Reflecting on 2024: A Year to Remember at Lightbox

Wow, what a year it has been! As we wrap up 2024, we can’t help but smile thinking about all the amazing events, milestones, and memories that happened at Lightbox. From hosting heartfelt celebrations to throwing some of our favorite annual events, this year was full of so many special moments. Let’s take a quick trip down memory lane and highlight everything that made 2024 unforgettable.

January: Starting off 2024 with Big Dreams!

We started the year strong with our annual Vision Board Making Party, co-hosted with Madi Miller Life Coach. Guests got creative, outlining their goals and dreams for 2024 while connecting with an amazing group of like-minded people. It was the perfect way to set the tone for the year ahead!

Be sure to grab a ticket to our 2025 vision board party on Sunday, January 12th HERE!

 

February: Friendship, Fun & Selfies

February was all about celebrating the love of friendship at our 5th Galentine’s Selfie Museum event. We set up colorful, playful photo ops, and the studio was buzzing with laughter, coffee (Thanks to Caffeinate with Kate!) and endless selfies. It’s always been a favorite tradition for us!

 

March: Bringing Spring Indoors

Spring arrived early at Lightbox with our Indoor Garden Party. Guests enjoyed a beautiful brunch, sipped on bottomless mimosas, and got hands-on with a floral arrangement class. The studio came alive with fresh blooms, creativity, and all-around joyful vibes. A big thank you to He Loves Me Flowers and Allie Rose Events for helping make this event a success! We also couldn’t have done this event without our sponsors Maria Galgano with The Property Gurus and Leslie Norman with 2B Organized.

 

April & May: Celebrating Milestones

This spring, our studio was filled with love and joy as we hosted baby showers, bridal showers, and grad parties. We love being part of life’s special moments, and seeing families and friends come together to celebrate always warms our hearts.

Balloons by Dreamy & Darling Creations, Marquee by Alpha-Lit Springfield

 

June: Celebrating Small Businesses

In June, we focused on giving back to our local community with Small Business Summer dates. We offered discounted studio rentals for local entrepreneurs to bring their visions to life. Seeing the creativity and passion in action was so inspiring!

 

July: A Little Christmas Magic

Christmas came early with our Christmas in July event! For one week, we decked out the studio in festive holiday sets, giving photographers and businesses a chance to capture their holiday promo photos ahead of the season. It was so fun to mix summer vibes with holiday cheer!

 

September: A Fun Little Book Swap

In September, we hosted our first-ever Date Night with a Book event. Guests brought books to swap and spent the evening connecting over their favorite reads. It was such a unique way to bring people together, and we can’t wait to do it again!

 

October: Celebrating 5 Amazing Years

October was a huge milestone for us as we celebrated 5 incredible years of owning and running Lightbox! Our anniversary party was a chance to reflect on everything we’ve built and to thank everyone who has supported us along the way. Thank you, Mandi with 417 Cocktails for providing drinks at the event and Sydnie with Dreamy and Darling Creations for the balloons in the Loft. We also enjoyed having Lala Links doing permanent jewelry for the attendees!

 

November & December: Holiday Cheer in Full Swing

The holiday season took over the studio with Christmas at Lightbox! We set up two stunning holiday sets in The Edison and The Loft, creating the perfect backdrop for countless Christmas photo sessions. It was truly magical seeing the studio transform into a winter wonderland.

 

Special Moments Throughout the Year

One of the most special parts of 2024 was hosting several elopements in our space. Watching couples exchange vows in such an intimate, meaningful way reminded us why we love what we do.

 

Hannah’s studio highlight:
“52 Dogs in 52 Weeks” Project

This year, our owner, Hannah, took on a fun and challenging project through her pet photography business, Portrait Novella Pets. She photographed a different dog in the studio every week of 2024—52 dogs in 52 weeks! Each session was a unique experience, capturing the personality of every pup, from playful puppies to wise seniors. It was such a joy to see this project come to life, and it’s a reminder of how much love and joy our furry friends bring into our lives. We’re so grateful to have been part of their stories this year!

