Build. Buzz. Belong.

The Beehive started with a simple need: Creative work requires room to grow.

As photographers and business owners, we all know how hard it can be to find that space - a real studio that’s flexible, inspiring, and built with creators in mind. Most of us have worked out of living rooms, spare bedrooms, or setups that have to be packed away at the end of the day. It works… until it doesn’t.

The Beehive was built by a busy professional photographer to solve that problem for all of us creatives in the Auburn Opelika area. It’s a shared creative studio designed for photographers and small business owners who need access to a professional space without the full-time overhead.

Here, you’ll find more than lighting equipment and backdrops. You’ll find community with people who understand what it’s like to balance creativity and business - people who are here to share ideas, learn, collaborate, and grow together.

Our hope is that this space becomes a creative home base. A place where photoshoots happen, portfolios grow, and friendships form.

Whether you’re renting for an hour, mentoring another photographer, or just stopping by to connect, you’re part of what makes The Beehive buzz.

Welcome to the hive.


Book Now - Creative Projects
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A cozy sitting area with two dark green velvet chairs, a small round white table with a gold base, and a decorative vase with white flowers. The wall behind features a gallery of empty gold picture frames arranged artistically.

Your New Home for Creative Projects

Floor plan of a building with rooms labeled as The Workroom, The Apiary, The Daylight Room, Entryway, and Private Office, featuring interior walls and doorways.
White shelving unit with books, plants, decorative objects, and vases.

Explore the different spaces The Beehive Creative Studio has to offer!

Base Rentals Include:

Entryway & The Workroom

A modern dining nook with a round white table, two dark green velvet chairs, and a wall decorated with gold picture frames. There is a floral arrangement on the table and a patterned rug on the floor.
A cozy living room corner featuring a brown velvet sofa with two matching bolster pillows, a white and gray patterned area rug, a tall green houseplant with large leaves in a white pot, a gold floor lamp with five exposed bulbs, and a large window with a screen showing trees and parked cars outside.
Photography studio setup with lighting equipment, background roll, and a white wall, ready for a photo shoot.
A photography studio with three black umbrella lights mounted on the wall, a tall light stand with a circular reflector, and an illuminated exit sign in the background.

Add-On Rental Rooms:

The Daylight Room

A white upholstered loveseat, a tall white floor lamp with gold tripod legs, and white curtains in a bright room with wooden flooring.
Modern home office with white desk, brown office chair, decorative items including a vase with pink flowers, white sculpture, and a bookshelf with books and decor, beige and white walls, wooden floor, and a patterned rug.

Add-On Rental Rooms:

The Apiary

A black leather armchair in front of wooden bookshelves filled with old, leather-bound books.
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FAQs

How do I book the studio?

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All bookings are processed through our external booking platform (PeerSpace). Visit the Book Now page to select your space, view availability, and complete your reservation.

What is the cancellation policy?

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Guests may cancel their Booking until 7 days before the event start time and will receive a full refund (including all Fees) of their Booking Price. Guests may cancel their Booking between 7 days and 24 hours before the event start time and receive a 50% refund (excluding Fees) of their Booking Price. Booking cancellations submitted less than 24 hours before the Event start time are not refundable.

I’m new to studio photography - is this space right for me?

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Absolutely. The Beehive was created to make studio work approachable and accessible. If you’d like additional support, mentorship and education sessions are available to help you build confidence in lighting and workflow.

What kind of work is The Beehive best suited for?

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The Beehive was designed for portrait sessions, branding photography, headshots, content creation, product photography, and small creative workshops. With three distinct environments, you can create multiple looks within a single booking — from soft, natural light to editorial mood to clean studio backdrops.

How should I choose which room to book?

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Each space offers a different creative tone:

  • The Work Room is perfect for classic studio portraits, seamless backdrops, and full lighting control.

  • The Daylight Room (add-on) is ideal for airy portraits, lifestyle sessions, and natural-light branding work.

  • The Apiary (add-on) offers depth and drama for editorial, artistic, or richly styled sessions.

The Beehive was built by a full-time working photographer with real client workflow in mind. The rooms are styled and ready to shoot, so you spend less time setting up and more time creating. It’s not just a room with backdrops. It’s a creative home base designed to help your work grow.

What makes The Beehive different from other rental spaces?

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Are there any materials that aren’t allowed?

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To keep the studio beautiful for everyone, messy materials like glitter, confetti, sand, or smoke effects aren’t permitted. If you’re planning something unique and aren’t sure whether it fits the space, feel free to reach out ahead of time.

What if something accidentally gets damaged?

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Creative work happens - if anything is bumped, spilled, or damaged during your session, just let us know right away so we can address it quickly. Clear communication keeps the space running smoothly for everyone. Please carefully review the PeerSpace terms of agreement for additional details.

Contact us

Have a question or special request for your booking? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. Can’t wait to hear from you!

A woman with curly brown hair, wearing glasses and a white blazer, sitting on a black sofa in a living room, holding a camera, and smiling at the camera.

Meet the Team

Lauren Beesley

Founder & Resident Photographer

Lauren Beesley Photography was founded in 2017 as an outdoor and on-location portrait business. As her client base and creative vision grew, Lauren recognized the value of having a dedicated space for client experience, collaboration, and studio-based work. In 2020, she opened her first studio, an investment that became a turning point in her business, allowing it to grow into a multi–six-figure operation and elevating the level of service she could provide to her clients.

Through her own journey, Lauren experienced firsthand how transformative access to a professional studio can be, not just creatively, but operationally and financially as well. At the same time, she saw how difficult that access is for many photographers and creatives, particularly as demand for studio work increases and commercial rental costs continue to rise.

The Beehive Creative Studio was established with a mission to provide a professional, inspiring studio environment that empowers local photographers and creatives to produce their best work. Through shared resources, educational opportunities, and community-driven support, Lauren aims to make high-quality studio access achievable for every level of creator, from seasoned pros to passionate beginners.