Inside Northside May-June 2023

Candra George & Nichole Xanthos

Open Space Studios

Open Space Studios is a rental photography and podcast studio in Mandeville that focuses on empowering creatives through entrepreneurship. Cofounders Candra George and Nichole Xanthos share a passion for showcasing the beauty and strength of women, helping them see themselves in a new light. They believe that photography should be a positive and uplifting experience, and that’s why they go above and beyond to make sure their clients feel comfortable and confident during their photoshoots.

Candra and Nichole were motivated to start Open Space Studios because they saw a need for a space that could bring the community together and help women feel empowered. They wanted to create a place where women could feel supported, and they wanted to help other photographers grow their business and increase their revenue. They saw the potential to create something truly special, and they knew that they could make it happen. “The great thing about this studio is that it’s two-fold…the space is used by our team, but we’re also offering this space to the community to be creative, create cool things, increase their revenue. Something really important to Candra and I was not only to help champion women, but to help other photographers grow their business and increase their revenue. That is super empowering,” said Nichole.

“We both needed a space like this, creatively. And we saw that the community needed a place like this. There was a space like this in North Mississippi that really helped me to get started when I didn’t have a space and I knew how great of an asset it was, and I knew it was something I really wanted to do, and Nichole and I started talking and we said let’s do it,” said Candra.

Their studio offers a variety of services, including personal branding, wardrobe consultation, and posing guidance. “The misconception is that it’s going to be this awful experience. What I wish they knew is that here they have a wide variety of options not just in settings and backgrounds but in wardrobe consultation and personal branding. Women should be branding themselves no matter what field they are in. We can help guide and navigate the look of that. It’s more than just coming in and having a picture taken. Let us help you develop a whole concept around your entire future. And it’s fun! If you trust us, we’re going to hype you the entire time!” said Candra.

The studio operates by the core values of clear communication, honesty, and community building. The pair believe that communication is key to any successful partnership, and they work hard to stay true to their goals and focus. “Let’s communicate, even when it isn’t easy. We’re gonna talk on the hard days, on the fun days, and on the not so fun days. We’ve stayed true to that. We keep the goal and the focus at the forefront. Why are we doing this? To help build and help others build community. If it doesn’t point back to that, then it isn’t the right choice. It makes decisions easy. Even when we’re both laying on the floor next to each other after a long day. It’s not always easy to be in partnership with someone you’re friends with. Honest values and really clear communication go a long way,” said Candra.

Opening the studio didn’t come without some challenges. The pair did all the renovations to the studio themselves, with the help of family and friends. “Literally blood, and sweat and a lot of tears,” said Nichole. One of the biggest challenges they faced was educating people about what could be done at the studio. They wanted people to understand that their creativity was only limited by their imagination, and that they could use the space for a variety of different purposes. Over time, they have been successful in getting people to think creatively and use the space to its fullest potential.

Looking to the future, they have big plans for Open Space Studios. They want to see the studio grow and expand, with multiple locations. They want to continue empowering women and helping other creatives grow their businesses. “We want people to see the studio as a hub for creativity and innovation, with people from all walks of life coming together to share their ideas and create something to better their lives. I’d love to see a wide variety of people podcasting. We have creatives and professionals that come in and talk about what it’s like to be in their fields. I’d love to see more of that,” said Candra. To date, Open Space Studios has been used for podcasting, Bible studies, audio book recordings, photography, commercials, music videos, book signings, parties and various other events.

Starting a new business isn’t always easy, but Candra and Nichole love every moment of it. They enjoy creating their own history and showing their children that they can work hard and accomplish great things. They feel fulfilled by helping to build a community that is supportive and empowering. They have found that partnership is the key to success. They are able to rely on each other and take time off when needed. They have created a partnership that is strong, supportive, and empowering, just like the community they have built at Open Space Studios.

1281 N. Causeway Blvd., Ste. 1, Mandeville

(985) 778-0576

OpenSpaceStudios.net