By Nur Sufikah Binti Abdul Razak
The first self-photo studio at UNIMAS
“Their style, the energy! I wanted to bring that to our crew!” … and boom, Vixen Studio was born! It’s all about mixing global trends with our local Kuching flavour. In an exclusive interview with the visionary behind Vixen Studio, Abegail Barbra Anak Patrick, 23, we gained insights into its origins, unique approach, and the aspirations that drive its success.
Abegail began with a fascination for renowned self-photo studios like Meko Self-photo Studio, the first self-photo studio in Kuching, and ATTOM Studio in the Philippines.
“I really like their concept, photo quality, postings and all of it. Most of our inspiration comes from Philippine photo studios,” said Abegail.
The fact that Vixen Studio is located near a university is not a coincident; it’s part of their strategic plan. Abegail, a student herself, recognised the potential of tapping into the vibrant energy of young minds.
“It doesn’t matter where we open, but the majority of it comes from students because they are teenagers who are aware of current trends, especially TikTok,” she explained, shedding light on the studio’s deliberate choice to cater to the student demographic.
Abegail believes that what makes Vixen Studio unique is its inherent youthful spirit.
“I have a mindset of youngsters. I’m not saying that the other self-photo studios are old-fashioned, but I think what youngsters like is what makes us different,” she said.
The studio’s dedication to keeping up with new trends allows it to remain relevant in a fast-changing environment.
Vixen Studio goes beyond being a space for taking photos; it’s a canvas for creative expression.
“We supply them with the equipment, backdrops, cameras, and remotes. All they have to do inside is be themselves,” Abegail said.
This approach empowers students to break free from inhibitions and express their individuality.
Abegail highlighted the studio’s role during graduations, where students go the extra mile to capture milestone moments.
“It’s nice that they chose us over other self-photo studios. That is why, for every appointment booked, we will always express our appreciation to our customers,” she said.
This connection with the student community makes each appointment a celebration.
In the era of social media, Vixen Studio has strategically utilised platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Abegail acknowledged the platform’s important role, saying, “TikTok plays a very important role in this, and we gain more audience and customers from TikTok.”
The studio’s ability to adapt to video-based promotions has helped it grow its reach significantly. Looking ahead, Abegail expressed the studio’s eagerness to collaborate further with the university.
Vixen Studio aims to serve as a photo booth provider for university events and integrate seamlessly into the Samarahan community.
Abegail openly acknowledged the positive and negative feedback that Vixen Studio has received.
“For the negative ones, we did admit that it could be our staff’s fault or the fault of the business owner, but we apologise to them and hope they do not take this negatively,” she said.
The studio’s commitment to listening, learning, and growing is evident in its response to customer feedback.
As Vixen Studio looks to the future, Abegail discussed potential developments, emphasising a careful approach to growth.
“We’d want to have more photo booths instead of self-photos, but we encourage people to come to our studio for self-photos,” she said.
This delicate balance between expanding services and maintaining community connections underscores Vixen Studio’s commitment to sustainability and relevance.
In discussing the long-term vision for Vixen Studio, Abegail expressed the hope of remaining an integral part of the university community.
“We hope to stick around for a while because, as you know, students here change every semester. It’s not just about becoming famous; we want to be a part of the teachers, the big names, and everything else. We teamed up with UEC (UNIMAS Entrepreneurship Centre) on this location, we’re not just thinking about growing our name, but we want to grow theirs too. Maybe we’ll work together more and give some freebies because they got us here and we want to be a fun part of the university community. It’s kind of like growing up together, you know?”
As we close our peek into Vixen Studio with Abegail, it’s clear that it’s more than just taking pictures. It’s about leaving a mark, a legacy of youthfulness and creativity. Abegail’s dream isn’t just about being famous but about being a part of our changing student life. With each photo, Vixen Studio isn’t just capturing moments but also creating a story where there’s a story of teamwork, creativity, and the lively beat of student life. As the journey continues, we’re excited about what’s coming next from Vixen Studio, which is becoming not just a name but a special part of every student’s story. Here’s to dreams, to growth, and to all the cool things ahead!
- This article was written by a student from the Strategic Communication Programme at the Faculty of Education, Language and Communication, UNIMAS.
