Studio 2000 revival: Turning a negative into a positive
It was a rite of passage for thousands of South Aussies — a glamorous photo shoot with Studio 2000. And now, hundreds of thousands of negatives are waiting for you to claim them.
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There are hundreds of thousands of negatives — waiting for you to claim them.
For more than 30 years, popular business Studio 2000 offered clients a “stylish” makeover and a professional photography session, either in their CBD studio or on location.
But the company went bust in 2013 and when liquidators were brought in, more than 500 boxes of negatives were handed over to photographer Craig James.
He was contracted to complete the studio’s remaining orders, many of which were on long-term payment plans.
Amazingly, more than five years after Studio 2000 closed, Mr James only produced the last set of photos in December.
Hundreds of thousands of negatives have been gathering dust for years in a large shed in Magill, and before he destroys them, Mr James is reaching out to South Australians with a final opportunity to reclaim their memories.
They include everything from traditional-style family portraits and couple shots to stylised and somewhat risque lingerie photoshoots in fantasy settings.
“There was a gimmick to it towards the end but ... I think people see the light-hearted side of things now,” he said.
“It’s definitely an Adelaide brand ... You’re almost not an Adelaidian unless you had a Studio 2000 shoot.
“I would love to keep them but going forward, I just can’t afford to keep the cost of the rent of the shed.”
Mr James said he was also offering past clients another opportunity to buy the negatives because he felt “an element of personal responsibility”.
“I’d hate for them to fall into the wrong hands,” he said.
“There’s a few notable Crows and Port footballers back in the day, who came in and had family portraits...there’s quite a bit of SA history there for sure.”
Because Mr James was not given the client database, people wishing to buy their negatives will need to refer to photos previously purchased or order forms. These will have a reference number which can be used to locate their photoshoot.
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Email: Studio2000negs@gmail.com