Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Rosalie.
Hi Karen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My husband is an architect, and I run a photography production company. We’ve always talked about how we can collaborate together on a project since we are two artist souls and on one drunken night in Little Tokyo, we decided to start a photo studio rental location together. We found a perfect little house in Pasadena to create our very first location, IRO HOUSE. It is a lime-wash arched light-filled space that is perfect for photo shoots. We’ve since had clients like Hailey Bieber and Normani shoot there, and it’s been truly amazing to see the space come to life.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
For the most part, we have been extremely blessed and haven’t really had any struggles in the beginning – we bought the property, did renovations within 6 months, and launched in the spring. The moment we launched, we had a viral surge of bookings. It was amazing to see how much the market really wanted a space like this. Since we launched in 2021, though, there have been a lot of similar spaces popped up in DTLA, and we’ve seen a slowdown in bookings because of that. I would definitely say the hardest part about starting any business is how to keep the longevity of the brand.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Iro House is a Pinterest space come to life. Every corner of Iro House was specifically designed & curated to offer stunning photographable moments. Designed by a photographer and architect duo, our unique space features:
800 sq ft Main House
– Minimalist interior architecture
– Beautiful lime-plastered walls and arches
– Natural-finish travertine & limestone textures
– James Turrell-inspired skylights
– Custom-designed fluted kitchen cabinetry
– All-plaster bathroom with skylight, matte black mirror & rain shower, and travertine pedestal sink
– Floating orb light fixtures & vintage push-button switches
– Built-in recessed shelving for beauty & product shelfies
– Full-length white-oak arched selfie mirror
– Iconic brown leather CB2 couch
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
I think luck only works if you situate yourself to be in that position at the right time, right place, otherwise the opportunity can pass you by and you wouldn’t even know it. My husband and I were already primed to look for the perfect location to do this house, so when we found the listing on Redfin, we knew it was the perfect location. I’m a huge believer in making your own luck, and you do this partially just by having conversations with people who inspire you.
Pricing:
- 120/hour
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/60639f764abde7000c0bc910
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/iro.house
