YAYYY!
YOU RenTED ATELiER HalIfax!
HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!
And yes, there’s a lot of info, but please read throughly as most frequently asked questions are listed below for you.
If you need need the quick check out list, scroll to the bottom!
WE LOVE OUR SPACE AND WE KNOW YOU WILL TOO!
Our crazy dream was to take this old building in our home town of Halifax, Virginia that hasn’t seen love in a long, long time and we wanted to create a “blank canvas” for others to come in and use to make their own for events, shoots, and more! While we don’t claim to have a “PERFECT” space, we do have one that we know that will be well loved by people like you who can see beyond the imperfections to make it your own.
Let us know if you have recommendations or ideas on how we can make this place even better, and we will always consider and do our best!
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL, FEEL FREE TO TEXT OR CALL. 434- 830-5763
Studio Guidelines & Important Information
Welcome to Atelier Halifax, a self-serve creative space designed for photography, content creation, and small gatherings. To ensure a seamless experience for everyone, please review the following guidelines before your visit.
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Entry codes to the front and back doors are both 1099.
Unlocking The Doors: BOTH sets of doors must be unlocked during events. These are older doors and locks, so please know you may have to wiggle the key a little to get it to unlock.
Lock Up Properly: When leaving, ensure both doors are securely locked behind you.
No Early Entry or Overtime: Your access is limited to your booked time. Please plan accordingly for set up and break down of your event or photoshoot.
Please be aware that there are security cameras in every room except the bathrooms. It is your responsibility to tell your clients and guests about the cameras.
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Front & Back Door: 1099
Studio Room: 5588#
Rental Room: 2525#
For the studio & rental room, you must hit # after you have typed in the code.
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General Cleanup
Sweep up any mess. No need to mop; we’ve got that covered.
Wipe down tables and any items you used. Lysol wipes are available in the kitchenette.
Take out the trash. Our trash cans are located out back. Please replace the bag with a new one from the kitchenette.
Extra Trash
If your trash exceeds the capacity of our cans, please use the green bins located behind the police station across the street.
Do not dispose of any trash in sidewalk trash cans.
Kitchenette
Wipe down all tables.
Remove any personal items from the refrigerator.
Glassware
If you use our glassware, please wash it and leave it to dry on the stainless steel table.
Rental Items
If you have used any rental items, please return them to their designated locations in the rental room and ensure they are clean.
Confetti & Balloons
If you use confetti or balloons, all pieces must be cleaned up. A few stray pieces are understandable, but please do not leave a mess for the next person.
Glitter is not allowed.
Lost & Found
Any items left behind will be held for a limited time. Contact us as soon as possible if you have forgotten something.
Spills
If you spill something, especially if it’s sticky, please clean it up. While we take care of mopping the floors, we do not plan to clean up sticky spills because those are more time sensitive.
Deep Cleaning Fees
A automatic cleaning fee may be charged if excessive mess or damage occurs. Please do not leave a mess.
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CHILDREN AND GUESTS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE RENTAL ROOM.You MUST ensure that the room stays locked and secure when you are finished moving items out so that nobody walks into the room. You may have a capable adult(s) to help you move items, otherwise, we are NOT responsible for any injuries caused by you or your guest’s negligence.
Farm tables and other heavy items require a TEAM LIFT so plan accordingly. We have dollies to assist in the rentals room.
Do not drag furniture (especially tables) you MUST pick them up and set them down, do not drag.
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Free Public Parking Options
There are several free public parking options available when using our space. Please keep these in mind when inviting your guests.
Renter Parking
If you have rented the space, you are welcome to park in the back near our carport. However, parking is very limited, so please do not offer this option to guests.
To access the back door, use code 1099, and be sure to lock the door behind you.
Street Parking
Limited street parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Library Parking
The closest parking lot is at the Library. Guests are welcome to park there or along the side strip adjacent to it.
Farmer’s Market Parking
A short walk from the building, the Farmer’s Market offers plenty of parking for larger groups.
