Conversations with Calla –

Today we’d like to introduce you to Calla -.

Hi Calla, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
YUQ Studios began in 2020 as a creative collaboration between artists Bohenne and Calla, offering professional photography and video services across Los Angeles. Rooted in the city’s vibrant LGBT+ and drag communities, YUQ Studios quickly became known for bold visuals and inclusive storytelling.

In 2021, the team opened their first physical location, YUQ Studios Mid-City, expanding their work into editorial, headshot, and event photography while officially launching the brand. That same year, they introduced Faerialand, a live drag and performance series which has grown into a registered nonprofit organization.

Between 2022-2024 YUQ Studios continued to grow, working emerging and trendsetting LGBT+ creatives and organizations. By 2025, YUQ Studios grew into a full Los Angeles creative studio with the acquisition of their new DTLA location (formerly The Billy Studio). This pivot allowed YUQ Studios to break into film production where they have been able to produce short films for filmmakers like Zackary Drucker, River Gallo, Ariel Mahler and Amos Mac.

Today, YUQ Studios offers photo, video and film production services, building partnerships with artists, small businesses and cultural organizations across the city.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
YUQ Studios started as a passion project in a broom closet. What began as a love for making YouTube videos and a passion for image-making, has become a thriving LGBT+ production company.

Things were not easy, and we faced many challenges along the way. The hardest thing of all was accessing money to get started and finding new clients. Small business owners are some of the hardest working people I know, and production companies are no joke to run. However, there aren’t a lot of easily available supports for up and coming creative entrepreneurs. It takes a lot of dedication and hard work to keep things going.

We are really thankful to be integrated into the wider LGBT+ community here in Los Angeles. From DTLA to West Hollywood, to Culver City and beyond — our community helps keep us employed. We have worked with artists like Alaska Thunderfuck and organizations like the L.A. LGBT Center. We love working with our community.

That said, it’s never too late to be an ally to LGBT+ businesses. As trendsetting artists with direct access to the L.A. underground, we know how to make things disgustingly beautiful, obscenely original and sickeningly viral.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
YUQ Studios is a photo, video, film and live event production company. Our work has been seen on the West Hollywood Strip, The One Institute and various online zines/publications. We have worked with popular LGBT+ artists like Alaska Thunderfuck, Jane Dont, Estitties, and Kerri Colby.

As photographers, our speciality is creating disgustingly beautiful images. We meet the disgusting, filthy and sickening underground of Los Angeles with the beauty, glamour and sophisticated imagery/art queer people are known for. Our work, and the work of our creative collaborators, lives at the trendsetting and cutting edge of fashion, film and culture.

We’re also in post-production with our first two short films — directed by Zackary Drucker and River Gallo respectively. Our filmmaking network includes a sponsorship of the popular feminist/queer film festival Femme Filth Fest — and we are in active production/development of more LGBT+ short and feature films. Our work elevates queer narratives, and universalizes the trans experience.

What does success mean to you?
We define success by having the continued opportunity to grow and create in the city of Los Angeles. Our company is made up of native Californians and Angelenos, and we are proud to be California grown. We are lucky to have the success we have now. From having two studio locaitons, opportunities to work with prestige artists, and growing publicity — for us, future success looks like expanded opportunties and increased capital.

We would love to keep creating long into the future, and tour a feature film in theaters across America.

Pricing:

• Headshots starting at $350
• Event photography starting at $100/hr
• Studio space rental starting at $50/hr
• Production services starting at $300

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yuqstudios.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yuqstudios/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/YUQ-Studios-100083189663842/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yuq-studios
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@YUQStudios?app=desktop

Image Credits
All images by Bohenne Arreaux (a.k.a. Josh La Cour) at YUQ Studios