 

Bekah’s studio highlight: Motherhood Mini Sessions

A big highlight for me this year was hosting Motherhood Mini Sessions in the studio for my own photography business, Illuminate Photography. I teamed up with Good Ground Floral, who created the most gorgeous floral arrangement (I still dream of it to this day) to make the space feel extra special. It was such a sweet experience capturing moms with their little ones, celebrating those everyday moments of love and connection. I feel so lucky to have been part of creating these memories for the families who came in and I can’t wait to do them again this year with a new color scheme!

 

Here’s to 2025!

2024 was a year full of creativity, celebration, and community, and we couldn’t have done it without all of you. Thank you for choosing Lightbox for your events, photos, and memories. We can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store—let’s make it another unforgettable year together!

Shopping Local on Small Business Saturday in Springfield, MO

As a small business, we’ve experienced firsthand how much heart and hustle go into running a local business. Small Business Saturday is more than a shopping day—it's a celebration of the community that keeps us thriving. This year, we’re excited to shine a light on some amazing local businesses offering deals that you won’t want to miss! Here’s a list of local shops offering special deals for Small Business Saturday 2024! But before we dive in…

Why does shopping local matter?

Shopping local strengthens the local economy. Did you know for every dollar spent locally, 60-70% of that dollar remains in the local economy?

Buying from small businesses builds personal connections in the community. You are personally supporting your neighbors, friends, and their loved ones.

Shopping local reduces environmental impact compared to online shopping.

Simply put, as small business owners ourselves, shopping local helps us provide for our families, work toward financial freedom, and do what we love every day with passion and purpose!

 

417 Deals on Small Business Saturday:

 

5 Pound Apparel will have a variety of sales for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday! They will also have online sales throughout the holiday weekend through Cyber Monday! Check out more info below!

Shop Staxx & Jellybeans on Small Business Saturday from 10:00-5:00 P.M.

Staxx will have a variety of sales all week long including Black Friday and Small Business Saturday! Check out more information on their graphic!

SKIN WISE - 5240 Town Centre Dr Suite 101, Ozark, MO 65721

Purchase a $100.00 Skin Wise gift card and get a FREE $25.00 Skin Wise gift card.

Open 10-2pm on Saturday, November 30, 2024.

Bree’s Little Closet will be having several sales on Small Business Saturday as well as hosting some pop-up vendors in store! Check out their flyer to see other boutiques participating in a shop small boutique crawl on November 30th!

Don’t forget your furry friends! Located right next door to Bree’s Little Closet is Fetch Pet Supplies! They have everything you need to treat your four legged friends for the holidays!

They are doing 20% off everything in store and a cute tote bag with purchases of $25 and up!

If you’re up on Commercial Street, Check out Askinosie for some holiday treats or stocking stuffers!

Their factory storefront will be open 10-4 on Sat. 11/30 & will have free samples of everything available to try, including their Limited Edition Holiday offerings!

They are offering $1 off their seasonal chocolate bars when purchased together! Grab the Holiday Chocolate Bundle (Gingerbread Dark Chocolate + Cranberry Sauce White Chocolate) for $25 or their Thanksgiving Bundle (PSL White Chocolate, Cranberry Sauce White Chocolate & Cocoa Powder) for $47.50!

At Lightbox, we know the power of community. For five years, we’ve had the privilege of being a creative hub for photographers, families, and events here in Springfield. When you shop small, you’re doing more than buying something special—you’re supporting dreams, helping local businesses grow, and making our community stronger. Thanks for being part of it all and for choosing to shop local this holiday season!

Not planning to shop on Small Business Saturday? Here are other meaningful ways to support local businesses—no spending required!

  • Follow and share their social media pages.

  • Leave positive reviews on platforms like Google or Yelp.

  • Spread the word by recommending local businesses to friends and family.

We want to hear about your favorite local 417 places to shop! Leave a comment below!

If you need more ideas on where to shop locally this holiday season, check out our 2023 shop local guide from last year!

Written by Bekah Knapp

Creative Coordinator & Socials