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Hills resident Jessica Martens was uncertain which of her three interests she wanted to turn into a business — so she chose all three.
Her business, “The Studio on Main St.,” celebrated its grand opening July 12.
Located on Main Street of Hills, Martens’ business features a hair salon and spa, a photography studio, and a place for piano lessons.
“What I realized about my love for all of these is that it’s the creativity that I really enjoy,” she said.
A year ago, the Sioux Falls native moved with her husband, Jason, to be closer to his family in Hills.
They have four children ages 2 to 11.
“What we’ve learned through our journey is that we longed to get back to a small town,” she said.
Martens first began turning her artistic talents into a for-profit business when she began teaching piano lessons at age 16.
After graduating from high school, she used the proceeds from the piano lessons to attend Stewart’s School of Cosmetology.
The two-year degree in cosmetology led her to rent a booth for six years until she added a degree in music in ministry from the University of Sioux Falls.
After two years at USF, she met her husband and the two married in 2016.
They moved to Salem and led worship services for a local church before moving to Hills.
Among her enjoyments over the years has been photography.
She first started taking pictures for herself and gradually added family and friends.
Martens’ business specializes in portrait photography (families, seniors, individuals), business branding and professional headshots.
Her business combines all three creative activities into “your one-stop shop for creative services.”
Martens said her primary focus is the salon, which is open four days a week.
Fridays and weekends are reserved for the natural light photo shoots and piano lessons.
Appointments can be made on her business website, www.thestudioonmainst.com
Martens intends to keep her salon as a one-person operation but has brought in massage therapist Rosa Mitchell, who is also an eyelash technician.
“For now it is just me in the salon,” Martens said. “I want to create a relaxing environment where I can listen to the customer in a quiet, calm atmosphere.”
In the future, she said she plans to expand in her existing building by establishing a community room that can also be used by the public.
Her own plans for the community room involve offering various classes involving creativity.
“What I love about the services I provide is that they allow time and space for genuine communication, relationship building and rejuvenation,” she said.