Pretty and Black Owned is a celebration of brilliance, beauty, and bold business moves. This series spotlights Black women who are building powerful brands, creating impact, and owning their lane with confidence and purpose. From passion to profit, these women represent what it looks like to lead, thrive, and win.

Capture 701 Studio is a new rental photography and videography studio opening to serve the region’s growing creative community. The Black-owned business will provide local photographers, videographers, and content creators with a professional space equipped with lighting, backdrops, and production gear.

Founder Sharmon Lebby saw a gap in the market for accessible studio space where independent creatives and small businesses could produce high-quality visual content without major equipment investments. The studio will operate on an hourly and daily rental basis, accommodating everything from product photography to portrait sessions and commercial shoots.

The venture represents both a business opportunity and a contribution to the area’s creative infrastructure, offering resources that have been limited in the region.

What inspired the start of “Capture 701”?

Honestly? Desperation mixed with determination. I was launching a business in Grand Forks and needed killer headshots, but as a photographer, I knew I could shoot them myself if I just had the right space. The problem was, there wasn’t a single rental studio in town. I had worked with a few in Brooklyn and San Antonio, but there wasn’t one in Grand Forks. Photographers everywhere, sure, but nobody renting out space. I looked an hour away in Fargo, a bigger city. Still nothing. And then winter hit, and suddenly all those photographers shooting outside just… vanished. Because who’s doing outdoor shoots in a North Dakota winter? NOT ME!

So I thought, why not CREATE the thing I need? In the middle of starting another business, naturally, because apparently I love chaos. I wrote a little ebook called “Better Photos From Your Phone” to raise funds, teaching people how to get the most out of their smartphone cameras without pushing them past their limits. And boom! Capture 701 was born: half rental studio, half education hub, all about getting amazing photos with whatever tools you’ve got.

What has been the biggest challenge of running a brand like “Capture 701”?

Getting out of my own head! I had to stop obsessing over what I thought the studio should be and actually LISTEN to what the community needed. This isn’t just my personal creative playground. It’s a space for photographers, businesses, product brands, and anyone who needs great photos without dropping thousands on a full photographer package. Sometimes you just need a couple of hundred bucks and a few hours in a well-lit space to make magic happen. My job is to make that possible and teach people how to do it RIGHT.

How does “Capture 701” impact its local community?

Community is EVERYTHING to me. Capture 701 is being built to be community-centered from the ground up. My big dream is to turn this into a co-op, member-owned and community-run. That takes time, so I’m building slow and building SOLID so this thing lasts.

As a nonprofit consultant, I’ve seen firsthand what local organizations need. And I want this to be a safe, inclusive space for EVERYONE. When people ask if we’re LGBTQ+ friendly, my answer is always “Of course! Why wouldn’t we be?” I know why they’re asking (hello, we’re in North Dakota), but this is about COMMUNITY, and everyone belongs here.

How can women in particular benefit from what your brand has to offer?

Black women are the fastest growing demographic of entrepreneurs AND we’re starting with the smallest budgets. We’re bootstrapping EVERYTHING. Capture 701 gives women, especially Black women, a place to create professional, gorgeous content for their brands without breaking the bank. You deserve to look amazing and showcase your business beautifully, and you shouldn’t have to choose between that and paying your bills.

Where do you hope to see your brand in the next 3-5 years?

I want Capture 701 to be THE creativity hub in Grand Forks. Not just for photographers, but videographers, podcasters, workshop leaders, all of it. A member-owned co-op where artists and creators get the spotlight they deserve. Grand Forks has SO much talent that doesn’t get nearly enough recognition, and I want to change that. This city is bursting with creativity, and it’s time everyone knew it.

What advice do you have for the next generation of entrepreneurs?

Honestly, the next generation will probably teach us more than we can teach them. But, here’s what I’ve learned: Don’t compare yourself to anyone except who you were yesterday. Looking at what everyone else is doing will just mess with your head. Build YOUR thing, not theirs.

And here’s the one I heard recently: stop outsourcing your intuition. When you’re constantly asking for everyone’s input, you get pulled in a million directions. Align yourself with people who share your purpose and values, then TRUST YOURSELF. Your voice matters. Your vision matters. Believe in both.

What does being “Pretty and Black Owned” mean to you?

Growing up in predominantly white spaces meant growing up with the assumption that “Black owned” and “pretty” can’t coexist, or that Black itself isn’t pretty. I love flipping that narrative. You CAN be pretty, Black, femme, AND run an incredible business. It’s about believing in yourself, investing in yourself, and refusing to let the outside world dictate what success looks like for you. We’re stepping out, doing our thing, and showing the world that we’re unstoppable. That’s what Pretty and Black Owned means to me.

Social Media Links: Threads/IG: @capture701studio
Website: www.capture701studio.com