Inside Small Business
Discover below how we met, why we started Gold Coast photo studios Hawker Studios and how many studios we currently own.
The Hawker Studios Story
We, Dominique (@dom.overseas) and Gabby (@gabriellasmith__), first met in person in June 2019 at a work event in Brisbane. It was love at first sight and after Gabby moved from Byron Bay to Palm Beach on the Gold Coast, we quickly became inseparable.
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We both worked from home for a few years by that point and were craving some more human interaction during work hours. One Sunday afternoon whilst having drinks with friends, we were dreaming up our version of the ideal studio/work space - and didn’t leave out a single detail. Fast forward a few weeks and we came across a warehouse space in Currumbin Waters in April 2021 that ticked every box of our manifestation - and signed a 2-year lease without thinking twice. I mean, it was meant to be, right?
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We renovated the warehouse space with the help of our friends over the Easter weekend and hosted our first shoots shortly after. In the three years that have passed since then, we have not only welcomed local Australian brands but also international magazines and celebrities (looking at you Lucas Bravo) along with the most amazing content creators.
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The upstairs office is home to a group of creative girls that have become friends (aptly named the #HawkerHotties) pretty much within the first week of hiring a desk space.
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At the end of 2023, we were offered the opportunity to rent a second location just around the corner - and despite both of us being financially committed to bigger projects at the time, it was a no-brainer for us to open the second location. #Hawker27 was born!
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We’re going into our fourth year with so much gratitude and excitement for what is to come.