Anne Hunter Studio Finale

We can’t believe it has been almost two and a half years since we started this blog, and though it has been an incredible experience, after a lot of thought, we’ve decided it’s time to close AHS. Though it may not be forever, for now, we are excited to move on to new adventures and see what our next chapters bring. Anne Hunter Studio has been a beautiful and creative season in our lifetimes, and we couldn’t have asked for a better community to share our expertise with. Today, we wanted to make a final post heading down memory lane and sharing some of our favourite moments creating this blog together, so for one last time, let’s dive in!

What is your favourite piece you wrote here at Anne Hunter Studio?

Steph: We started Anne Hunter Studio during a time when I was mending a heart that I had broken at my own hands. I was in a state of transition and finding my footing as a newly single gal. It felt so good to throw myself into something creative, and let’s be honest, the company of a best friend didn’t hurt! AHS allowed me moments of reflection on where I had been, where I was in that moment and where I wanted to be in the future. The Single Girls’ Guide posts were some of my most vulnerable pieces and the ones that felt the most rewarding. I credit them for helping me heal, reflect and move forward. I’m grateful to Nicole for supporting me in my vulnerability and allowing me the space to write from the heart. The pieces I loved writing the most were the ones that pushed me either vulnerably or in my skill set. Anytime there were style challenge pieces, I relished in them because they allowed me to challenge myself in the styling space and be as creative as I wanted to be. It was often affirming and sometimes humbling, but always fun!

Nicole: I won’t lie, I had to scroll through our website to even remember all of the pieces I’ve written over the years! Of course, I always love writing about design, but there were a few pieces in our self-care section that really pinpointed where I was at the time and often I was writing about what I myself needed the most. A piece that comes to mind is The Art of Doing Nothing. Not only was I proud of the photography, but the art of slowing down and embracing space is still something I am trying to navigate to this day. It meant a lot to me to be vulnerable and honest about some of the challenges I face with my anxiety in this and a few different pieces, and I hope they helped someone feel a little more grounded too. The other favourites would have to be both my 30th birthday piece and Nicole’s Cafe Birthday and how to Make Your Own. These were a doozy to write, but captured so perfectly how I was feeling about both coming into this new decade and creating a meaningful birthday that worked for me. I used to do so much more creative writing than I do now, so having this space to play and write has been such a lovely thing that I am forever grateful for.

What were some of your favourite images captured during our photoshoots?

S: Nicole deserves all the credit when it comes to our photos! Over the last couple years, she has captured so much, from beautiful spaces, whispering candles, colourful outfits, textured accessories, playful sunbeams and way too many photos of me. No, seriously, her computer now thinks I am her because of how many photos of me live in her drive! She was such a key component of making our blog sing visually, and I am so grateful that she was up for the challenge. I am proud of a lot of the style photos and love that Nicole found ways to make the outfits I put together stand out without feeling overpowering! I also gravitate towards a lot of the accessory shots because Nicole found simple ways to make these pieces stand on their own and be eye-catching without a model. There are many interior shots that I also love, usually because Nicole has played with light in a way that makes her work in the space shine and makes you want to jump into the picture and cozy up with a warm cup of coffee.

N: Oh my goodness, where to begin! There are literally HUNDREDS of photos that I have published on AHS, not to mention the THOUSANDS that never were. I’ll admit that when we first started this blog, I knew that I would have to upskill my photography capabilities quickly in order for Anne Hunter Studio to look its best and be received well on social media. And though I started as an amateur, I have learned so much about styling for photography, lighting, editing and working with people as models in my shots. Steph has been an absolute champion through this whole process as we navigated how to really make AHS feel like its own brand and vibe, and I am proud to say that we got there. I think a lot of the photography, even looking back, turned out better than I hoped. I am proud of the entire interiors section as a whole, but a few standouts in other sections would be our ‘How to Create the Perfect Jewelry Stack, Creating a Bath Time Ritual, Steph’s Single Girl’s Guide pieces, and our Galentine's Day images!

What is something you have learned and will take away from this experience?

S: I think Anne Hunter Studio has allowed both Nicole and me to build confidence in our skill sets and to also trust our guts. As you can probably imagine, over the years, there’s been a lot of problem solving and pivoting, along with the laughter and fun, which has allowed us to further develop our abilities to find the way through. When we started, neither of us were experts in the blogosphere, but our willingness to ask questions, try and fail is ultimately what allowed us to build something we’re both proud of! Anne Hunter Studio may be closing up shop (for now) but the skills we’re taking with us are mighty transferable and will serve us well in our next chapters of life. I am beyond grateful for this time with Nicole, as I’ve been able to not only learn from her but see our friendship grow and develop in a way that has felt like magic. Although, of course, there are always tricky things to navigate as friends working together, we always showed up with kindness and support for each other, and I know we will continue to do this even without AHS in our lives.

N: There is so much I could say to this, it’s almost overwhelming, but I’ll do my best. On a professional side, this space has allowed me to grow skills that I never could have expected including photography, web design, UX, social media skills, Art Direction and more, not to mention help me refine my skills as a designer and challenged me to be innovative especially shooting the same spaces so many times. It has been the perfect playground to try, experiment, learn, fail and grow, and I couldn’t have asked for a better space to do that with. On a personal side, I can’t even explain how grateful I am to have had Steph with me every step of the way. Through all of the fumbles, course corrections and pivots, we have navigated the joys and challenges of working with close friends. If you’ve had the pleasure of knowing Steph, you’ll know that she brings energy and joy to everything, and AHS is no different. There were many moments where I wouldn’t know where to take something, and with her thoughtful inquiry, we would find our solution and keep the ball rolling. She did great with all of my silly photography requests (like trying to elegantly sweep or holding poses that would look strange outside of a camera lens) in order to get the perfect shot. She has been the best person I could have asked to create something like this with, and I will always be grateful for this time together and for our friendship. I’m a lucky gal to know this lady and can’t wait to see what she does next.

Transitioning Yourself to Spring