Studio 204 wasn’t born in a boardroom. It wasn’t the result of some five-year business plan. It started with two college buddies, a basement, and a blind belief that they’d figure it out along the way.
Jake Smith and Marlin Devilliers met at Georgian College in Barrie, Ontario. They knew they wanted to work together, but how? No clue. A year after graduating, they decided to start a photography business—no business plan, no name, just the drive to make it happen. Jake convinced his mom to let them set up shop in the basement. That was fun, eh Mom?
Two months later, they leveled up—150 square feet of glory in Orillia’s arts district. It wasn’t much, but it was theirs. The lease read "Unit 204." They joked about calling it Studio 204 for a week. Friends and family approved. The name stuck. And just like that, on April 5, 2014, Studio 204 was officially born.
The grind never stopped. Two years in, they’d outgrown the Orillia space. Living at home wasn’t cutting it, so they made a move—renting a house together in Barrie. Three bedrooms: one for Jake, one for Marlin, and one for the office. Sounded genius. Reality? Living where you work is a whole different beast. They made it work, but they knew they needed something bigger.
Then, a game-changer. A mentor hit them up with an idea: why not share a creative space and grow together? Over an IPA at Flying Monkeys Brewery, the vision for Studio 204 in Barrie took shape. No hesitation. They went all in.
Fast forward over a decade, and Studio 204 has evolved into a powerhouse, delivering high-impact photo and video production all across Canada, with offices in Vancouver and Quebec. What started as a two-man hustle has grown into a team of experts who bring their fire to every project.
And the next chapter? Bigger. Bolder. We just broke ground on a brand-new studio space in the heart of Cottage Country, designed to serve clients nationwide. A space built for creative innovation, storytelling, and pushing boundaries.
The mission? Trust. Quality. Kickass service.
From a basement office to nationwide impact—this is Studio 204. And they’re just getting started. 🔥