Blue Ridge Lane (Behind the Sheriff’s Office)
Located just across the street, Blue Ridge Lane behind the Sheriff’s Office provides ample free parking and is a short walk from our building.
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Moving Props
Feel free to move props & plants around to create your backdrops.
Leave the Space as You Found It
Return furniture and props to their original positions.
Wipe down surfaces if needed.
If you have created a lot of trash or brought food, please empty the trash and replace it with a trash bag (extras can be found in the Kitchenette. Our trash cans can be found out back where you can dispose of the trash bag.
Access to other props
If you do not see a prop in the photo studio, it will be located in the rental room.
Access code to the rental 2525#
Respect the Space & Others
No smoking, vaping, or open flames.
Keep food and drinks away any sensitive lighting equipment.
Equipment & Props
All furniture and props in the studio are available for use but must be handled with care.
Any damage to the space, equipment, or paper back drops may result in additional charges.
Plants
The plants in the studio room are real. Please treat them with care so we can keep them alive and well.
Food/Smashing Cake
Food must be limited to surfaces that can be wiped down.
Do not use the paper backdrops for “smash the cake” sessions as they cannot be cleaned
Weather & Natural Light
The studio features large windows for natural light, which shifts throughout the day.
On cloudy or overcast days, consider bringing additional lighting if needed.
Weather-related reschedules are available only if deemed necessary by our team.
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If you have any issues accessing the studio or need assistance, call or text us at +1 434-830-5763
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The space is wheelchair accessible with an ADA compliant bathroom.
NESPRESSO COFFEE
We provide coffee for you (the renter & few others)! Please be mindful that this is NOT intended to be used for full sized events as we only keep a limited stock of Nespresso pods. However, if you want to bring your own pods for that, feel free to use our machine during your event! Our machine takes Vertuo pods.
MUSIC
GATHERING SPACE
We feature a pair of synchronized SONOS speakers—one situated in the front Gathering space and the other in the Bar area. Simply prompt Amazon Alexa to play your preferred music.
STUDIO ROOM
We have a “Marshall” speaker located on the shelf near the changing closet that is equipped with Amazon Alexa. Simply prompt Amazon Alexa to play your preferred music.
COMMANDS
Say “Alexa, play ______” and name a favorite artist or genera.
Say “Alexa, volume X number” to turn volume up or down.
Say “Alexa, turn off” to turn off the system.
FAQS & TROUBLESHOOTING
Is it possible to connect through BLUETOOTH?
While not our primary recommendation since our speakers are equipped with Amazon Alexa, it's certainly an option! Locate the Bluetooth button on the back of either Gathering Space SONOS speakers. For accessibility, use the small ladder found in the UTILITY closet to reach the button. Hold it down to establish a connection with your device. To synchronize the speakers for simultaneous playback, press and hold the PLAY button. For the Studio Marshall Speaker, the button it located on the back of the speaker. Simply hold to connect to the speaker via your device.
The speakers stopped syncing music, how do I fix it?
To re-synchronize the speakers for simultaneous playback, play start playing music from one speaker (does not matter which one) and then press and hold the PLAY button. The two will re-sync.
Can we move the speakers?
No. Our speakers are mounted and cannot be moved.
Can we bring our own speakers?
That’s fine!
yes, we haVe wi-fi for you.
WI-FI NETWORK: Atelier Halifax
PASSWORD: “ThinkHappy”
PAPeR BACKDRoPS
Our backdrops are located in our Studio Room.
Please be extra nice and gentle to our backdrops, like most humans, they are sensitive :)
Our paper backdrops make it possible to get a whole bunch of looks all in one space!
If you are having people stand on the paper, they can stand on the “dirty” part towards the bottom — the bottom 6’. Yes — the bottom portion can get PRETTY dirty. We cut them often to keep them “fresh” — but if they are dirty, it happens and we intend for them to be WELL loved before we cut them. They are paper backdrops after all. If you find a backdrop is EXTRA dirty and cannot be photoshopped, let us know ASAP.
Do not roll up or fold the backdrops on the floor.
Do not cut the backdrops on your own.
