneurs building something meaningful — on their own terms. Your hosts Michele Paniz & Natalia Allen The Arlen Studio Michele Paniz Photography Lavender and Honey Photography Www.thearlenstudio.com

Episodes

  1. Unedited : Bridgerton Brunch Grand Opening

    21H AGO

    Unedited : Bridgerton Brunch Grand Opening

    ✨ Episode Summary In this episode, Natalia, Michele, and Megan take you behind the scenes of The Arlen Studio’s grand opening brunch—a dreamy, Bridgerton-inspired celebration that brought together photographers, friends, and family to experience the space for the first time. From last-minute décor decisions and floral overload (yes, there is such a thing) to croissant towers, champagne, and sisterhood moments on the studio floor, this episode captures the heart of what The Arlen is all about: community, creativity, and building something beautiful together.

    19 min
  2. Unedited : Episode 8 Catching up

    APR 16

    Unedited : Episode 8 Catching up

    🎙 Episode — Behind the Scenes at The Arlen Beauty Campaigns, Studio Growth & What’s Next We’re back — and catching you up on everything happening behind the scenes at The Arlen. After a little break, the three of us (Natalia, Michele, and Megan) are back on the mic talking through what’s been going on inside the studio — from our first full beauty campaign production to the growing pains (and wins) of building something bigger than just a rental space. What We’ve Been Working On We recently wrapped one of our first large-scale beauty campaign shoots at The Arlen, led by Megan — and let’s just say… it was a lot (in the best way). We’re talking: • Full production days • Models, makeup artists, lighting setups • 10-hour shoot days • Multiple setups and moving parts Honestly, it felt like shooting multiple weddings back-to-back — but inside our own space. It pushed us creatively, logistically, and operationally — and gave us a really clear vision of what this studio is becoming. Real Talk: What We’re Improving With that kind of production comes a lot of learning. We’re constantly asking: 👉 How can the space work better? 👉 How can we support bigger productions? Some of the upgrades and ideas we’re working through: • Creating more dedicated shooting space • Investing in a heavy-duty boom for larger lighting setups • Improving the makeup / prep area • Better flow between rooms during multi-set shoots • Making the space easier to use for teams We’re building this in real time — and bringing you along with us. The Power of Behind-the-Scenes Content One thing that really stood out during this shoot was how valuable behind-the-scenes content is. Not just for marketing — but for storytelling. Showing the process, the chaos, the creativity — it adds so much depth to what we do and gives clients a better understanding of the production side of things. Also… we may have fallen a little in love with shooting BTS on Fuji 👀 What’s Coming Up at The Arlen We’ve got a lot in the works — and we’re really excited about what’s ahead. ✨ Bridgerton-Inspired Open House We’re planning a fully styled open house event (yes, think Bridgerton vibes) to bring the community together and showcase what the studio can do. 👉 Listen to the episode for a little discount drop 👀 📖 The Arlen Coffee Table Book We’re brainstorming a larger creative project — a cohesive coffee table book featuring local creatives. This would include: • Portrait sessions • Personal interviews • A deeper look into the creative community around us Something meaningful, collaborative, and lasting. 🎤 Workshops & Speaker Series We’re also exploring a fall speaker / masterclass series — bringing in photographers and creatives to teach, connect, and share knowledge. Education is a huge part of what we want The Arlen to be. Growing as a Team We also talk about what it’s like working together — finding our rhythm, building our brand as a trio, and figuring out how each of us fits into the bigger vision. There’s something really special about building a women-led creative space that supports collaboration instead of competition. What’s Next We’re heading into a season of growth, learning, and a lot of experimentation. We’re also planning to attend: • Imaging USA • WPPI in Las Vegas …to continue learning, connecting, and bringing new ideas back to The Arlen. Let’s Keep the Conversation Going We love hearing from you — what do you want us to talk about next? Send us a message, submit questions, or come be part of the conversation.

    48 min
  3. Unedited: The Cost of Doing Business - Photography edition

    MAR 19

    Unedited: The Cost of Doing Business - Photography edition

    Join us for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about the real cost of becoming a photographer. In this episode, Natalia, Michele, and Megan dive deep into everything no one talks about—the hidden expenses that come with building a photography business. From gear and lenses to subscriptions, websites, client management systems, studio needs, camera bags (yes… multiple), and all the little things that quietly add up. Whether you’re just starting out or already in the industry, this episode offers a transparent look at what it truly takes to invest in your craft and grow sustainably. If you’ve ever wondered “What do I actually need to get started?”—this one’s for you. Www.thearlenstudio.com https://www.instagram.com/thearlenstudio/

    1h 2m
  4. Unedited: Bonus Episode Studio Update

    MAR 7

    Unedited: Bonus Episode Studio Update

    Here is our update for the studio! For those of you interested in learning about how its going!

