30A Studio opens at Hibiscus Guest House

Hibiscus House in Grayton Beach celebrated the grand opening of 30A Studio on its grounds April 8.

The studio is located in a former guesthouse on the property and now houses the artwork of photographers Sheila Goode, Jacqueline Ward and Shelly Swanger, and the jewelry designs of Allison Craft. The women are all artists in their own right, and each brings to the collaboration differing strengths.

Craft's pearls-on-leather designs have the distinction of being worn by celebrities such as Rachel Ray, Sam Bush, the Indigo Girls, and sextuplets mom Jenny Masche.

Craft taught elementary art for 17 years in Albany and Atlanta, but making jewelry was always her fun thing to do.

When her third child was born, she decided it was time to change priorities.

The family moved to South Walton in 2004 and in addition to focusing more on the family, Craft was also able to devote more time to her fun hobby.

While she specializes in pearls on leather, Craft often adds other things to make it her own, such as recycled African glass, metals, or turquoise.

"I have so many ideas that I can't work fast enough," she said.

In addition to 30A Gallery, her creations can also be found locally at Fusion, Tracery and Old Florida Outfitters.

Swanger has been playing around with a camera since she got her first one at age 14. She hasn't been without one since and worked as photographer for her high school newspaper and yearbook.

Following a career in hotel and restaurant management, Swanger went back to school and completed a degree in digital arts and five years ago launched a new career as a professional photographer.

Originally from Memphis, Swanger moved to South Walton in 2002 from Atlanta.

"I was ready for a change," she said. "I always came here on vacation and I was ready for a warmer more laid-back lifestyle. I thought I would try it out here for a year, but I'm still here."

Her family has since followed.

"The restaurant business is a young person's game and I couldn't see myself doing it as I got older. I always wanted an artistic career," she said.

Swanger specializes in event work such as concerts and she does work for promoters and artists. She recently shot the Seabreeze and New Orleans Jazz Festivals and claims the Walton County Tourist Development Council, Seaside, and Alys Beach as clients. She was chosen to shoot the cover of the TDC's Autumn Tides campaign.

However, Swanger is now feeling a new influence, that of Sheila Goode, who she said is steering her more towards the realm of fine art work.

"Sheila has become my mentor and is helping me put together an album of my work," said Swanger. "I have a quirky view of things. The four of us sharing space is good creative energy. I was excited to be asked to be one of the four."

Ward's award-winning photography has been described as ethereal and romantic. Through her eye and lens, she has the capability of bringing a tear to the eye of a viewer, or a smile, but she definitely creates a desire to climb into the frame.

A Mobile native, Ward moved to the area three years ago from Montgomery with her husband's job change. She too started working with photography in college. After starting a family she pulled the camera out of retirement to document their developing history. That led to photographing weddings, which is about 70 percent of what she does. However, Ward said she is also taking on more commercial work.

"It's a nice mix on the coast with a lot of weddings during the off-season and families to shoot during the summer," she said.

As for what inspires her to pick up the camera, Ward said, "I see lines in my mind, composition and being able to control where your eye roves with a photo. I love being able to use the lines architects use and the natural and man-made beauty here.

"Doing a wedding is capturing an intimate moment and it's a great memory to be able to capture. Our walls are covered with old family photos of special moments like getting that new car, etc. That's why pictures become family heirlooms. This is a great community in embracing new people and learning from other artists and each's artistic vibe. The better we promote each other the better off we all are," she said.

Ward and Goode recently teamed to shoot Nashville's Mary James Designs at Eden State Park.

Goode has spent 25 years with a camera in her hands. She was running a pharmaceutical company in Nashville and sold it to the governor when she decided to pick up the camera again.

Her family encouraged her to take her desire back to school to learn how to use it optimally. She did and earned her second degree.

That step has taken her from New York City to Nashville, and finally to the peace and tranquility of our beautiful beaches.

Goode spent years flying back and forth to New York where she worked for John Cassavettes doing fashion photography around New York. She eventually found her way back to Nashville and opened a studio on Music Row where she made a name for herself doing album covers and black and white portraits. Her neighbors were Garth Brooks and Willie Nelson. Among her clients were John Denver, Dolly Parton, Crystal Gayle, Reese Withrspoon, Waylon Jennings and Chris Rock.

Goode and husband Jimmy moved to the beach in 1998 with plans to retire. Instead, she now concentrates on fine art photography and while here have shot family photos for Sheryl Crow and the Masche sextuplets.

"I see lines and colors and graphic movement almost like a ballerina, how it all kind of dances together," said Goode dreamily. "I see the beauty in textures. It's not just lining people up for the camera, it's lifestyle more than anything. It could be portraiture. But I photograph a family holding hands and walking like they do normally rather than like I want them to; how they sit and communicate with each other. I like to shoot people."

Goode and Ward now join forces in many shoots.

"Jackie and I have admired each other for a long time and decided we wanted to work together," she said.

Located at 85 DeFuniak Street in Grayton Beach, 30A Studio keeps the same hours as its host, Hibiscus House, which is normally daily from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and during special night events in its Garden of Love. The photographers often use the House and its grounds for shoots.