Meet Marni Blank | Trained death doula, lawyer, mediator, and female founded small business owner.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marni Blank and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marni, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking

Risk is important for growth – I wouldn’t be where I am today without having taken big risks. In the beginning of my career, I followed a very traditional path. I graduated from college, got a job as a legal assistant at a large law firm and paid by dues working upwards of 90 hours a week. I then went to law school and got a job working for the government. For the next 5 years I went through the motion, my days resembling groundhog day. I was unhappy and I knew that I needed a change but was scared. To admit I wanted to leave the law was to risk stability, good health insurance, and a steady income. I’m so glad I decided to take that risk. I saved, quit my job, rented out my apartment and backpacked around the world for 7 months. It’s the best decision I ever made. I explored the world, said yes to things I’d never do in a prior version of myself, made lifelong friends, and came out with a better understanding of what I ultimately wanted in my life – which was flexibility and freedom.

That risk led me to try different career paths, ultimately starting a business with my sister in a space I knew nothing about, a rental photography studio and event space. It’s been six years and Blank Studio NYC is thriving and I couldn’t be happier. Working with family – that’s another potential risk, one that has really worked out for me. Being my own boss has been challenging and exciting and requires me to wear so many different hats. For me, it’s important to push myself outside of my comfort zone. In March 2020, we were in negotiations on a second location for the studio when the shutdown occurred. Had we signed that lease, our business would have collapsed. Instead, we took the loan we’d secured for a second studio renovation and bought a small farmhouse upstate. We renovated, furnished and made it an airbnb. This risk has led to a new profitable wing of our business.

The risk of entrepreneurship has allowed me to follow my interests and passions. I’ve learned to try things even if they don’t work out or I’m unsure if I’ll even like it. It’s hard to shift directions and try a new path but so rewarding once you do. I’ve tried out a few different jobs and careers that haven’t made me happy. I don’t regret trying any of them and I’ve learned from each.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I’m lucky (or crazy) enough to have more than one business going at the moment.

Blank Studio NYC is a sister owned and operated rental photo studio and event space in SOHO. Working with family has been one of the great blessings and challenges I’ve faced in business. It is really hard to balance the personal and professional overlaps and we constantly check in with each other to make sure we’re on the same page and recalibrate when we need to. It’s taken a lot of hard work to create a healthy dynamic and I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished as a team. What I love about our business is that we aren’t just a white box studio. We’ve designed a space that is warm, inviting, and inspires creativity. We love to collaborate with other creatives and to give back to our community. We just had a “portraits for a cause’ where people came and had their portraits taken by donating to the Lower East Side Girls Club – we raised about $4,000. We’re currently getting ready to host our annual holiday pop up and fundraiser. This year, we’re supporting City Harvest, a local charity that supports food banks. Everyone has everything in this city except for space. We like to use the space to help others. Each week, we also feature members of our creative community on social media so that everyone has a chance to meet and connect with different artists, photographers, stylists, florists, etc.

During the pandemic, Blank Studio expanded to include the Blank Farmhouse, a short term rental in the Catskills. We’ve loved using our hosting and design skills to create the same warm and inviting environment in a new setting. We plan to start offering consulting services in the short term rental and home design space this winter.

Finally, I’ve recently launched my end of life business – Begin With the End. As a trained death doula, I offer education and support around death, dying, grief and legacy work. Beyond this, I hope to encourage and work with millennials and gen x’ers to complete their advance directives and end of life planning. In order to live well today, we must plan well for tomorrow. My challenge is that many people feel they’re too young to start thinking about this or know they should but put it off on their never ending to-do list. My hope is to offer a safe space to explore any resistance and to be an accountability partner to complete those tasks.

What I’ve learned about myself is I don’t need to be boxed into a single career or path, but that there is room to create a life that encompasses whatever brings me joy. It’s ok to try things and decide if they’re right for me or not. I love the concept of impermanence and that I can always change course and choose something new.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

Oooh, there’s so much! For food, the best croissants in the city are at L’Apartment 4F in Brooklyn Heights. I’d then take a stroll on the promenade and through Brooklyn Bridge Park (perhaps get food from Sahadis and have a picnic and bring a read). I love to people watch there. If it’s a weekend in the summer, I’d check out the Brooklyn Flea and Smorgusburg. Head on the Ferry to Governor’s Island for a little excursion.

Other food recs: Pips on Atlantic Ave. Ethiopian at Ras Plant Based.in Crown Heights. For Italian, Locanda Vini & Olii in Clinton Hill. For great sushi, Sanyuu West in Chelsea.

I’d check to see if Create Dinners is putting on a fun dinner party popup experience.

For music, I’d take them to Joe’s Pub or Sunny’s.

For activities, I just really love walking through different neighborhoods and popping into what cute little stores present themselves. For something a little different, maybe an experiential show like the Magik at the McKittrick Hotel, Sleep No More, or burlesque at Company XIV.

If it were me, I’d spend a few days of that week out of the city in the Western Catskills and bring them to the Blank Farmhouse. We’d explore Callicoon, Narrowsburg, Livingston Manor and the other cute towns up there. Such good food and great boutiques, not to mention the gorgeous countryside along the Delaware River.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents, Polly Kurasch and Terry Blank, for encouraging me to follow my own unique path. My sister, Willa Blank, for being my business partner and confidant. My cousins Eliza Blank and Daniel Blank for leading our family’s generation of entrepreneurs. My business coach, Alicia Marie of People Biz Inc. My friends are not only my support network, but also my accountability partners and collaborators.

Website: https://www.blankstudionyc.com https://www.theblankfarmhouse.com https://www.marniblank.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blankstudionyc/ https://www.instagram.com/theblankfarmhouse/ https://www.instagram.com/beginwith_theend/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marni-blank-esq-a335b28/

Image Credits
empty studio – Dov Plawsky photo of outside of farmhouse and of dining room – Michael Druce & Lauren Rogala my headshot – Sidney Bensimon living room photo- Dane Tashima aerial photo- Escape Brooklyn willa and marni – Kat Page dinner at studio – Kate Pauley