    13 min
  5. Unedited: Newborn Photography - Where to start

    MAR 4

    Unedited: Newborn Photography - Where to start

    In this episode, Natalia and Michele dive into the realities of newborn photography—what it takes to do it well, why safety and education matter, and how they’re turning years of hands-on experience into newborn workshops at The Arlen Studio. Michele shares how she found her way into the newborn niche, why it’s much harder than it looks, and what helped her grow (including extensive training, mentorship, and constant practice). The conversation breaks down what photographers truly need to succeed: a camera and lens that allow you to work safely and efficiently, a strong understanding of newborn handling and workflow, and the confidence that comes from guided, hands-on education. They also discuss ideal timing for newborn sessions (and why mornings often work best), navigating sessions with siblings, the value of documenting parents with baby even when they “don’t feel ready,” and why newborn photography is a true luxury investment—for both the client experience and the photographer’s cost of doing business. Finally, they touch on editing newborn skin (a skill all its own), learning resources, and what’s coming next on the podcast—like pricing, cost of doing business, and how to start a photography business. Extra: We’ll be sharing photos from our early work in the show notes so you can see how far growth + education can take you. Where we started - www.thearlenstudio.com/blog/wmjxkjbeaffmls1i49ff2skivne36z Follow Michele’s work: • Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/collecting.beautiful.moments/ Website/Portfolio: https://www.michelepanizphotography.com/ Follow Natalia / Lavender & Honey: • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lavenderandhoney_photography • Website: https://lavenderandhoneyphotography.com The Arlen Studio: • Website: https://www.thearlenstudio.com • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/THEARLENSTUDIO Newborn Workshop Info + Booking: • Workshop page: https://www.thearlenstudio.com/open-house Email us: • hello@thearlenstudio.com • thearlenstudio@gmail.com DM us: • Instagram DMs: https://www.instagram.com/THEARLENSTUDIO

    44 min
  6. Unedited: Studio Lighting

    FEB 25

    Unedited: Studio Lighting

    In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most requested topics inside The Arlen Studio: studio lighting. We’re breaking down the differences between strobes, speed lights, and constant lighting, when to use each one, and why understanding light is the foundation of confident, professional photography. Whether you’re brand new to studio work or you’ve been shooting for years but still feel unsure adjusting light settings, this conversation is for you.

    51 min
  7. Unedited: Interview with Megan Blomqvist

    FEB 5

    Unedited: Interview with Megan Blomqvist

    In this episode of The Arlen Studio: Unedited, we sit down with Megan Blomqvist of Blomqvist Creative. Megan is a commercial beauty photographer who also specializes in family documentary sessions, blending polished imagery with real-life storytelling. We talk about balancing two very different photography worlds, building a brand that allows for creative freedom, and staying true to your voice while serving a wide range of clients. An honest conversation about growth, intention, and creating work that feels aligned. https://www.tuttleblomqvistdesign.com/photography https://www.blomqvistcreative.com/

    40 min
  8. Unedited: Behind the Construction

    JAN 28

    Unedited: Behind the Construction

    Join us for some behind the scenes stories on how we manage to build out the studio. The failures and the successes With Natalia Allen of Lavender and Honey Photography and Michele Paniz of Collecting Beautiful Moments Thearlenstudio.com

    31 min
  9. Unedited: About the founders Michele & Natalia

    JAN 19

    Unedited: About the founders Michele & Natalia

    Take a look at our studio, meet Natalia from Lavender and Honey Photography and Michele Paniz from Michele Paniz Photography. We go into depth about who we are, how motherhood has changed us, how we started and where we are now.

    33 min
  10. Unedited: Starting Before We're Ready

    JAN 13

    Unedited: Starting Before We're Ready

    Why did we decided to build The Arlen Studio, why now and what its like to start publicly before we open.

    11 min
  • 10 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Arlen Studio: Unedited pulls back the curtain on the creative industry. From studio ownership and branding to motherhood, burnout, and business growth, this podcast dives into the realities creatives don’t always share online. Hosted by the founders of The Arlen Studio, these unfiltered conversations are for photographers, content creators, and entrepreneurs building something meaningful — on their own terms. Your hosts Michele Paniz & Natalia Allen The Arlen Studio Michele Paniz Photography Lavender and Honey Photography Www.thearlenstudio.com

Information

  • Creator
    The Arlen Studio
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Arlen Studio 2026
  • Show Website
    The Arlen Studio: Unedited