A first look at Off Set Studios inspired an immersive Curiosity Refresh photography experience built around period styling, creative collaboration and the joy of making something together.
By Kimberley Dooshima Jev
Quotes by Jennifer Peters
Some of the best creative ideas really do begin over lunch.
On a hot early-summer afternoon, Evelyn from The Camera Store introduced photographer and producer Jennifer Peters to Off Set Studios, a Calgary space whose immersive retro interiors appeared to open a door directly into the 1970s. One scroll through its gallery was enough to set an idea in motion.
“Within one scroll through the gallery we were feeling like we were transported straight into the 1970s,” Peters recalls. “It was hard to not dream up all the incredible portrait opportunities the space could offer, and before long, the idea had taken on a life of its own.”
Before the patio treats arrived, the pair had already imagined models in authentic wardrobe, period-perfect hair and makeup, and photographers creating inside fully styled ’70s sets. What began as a wishlist soon became That ’70s Shootout.
The concept fits naturally within Curiosity Refresh Workshops, which creates immersive photography experiences for photographers at every skill level. Through styled shootouts, hands-on workshops and themed events, participants can learn, experiment and create portfolio-worthy images alongside models, stylists and other industry professionals.
But the appeal reaches beyond nostalgia. That ’70s Shootout is built around the energy that emerges when photographers and creative teams are given room to collaborate. The era supplies the colour, texture and attitude; the people in the room transform those elements into images carrying their own perspectives.
The accompanying photographs bring that vision to life through model Tsion Kesamo, hair and makeup stylist Yordanos Hadgu, and photographer Jon Jozef at Off Set Studios. Curiosity Refresh Workshops hosts the experience, with Peters and The Camera Store serving as creative collaborators and producers.
For Peters, its origin remains delightfully simple: a shared reaction to an unforgettable space, an increasingly ambitious wishlist and one final question—when could they make it happen?
That is how That ’70s Shootout found its groove.
Discover the complete photo story at Afros in tha City or in our print publication.
About Curiosity Refresh Workshops
Curiosity Refresh Workshops creates immersive photography experiences designed to inspire creativity, build community and elevate photographers at every skill level. Through thoughtfully styled shootouts, hands-on workshops and themed events, participants learn, collaborate and create portfolio-worthy images alongside talented models, stylists and industry professionals.
Photography Credits
Model: Tsion Kesamo
Hair and Makeup: Yordanos Hadgu
Photography: Jon Jozef
Studio: Off Set Studios
Event Host: Curiosity Refresh Workshops
Creative Collaborators and Producers: Jennifer Peters and The Camera Store