Family photo studio and long-time beijingkids collaborator PiXSTUDIO is re-branding under the name Dave’s Studio. The change is a nod to traditional family businesses, reflecting husband-and-wife team Dave Hanssen and Ma Zheng’s approach.
"When we first started, we went with ‘PiXSTUDIO’ because we thought a lot of our clients would want a company and wouldn’t trust just a mom n’ pop style organization," says Hanssen.
"But we found that most of our clients come to us because they want that extra care. It’s our business. We want our brand to reflect that."
Hanssen and Ma have two sons together: 5-year-old Miles and 15-month-old Cole, who was on the cover of our December 2014 issue. Hanssen, who grew up in Texas, is the sole photographer while Ma oversees most of the post-production work.
With their small staff, they cater to a portfolio of clients spanning schools, families, individuals, couples, magazines (like beijingkids), and corporate brands.
The studio, which recently relocated to Hongchang Creative Park next to Hegezhuang Village, is airy, spacious, and designed with families in mind.
There’s Wi-Fi, a Foosball table, an espresso machine, toys, kid-sized cars, a hanging cocoon chair, and a soft play area for babies and toddlers.
Nikon, the studio’s rescued marmalade cat, sometimes wanders into shoots and flops down for a belly rub at every opportunity.
Hanssen just wrapped up shooting for an episode of a CCTV documentary series about foreigners living in China. Over a span of two months, a reporter and a cameraman followed Hanssen to film his personal and professional life. The documentary is scheduled to air in late August.
To find out more about Dave’s Studio, visit the new website.
Photos: Courtesy of Dave’s Studio
