Meet the Member: Fagan Studios

Each month, we hear from a Chamber member about their offerings, history, a unique fact, and their business outlook

Every photograph tells a story but we wanted to know the story behind the photography studio! We spoke with Shawn and Michelle Fagan, Owners of Fagan Studios, to learn more.

Q: Tell us about Fagan Studios . What does your company offer to the Rochester region?

A: Michelle and I moved to Rochester and started Fagan Studios 20 years ago, purchasing our downtown building 16 years ago to house our studio. We serve the Rochester area through our specialization in commercial portraits, high school senior portraits, and family portraits. Our commercial work has grown over the years as we understand the importance of a “personal brand” and look to dial in a client’s portrait image to help elevate their business brand. We also love our downtown and strive to see it grow and become a more vibrant area for the community and its guests. We volunteer with a number of different boards and committees in town, showing up and contributing to seeing our community thrive. We also operate two other small businesses in town, Café Aquí (a beautiful coffee shop/all day café in Sargent’s on 2nd) and Studio324 (a private event venue in the first floor of our downtown building).

Q: How did it start for Fagan Studios?

A : Michelle and I both studied photojournalism at South Dakota State University. While still in college, we started photographing weddings and portraits together. We continued to do so while we worked for newspapers in South Dakota, Utah and Iowa. After a couple years in Iowa, we were getting ready for our next adventure when we became pregnant with our first son. We felt there was no better time than the present to take the step from the edge of that proverbial cliff and leapt into fulfilling our dream of operating our own portrait studio! So with a four-month-old son, we left our full time jobs in Iowa, moved into Michelle’s dad’s basement in NW Rochester where she grew up, and both went full-time with starting Fagan Studios in Rochester!

Q: Fagan Studios has been a member of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce for 16 years. What do you find valuable in your membership to the organization?

A: The personal connections we’ve created with other individuals is what we’ve found to be the most valuable part of our Chamber membership! We have met so many friends through the Chamber and those friendships then provide community and connection. And of course, people like to then do business with people they know, so there’s that benefit of course too. But we never go into a gathering thinking how can our business benefit from us as the main goal, the main goal is to connect with other people, and be a connection to others. The Chamber’s Leadership Greater Rochester has been the most valuable program we’ve been a part of through the Chamber. I was fortunate to be part of the class of 2016 (best class ever!), chaired the class of 2020 (that class is up there too!), and currently serve on the LGR steering committee. I can’t recommend LGR high enough to everyone, no matter your age or experience, you have something you can learn and contribute, so apply to be part of the next class if you’re interested in growing as a leader, learning more about Rochester, and connecting to your community!

Q: What is a unique fact people should know about Fagan Studios?

A: We’ve been part of shoots that took us literally around the world once…we’ve photographed nearly 1,000 weddings before “retiring” that part of the business…this is a tough one, I think I’m going to go with: We’ve had the pleasure of waking up every day for 20 years to do what we absolutely LOVE to do! So to see that passion and connection come full circle, to the point that we’re now doing senior portraits of brides’ and grooms’ kids that we photographed in our early years in Rochester along with seniors now that we photographed their new born portraits 17/18 years ago…it’s a privilege to have been a part of so many families’ lives, documenting momentous occasions for our clients!

Q: What is the outlook for your business and industry?

A: The photography landscape has certainly changed over the 20 years we’ve been operating our business in Rochester. People, especially our high school students, take an incredible number of photos every day of each other, of themselves. But families are having fewer and fewer actual prints of those photos, if at all. So their images live/die on a hard drive or the cloud, rarely to be seen. At Fagan Studios, we’re all about the tangible, having a print or Art Book to hold in your hands, a beautiful artful canvas hanging on the wall - that will be cherished for generations; that’s what we create for, that’s why we continue to hone our craft and serve our clients with incredible photography! It’s not just for the instant digital gratification of the now, but for the future value and enjoyment too.

To learn more about Fagan Studios , visit www.faganstudios.com

Hosted By

AM Espresso is a monthly Networking PLUS event brought to you by the Chamber. Come join fellow Chamber and community members to expand your network, promote your business, and enjoy delicious breakfast refreshments. We believe there is value for all in building a supportive business community. As the local economy shifts towards recovery, it is more important than ever to interact with each other to share ideas and best practices.

This month, join us at PossAbilities! PossAbilities is an exceptional agency of caring leaders and experts providing innovative, person-centered supports and services for people with disabilities. Their mission is to create opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to contribute and connect with the community.

Date: Friday, August 4, 2023

Time: 7:30am-9:00am

Location: PossAbilities, ArtAbilities Building, 1808 3rd Ave. SE, Rochester

Admission: Free, registration requested

Register here: https://bit.ly/3VMT8rd

Hosted By

Join us for Business after Hours (BAH), a monthly networking function which brings professionals together to network and build valuable business relationships. Enjoy delicious food and drinks while connecting with a variety of businesses and organizations operating in the greater Rochester area. This event is a great opportunity to increase your organization’s visibility and generate productive business leads.

Premier Bank is a family owned bank with global reach. They hire, serve, and give back to individuals and organizations in their communities. They are grateful for Premier Partnerships; together we make a difference with vision, values, a can-do attitude, and unyielding faith.

Come and connect, expand your network, and build community at the Premier Bank Block Party!

Date: Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Time: 4:30pm-6:30pm

Location: Premier Bank Rochester Downtown 421 1st Ave. SW, Rochester

Admission: Free, registration requested

Register here: https://bit.ly/3CuUcHq