At the top of 300 S. Main Street, Holly Springs, NC, you will not merely find a “studio,” but something much more…you will find stories! Stories about our passionate community’s small business entrepreneurs, its content creators, its non-profit community organizers, and its collective people. The visionary and entrepreneur behind this collaborative connecting point is Amber Smith, a lifelong, passionate resident of Holly Springs. Amber is a portrait and branding photographer and owner of both Amber Foster Smith Photography and Studio 557, located in the heart of downtown at The Block on Main.
“Our family moved to Holly Springs in 2008, and when it came time to open my first studio space, I knew it had to be in the downtown district of Holly Springs. As we slowly outgrew that space, I knew the only place we could call home was Main Street. This community is everything to me, and opening Studio 557 was a way to give back and serve the community I love so dearly.”
The Village District of Holly Springs has taken an approach of activating its vision for a vibrant downtown by collaborating consistently with residents, developers, and small business entrepreneurs. Studio 557 is part of this vision by providing a space for the entire community, whether it be creative entrepreneurs creating content in the studio or members of the community hosting small events with their friends and family.
They also provide educational workshops and support for content creators, whether they are photographers, videographers, or marketers. Studio 557 is also passionate about amplifying the voices of content creators by providing them with an adaptable space and equipment to unleash their creativity.
“The space I provide or a moment I capture is a reflection of the story that is all around each of us in Holy Springs!”
“The space I provide or a moment I capture is a reflection of the story that is all around each of us in Holy Springs!”, shares Amber. The energy in this space is enticing, and when you have the chance to collaborate with Amber, you will immediately feel her joy not simply in what she is doing as a small business entrepreneur but also in her genuine joy and interest in learning about you, your business, and how she can support you both personally and professionally.
Studio 557 is a “living space!” From one day to the next, the canvas changes. On a typical weekend, Amber shares that the studio can go from welcoming a photographer and their client in the morning to hosting a baby or bridal shower in the afternoon and a non-profit event in the evening. Every day is different! She also goes on to share the joy she feels as a result of creating a space meant to share and uplift others, “Studio 557 was always meant as a space that brings joy to all who enter, no matter what brought them through our doors.”
As a professional photographer for over a decade, Amber also pairs her background in Branding and Marketing to help amplify the voices of the small businesses here in Holly Springs and beyond through her work. Collaborating with local businesses, she creates the images you see on social media accounts like The Block on Main that help drive residents to our downtown Village District.
At Downtown Alive, we have had the opportunity to work with thousands of residents and dozens of small business owners. The consistent sentiments expressed about Holly Springs is how it has a unique and positive energy, and they are drawn to “downtown.” Amber has been leaning into this her entire life.
“I feel like we are just getting started! Our team is growing, more small businesses are seeking space in Holly Springs, and we want to respond by finding more creative and engaging ways to leverage our space.”
Studio 557 has some exciting plans for 2025, including monthly events, programs with local non-profit organizations, as well as youth art and creative content galleries!
Amber may also be able to be a “local tour guide” to the Village District as she knows most of the small business owners by name and has enjoyed being part of their lives. Downtown Alive partners with Amber for the events we host for the community, and we are excited to amplify her success and the experiences she aims to cultivate. Amber and Studio 557 simply love talking to people and hearing their stories. We are excited to share a bit of hers with you!
Downtown Alive Holly Springs loves to amplify these stories because it is a testimony that our diverse community of residents are the ones contributing to and nurturing how it is growing, shaping, and coming together.
We encourage you to reach out to Studio 557 and meet Amber and her team, to attend one of their hosted workshops, share your story, and see just how well she will capture or contribute to your memory or your small business mission. Come downtown today and, stop in at Studio 557, walk around the Village District to shop, to gather, and to connect with your community.