Do not use our backdrops for smash the cake sessions (you are welcomed to do that on the faux "wood” floor) or other food/liquid items that could ruin our paper backdrops.
If you arrive and any of the backdrops are badly torn, please let us know AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. If you tear a backdrop please let us know AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Roll the backdrops SLOWLY down and back up to ensure they do not come off their chain. If a backdrop comes off the “chain” while rolling it down, please let us know ASAP and we will try to quickly help with the situation.
thE GathEring space
The front doors will be locked when you arrive.
SUPER IMPORTANT
If you plan on hosting an event, you MUST have BOTH front doors FULLY open per fire & safety code. You MUST unlock both sides of the doors and open the middle latches so that both doors in the frame open.
Before you leave building, you must ensure ALL front doors are LOCKED including the middle latches. Otherwise, if you neglect to lock the middle latches, (even if locked on the turn key) the door will be able to be opened from the outside.
PLEASE TRIPLE CHECK THE FRONT DOORS ARE SECURELY LOCKED. If we find they are not properly locked, we will charge $50 to the card on file.
OTHeR INFO
Our lights are dimmable via the hallway switches.
Leave the gathering space & building better than you found it. Your rental is “AS-IS” meaning, someone before you may not have been as thoughtful as you, do better than them for the next person. Karma will be on your side. If you believe the space has been left a COMPLETE WRECK prior to your use, let us know ASAP, and we will take proper action and do everything we can to make it right.
Please SWEEP before you leave. We have brooms, dustpans, and a cordless vacuum located in the UTILITY room for you to use.
Empty ALL trash cans if food has been present and cans are full. You can find new trash bags (if not under the current one) in the UTILITY room. If we are out, let us know. We have cans behind the building you can toss your trash into, but if they are full, we recommend taking your trash with you.
When you leave, please turn off ALL of the lights and music.
MAX OCCUPANCY IS 125 peoplE
However, for a more comfortable event in our gathering space, we recommend keeping your numbers between 60-80 persons. Our front space is only 2,000 square feet, so please plan accordingly. Overflow can be moved into our back studio space if needed if you would like to increase those numbers to the max.
We designed this space to meet the needs of smaller to mid-sized events. We are not ideal for large events. If you somehow missed the multiple mentions of our occupancy before seeing this (it is listed on our main website multiple times) and planned for more, unfortunately we will not be able to host your event and you need to contact us IMMEDIATELY.
Our max occupancy is 125 and you MUST stay under that. We really want to keep everyone safe and happy, including you and your guests. If, by any chance we notice more than that number in there, unfortunately, we will have no choice but to get in touch with the proper authorities to make sure everything's okay and your event may have to be shut down. It's all about keeping the vibe positive and the space safe for everyone, so please keep all of this in mind when planning your event.
Thanks for being awesome and helping us out with following the rules that were given to us.
THe BAR & KITcHENETTE
If you are serving ALCOHOL of ANY kind, YOU MUST obtain a day of ABC Banquet license BY LAW and you MUST send us proof of this before your event.
If you plan to use our bar as a bar or for a buffet set up, please ensure when you are finished with your event that it is cleaned up, swept, wiped down, and take the out.
We do NOT provide ice or have an ice bin/cooler. Please plan accordingly for your events.
Our sinks DO NOT have disposals, so be careful with food and other misc. items going down them.
We have a VERY simple kitchenette with a few stainless steel tables, a refrigerator (it has a small freezer), and a serving window.
NO heating appliances are provided, so plan accordingly.
When you are finished with our kitchenette, please sweep, clean off tables, and wipe everything down (including the inside of the fridge if you or your caterer made a mess).
If you or your catering team have spilled something and need a mop or other cleaning items, you can access those in our UTILITY closet.
THAT’S IT!
We cannot say thank you enough! If you need anything at all, give us a call or text!
Please don’t forget to throw away your trash, take out any trash with food in it, put back the rentals and props back CLEANED and where your found them, sweep any big messes (especially glitter & confetti), and make sure all the lights and music are turned off and ALL doors are locked and that you leave the space better than you found it.