Vegas Vision Studios looks to keep photography work in town

Photos by Larry Cruikshank/ViewLeft, hairdresser and makeup artist Debra Weite, left, works on model Brandi Brown inside the makeup and wardrobe room at Vegas Vision Studios, 4780 W. Harmon Ave. Photographer and business owner Bobby Deal takes some shots of Brown inside the cyclorama room. Advertisement

Owners of a new photography and production studio that set up shop seven months ago a mile off the Strip have their lenses focused on becoming the go-to locale for businesses that typically contract creative work out of town.

"We're here now," said Bobby Deal, co-owner of the new Vegas Vision Studios and self-trained photographer. "Lots of corporations in Las Vegas send their work to L.A. or New York City. We're hoping we can keep some of that work in town."

Deal knows firsthand that Las Vegas needs more studio space. He shoots 50,000 images per year for magazines such as Maxim, American Curves, For Him Magazine, Bluff and Poker Player. The Orange County native traveled to Las Vegas frequently for photo shoots and was disappointed in the lack of creativity and flexibility in the photography and production studios.

He and his wife, Gigi, set out in January to offer a creative space where anything is possible.

"The only thing consistent about this space is that nothing's consistent," Deal said. "I don't think there's any place in town you can get the whole gamut of services you can here."

Vegas Vision Studios, 4780 W. Harmon Ave., suites 13 and 14, provides photographers with studio time, space, props and makeup artists. Deal and his team of freelance photographers also offer commercial photography.

The studio leaves room for photographers' and producers' imaginations, according to Terry Goodlad, a Las Vegas freelance photographer for fitness magazines.

"I work with studios all around the country, and there's nothing like this," Goodlad said. "He makes it possible to do virtually anything I want to do."

Two weeks ago, Vegas Vision Studios finished a fully equipped studio production room, complete with a green screen, as its fourth studio room. Post Modern Group, a video production and post-production company Deal worked for in Orange County, will oversee studio time for commercials or other videos.

The studio room used most includes a 16-foot by 22-foot catwalk cyclorama that has drive-in access, a private makeup room and a client lounge. The massive white cyclorama wall, which could be confused for a skateboarding half-pipe, makes it so there's no background data and no shadows so photographers have the freedom to edit a photo however they would like, Deal said.

Vegas Vision Studios employs two makeup artists and a studio manager.

The studio sits in a quiet business park just off Decatur Boulevard. Bobby Deal's dream is to one day have a steady team of three or four staff photographers and possibly a second location.

"One day," he said. "I think it will be a hot bed of activity."