The Creative Studio: A Resource for Local Creatives
Owned and operated by Kali Norton, The Creative Studio recently celebrated five years of serving the creative community in Hammond.
A longtime photographer, Kali’s path was not always linear. She began college pursuing a degree in education before shifting her focus to business, all while continuing photography on the side. She later opened a small retail store called Local Honey in The Gap, gaining firsthand experience as a business owner. While that chapter came to a close, photography continued to call her back.
Inspired by content studios she followed online, Kali recognized there was nothing quite like this in Hammond, and very little like it in Louisiana at the time. While the concept is more familiar today, five years ago it was a new idea for the local market. With that in mind, she launched The Creative Studio as a new business venture, renting a separate space designed specifically for photography and content creation.
During her senior year of college, Kali also invested time in her education outside the classroom. She regularly tuned into live courses on CreativeLive, where she could watch photography and business workshops for free. She spent hours learning, building both her technical skills and her understanding of how to run a creative business.
Kali’s combined experience and passion led her to create a shared space for content, art, and creative projects. While Hammond is a smaller city, she saw the strong support for local businesses and the arts and wanted to contribute to that energy. In the early days, growth was slow as people learned what the studio offered. Over time, that changed. Today, The Creative Studio has a strong base of regular users ranging from beginners to experienced creatives. Memberships are also available, offering ongoing access to the space. Kali notes that this can be especially valuable for graduates of Southeastern Louisiana University who no longer have access to campus resources.
Studio rentals are $75 per hour and include a wide range of amenities. Kali provides backdrops, props, and lighting, along with a large window that fills the space with natural light. A rolling wall with interchangeable backgrounds is updated seasonally to keep the space fresh. She also gathers input from members on colors and props, reinforcing her goal of making the studio feel like a shared creative environment. Many of the studio’s unique pieces are sourced through Kali’s time spent thrifting, giving the space character and flexibility. It is not a sterile environment. It can be styled to fit a wide range of creative needs, making it especially useful for content creators looking to batch content efficiently.
A memorable detail from the studio’s history is Kali’s vintage couch, which became a favorite among visitors. When it was time to part with it, several local business owners expressed interest. The couch eventually found a new home at Benny's Place, a small example of Kali’s eye for design and her connection to the downtown community.
In addition to studio rentals, Kali offers professional photography services including headshots, family sessions, and newborn photography. Her newborn sessions are thoughtfully designed to ensure a safe, warm, and comfortable environment for each family.
You can also find Kali hosting sessions at Gnarly Barley Brewing during holiday weekends, offering another opportunity for families, including pets, to capture meaningful moments.
Kali also works with businesses through year-long partnerships, helping ensure consistent and aligned branding through professional photography.
For Kali, photography has been more than a career. It has been a creative outlet and a way to build meaningful relationships. She values the trust her clients place in her and the opportunity to be part of important moments in their lives. As she describes it, the experience of being invited into those moments is both meaningful and uniquely human.
To learn more or book a session, visit her website or follow along on social media.
