Paul Gero — Orange County, California

Paul first came to my attention 2 years ago. I thought it was amazing that this established photographer with a 34 year career had adopted my business model.

Paul and his wife Nicki run their business out of their home. They have full studio and reveal wall setup in their garage. Their garage business demonstrates that it does not matter where your studio is located.

This is my first studio tour of a married couple. Paul and Nicki are an excellent example of how you can create the perfect work/life balance when properly executing my business model.



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  1. I was telling a friend of mine about an idea using some textured wall board we found at Lowe’s. I don’t have a space I want to put my reveal wall on an actual wall, so I had the idea to paint it white on both sides, to use the textured side as a background or reflector, to put the reveal wall shelves on the other side, and to put it on wheels so I could flip it around and surprise my clients. My friend suggested I watch this studio tour. That’s almost exactly what I had in mind! I’m only about 8.5 minutes into the tour so far, but I’m just teary with happiness watching it. This is such a wonderful use of small space and it’s so inspiring to see it all in action. I’m putting my husband to work on one of these walls immediately, and I can’t wait to get shooting in my studio. Thank you to Paul and Nicki for sharing your studio. It’s SO very inspiring!

  2. Are you the Paul Gero from betterphoto.com? My foundation is from there and I learnt a lot back then!!!

  3. just watched this again ( as I am all the studio tours) and just so enjoyed your story Paul. Having been in the Business since the mid 80s i know the “journey” of film-digital-video ( thought not fully immersed in video i see its beauty) The honesty in your conversation really helps me be Honest with myself . Having had a struggle to start and the up and down roller coaster of business i saw the downward ride and I wasn’t ready to leave it so Sue’s model is just so invigorating and seeing how you are pulling off what you do with your space..beautiful.I believe your climb is up up up..thanks Paul ( and SBE team)

  4. Love the tour, and love Paul’s website and his gallery from photo journalism. What a great transition! Bravo!

  5. All the tours are expiring… I could only dream to work with my husband, what a blessing! This tour excited me because of the Sony cameras! I was thinking of using my Sony from here on out! I like the lenses better. It’s an Alpha A55, so an older one, But my other cameras are Nikon D60 which I started on and no longer use, and a D500 and D5100. I hope to build business enough to upgrade, but as I am learning, I don’t need to to start again.

  6. Fabulous studio tour, Paul. What a great couple you are and wonderful home studio space.

  7. This is so great! What a beautiful couple, what a wonderful story! 🙂

  8. What a beautiful, sweet, thoughtful and amazing couple! I would love to take a class with Paul some day! And their garage! Every time I start to feel like my space isn’t “up to par” and see something like this, I’m reminded that it’s about the experience and the passion and enthusiasm that we, as photographer’s, bring to the shoot and the client. Bravo Paul and Nicki! Thanks for sharing their lives and business with us! 🙂

  9. Loved this! I consider myself lucky to have met Paul, who is truly a kind and humble person. Thank you Sue for shining a light on him, the work he is doing, and the wisdom he has to share 🙂

  10. OMG Sue! I loved this. Watching all of these studio tours give me so many ideas & hope to look forward to implementing. Thank you so much for sharing!

  11. I loved watching this! It gives me hope of what I can achieve in my garage. Thank you for the inspiration! <3

  12. I am in love with this studio tour!!! What kind and gentle spirits!!! <3

  13. Very inspiring. Well done, Paul and Nicki. Thank you, Sue, for another great tour.

  14. Sitting here with a tear or two… What a great tour! It’s even cooler when it’s someone you know… Paul and Nicki (who I hope to meet sometime soon!!) Congratulations on finding this groove together. I just love it! Sue, thanks for every inspiring moment. We are beyond blessed to have a mentor like you!

  15. This was so inspiring because I am an older photographer (65) and come with lot of life experience and also been a photographer for many years with on and off spurts. I am so now inspired to finally clear out my garage so that I can use it for those studio portraits, yet still have that draw to shoot on location and use what nature has to provide.

  16. I loved watching Paul & Nicki’s studio tour. It reminded me so much of my 2nd studio space where I left the door open to enjoy the light. Thank you.

  17. <3 these studio tours! It's so encouraging seeing it work for so many photographers!

    1. Yeah! Loving the tours. Thank you to everyone in front and behind the scene for making these possible. Good work,