Tips from a Photographer’s First Year on Peerspace Every New Host Should Know

A year ago, Deacon Tyler of F Sequence Studio worked seven days a week for twelve hours a day as a commercial photographer. Managing a high overhead and diminishing job satisfaction, he decided to list his live/work studio on Peerspace.

Nearly one hundred bookings later, the bills are paid. Earnings from Peerspace have given the photographer flexibility to take on fewer jobs and, in the process, rediscover his passions. 

When he first listed on Peerspace, the LA native leaned on his insider knowledge of the Production industry to bring in initial profit. His Peerspace business grew quickly, recently requiring a full-time hire to help manage the boom in bookings.

Continue reading to learn what “golden standards” set the stage for his quick rise to success.

A New Take on “Conscious Design”

As the creative aesthetic of his bi-level Luxury Loft in Marina del Rey demonstrates, Deacon not only has a photographer’s eye, but an eye for design as well. 

From the placement of colorful tapestries throughout the space to soak up excess sound to the choice of light furniture that’s easy for crew members to move, every detail in his West L.A. loft is consciously designed to host film and photoshoots with ease.

“This is my home, but I’ve learned to de-personalize it. Instead, I think from the clients’ perspective. There are a lot of beautiful homes out there, but there aren’t many designed with them in mind.”

When designing his live/work photo studio, Deacon considered every angle from an artist’s perspective, and it’s clearly paying off. Just over half of his Peerspace business comes from Production clients – an operation he had the expertise and dedication to perfect early on. 

Give Your Space Room to Evolve

A few months into hosting on Peerspace, Deacon invested in some low-cost folding chairs and banquet tables at the encouragement of a friend. He unearthed a dusty projector from the attic and advertised his loft for professional meetings.

It didn’t take long for business to ramp up. “Today, nearly half of our bookings are for offsite meetings. We not only recouped our investment with the first few rentals, our decision to expand the use of the space has doubled our earnings.”

The loft is now fully-equipped with tables, chairs, a projector, whiteboard, and HD TV. Deacon and his team can transform the photo studio into a pristine meeting retreat in just 20-25 minutes – rented by the likes of Snapchat, CBS, New Balance, and more.

Deacon did not anticipate or recognize this untapped market prior to listing on Peerspace. But, because Peerspace makes it easy for hosts to explore additional uses of their space, it was a low investment of time and money that continues to reap high returns.  

No Legalese Necessary

For Deacon, taking the time to avoid legalese and follow through on expectations with guests is key to the continued success of his operation. “You can’t conduct business with the goal of gaining a five-star review. Rather, focus on healthy communication and the five-star reviews will follow.”

In his words, “Try your best to leave nothing ambiguous and prioritize clear communication. Set rules and be courageous to make sure they’re being followed.” For an example of how he puts this advice into action, look no further than his listing details.

With one year of hosting down, the photographer turned location manager knows how to host confidently and is eager to support his peers on (what can be) tough topics to navigate. 

When asked why he continues to host on Peerspace today, Deacon answered, “The bills are paid, I’m taking less jobs… Really, my outlook on life has changed. I’m happier.”

Be sure to check out Peerspace’s community forum for more hosting tips.