ATL Photographers: Inside EXO Studio's Push to Make Collaboration the Point

ATL Photographers: Inside EXO Studio's Push to Make Collaboration the Point

This Sunday, September 20th, from 4–9pm, EXO Studio in Norcross is opening up its 6,000-square-foot space for ATL Photographers — a studio event built for photographers, models, and creatives to network, shoot, and build portfolio work together, without the usual pressure of a ticking rental clock or a bill that doesn't match what you actually walked away with.

We caught up with the team behind EXO Studio ahead of the event to talk about why they built it, what it's solving for, and what they're hoping people leave with.

The Problem It's Solving

For a lot of photographers, the hardest part of the craft isn't the camera — it's the room. Booking studio time solo can feel like a gamble, especially early on.

"Thinking back to when I started photography, I feel like many photographers are in a place where renting a studio space for a shoot can be a little daunting," EXO Studio shared. "'How do I set up lights?' 'Do I have enough time to shoot what I need?' 'Is it worth paying this money to shoot here for one hour?' This event was created to help creatives get their foot in the door and just have fun while creating without the pressure of time and money."

That tension is paying for access without knowing if you'll actually get something usable out of it — is one a lot of creatives in this city know well. And it's not just a studio problem. It's an economy problem.

"Seeing how bad the economy is, I think we can all catch a break here and there," they said. "We need more events like this that is affordable for the average person to be able to benefit from creating a network and enjoying a day to create with their fellow creatives."

Built for Everyone in the Room

ATL Photographers isn't scoped to one type of creative. When asked who the event was designed for — photographers, models, content creators, beginners, or pros the answer was simple: all of the above.

"This event is truly for anyone who wants to connect with each other and help each other through collaborations and portfolio building," they said, "so that it can possibly lead to some sort of career path for any parties involved."

What Sunday Actually Looks Like

The event is structured to give people real time for both parts of the experience — meeting people and actually shooting.

4–5pm — Networking: meet fellow creatives, models, and studio reps, grab a snack and a drink, and get your gear set up 5–9pm — Shoot Time: full access to shoot, with an 8:45pm wrap

"We reserved 1 hour for networking and 4 hours for shooting so that everyone can have enough time to get the perfect shot," EXO Studio explained.

Once inside, attendees get access to three of the studio's premium sets — OASIS, LE BLANC, and the CYC WALL — plus a mix of lighting setups: strobes, continuous, and RGB. Lighting is provided, but photographers are welcome to bring their own. There will also be professional set models on-site, though attendees can shoot self-portraits or portraits of each other if that's the direction they want to go. EXO Studio will also be running giveaways for free studio time throughout the event.

A few house rules to know before you go: no alcohol, drugs, or weapons of any kind on-site.

Why This Isn't Just "Booking a Studio"

The biggest difference between this and a standard solo session, according to EXO Studio, is what happens around the shooting.

"This is a community event where people can share and learn from each other," they said. "There are people of all levels here that can always learn something new while being able to shoot in a professional studio setting with talented models."

And that community piece isn't an afterthought it's the actual point.

"It's not always about what you know but who you know that is also very important in this field," they said. "I believe meeting someone new can potentially lead to a gig, partnership, etc. Sometimes you just need some help exposing your work to the masses and people to believe in you."

What They Want People to Walk Away With

Ask EXO Studio what success looks like for this event, and the answer isn't "great photos." It's something a little bigger than that.

"I want people to leave with the feeling of new found confidence and some new friends," they said. "I want to help everyone be able to create a portfolio that they've been putting off. I want people to connect and help each other without gatekeeping."

More Where This Came From

ATL Photographers isn't a one-off. EXO Studio confirmed this is the start of a bigger push toward community-driven programming at the space.

"You can definitely expect more of EXO STUDIO events," they said. "I'm trying to host more events, more classes, and build more studios."

Event Details 📍 EXO Studio — 1670 Oakbrook Dr Ste 365, Norcross, GA 30093 🗓️ Sunday, September 20th | 4–9pm 📸 4-hour shoot · 4 indoor sets · Snacks + Drinks DM @exostudio.atl to RSVP