By Williamena Kwapo | OBSERVER Staff Writer
After returning to Sacramento from New York, photographer AmaYah Harrison-Bryant brought back more than just a portfolio of work; she brought a vision. While studying and working in New York, she had access to studios that were both functional and inspiring. But when she came home, she noticed Sacramento lacked spaces where creatives such as her could gather, collaborate, and create without limitations.
She dreamed of building a creative hub: a studio where photographers, podcasters, and artists of all kinds could not only rent equipment and shoot in professional settings, but also connect, learn, and thrive together.
“Sacramento was missing something crucial,” Harrison said. “I wanted to build a professionally equipped, community-driven studio space, but I needed both advice and financing to get my dream off the ground.”
The vision was clear, but transforming it into a real business required more than creativity. It required mentorship, resources, and financial support, all of which Harrison initially struggled to find.
Traditional banks weren’t interested in offering small loans to first-time entrepreneurs in the creative field. Online resources led to dead ends. For a moment, the dream seemed out of reach.
That changed when Harrison-Bryant was introduced to the city’s Success, Capital Access and Leadership for Entrepreneurs program.
SCALE, led by the California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity, or CAMEO Network, is a statewide initiative created by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate to help small businesses access the tools, knowledge, and financing they need to succeed. Through SCALE, Harrison connected with the Alliance for Community Development and a mentor who guided her through the fundamentals of starting and sustaining a business.
She then was introduced to Working Solutions, a community development financial institution that specializes in microloans for small businesses.
That connection was pivotal. Harrison-Bryant secured a $15,000 loan, enough to purchase professional-grade equipment, furnish her space, and transform a bare warehouse into the inviting creative environment she had envisioned.
The result is Sage and Silver Studios. Located inside a once-overlooked Sacramento warehouse, the studio now greets visitors with a striking mix of warmth and light. Earth-toned walls, wood paneling, and natural furnishings create a welcoming environment, while wide open spaces invite creativity to flourish.
At the grand opening Sept. 3, Dr. Tara Lynn Gray, director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate, highlighted the broader impact of Harrison’s journey. “This really demonstrates how small businesses are the engines in our neighborhoods and in our economy as a state overall,” she said.
For Harrison-Bryant, the opening was more than a business milestone, it was the culmination of years of persistence. “The business coaching I received and my connection to Working Solutions was made possible by California’s SCALE program,” she said. “Having trusted business advisors in my corner has helped me push through uncertainty.”
Today, Sage and Silver Studios is officially open and filling the gap Harrison once felt.
“California is investing in entrepreneurs who might not fit traditional lending models, but who have so much to contribute,” Harrison-Bryant said. “That support has made all the difference.”