WINCHESTER, Ky. (WKYT) – Betty Morris took a leap of faith two years ago and decided to open her own business here in the heart of Winchester. Now, like many other small business owners, she’s struggling with rising costs.

“My idea was to create something like a rental photo studio, but also a place where some kind of community could emerge and a place where photographers, videographers and the like could work,” said Morris, owner of Loxx & Lumens Studios.

Morris says she’s been successful doing it, hosting workshops, birthday parties and bridal showers in addition to photo shoots. However, she says the increased costs of pretty much everything needed to run her business may soon force her to close.

“It’s bittersweet to be at a point now where, you know, it’s almost over, but it shouldn’t be this far,” Morris said.

She says her landlord reduced her rent by $400 to help her, but she’s still struggling to make ends meet.

“Even for an Adobe subscription, I paid about $360 for an annual membership last year, and this year it was almost $800,” Morris said.

To save her business, Morris created a GoFundMe page.

“This was super hard for me. I’m not good at asking for help,” Morris said.

As a token of her appreciation for the community’s support, Morris says she will happily use any donations for future photography sessions, even if she ultimately has to close her doors.

“I would much rather work for it,” Morris said.

Morris says if she manages to save her business, she plans to share the space and costs with other photographers so that Winchester’s creative community can continue to have a place to call home.

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