The Hands On Studio
Founded in 1996 by Kyle Chesser, The Hands On Studio is a San Jose-based creative production firm offering professional photography and video production services to Bay Area clients across technology, hospitality, retail, financial services, and sports verticals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersSan Jose, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Hands On Studio does
The Hands On Studio is a San Jose, California-based creative production studio founded in 1996 by Kyle Chesser. The firm provides professional photography and video production services to clients across the San Francisco Bay Area, organized into two core service lines. Photography covers advertising, architectural, concept, corporate events, food, lifestyle, model/fashion, portraits, product, and real estate work. Video production spans advertising, animations, corporate content, infomercials, instructional videos, live streaming, product videos, television shows, television commercials, trade show displays, and video headshots. The studio also offers specialized capabilities including drone videography and live streaming. Operations are run from a single location at 1950 O'Toole Way in San Jose (inside Rivers Edge Business Park) on an appointment-only basis.
The business operates on a direct sales model with quote-based project pricing typical of professional creative services. The customer base is intentionally diversified across verticals: enterprise technology (Supermicro, Fortinet), financial services (StarOne Credit Union), retail and entertainment (Madame Tussauds, Westfield ValleyFair), hospitality and food & beverage (MINA Group, Ava's Kitchen, The Poor House Bistro), and sports (Bay to Bay Volleyball). Marketing is portfolio-driven through Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and a Wix-hosted website, with the founder's personal contact details (phone and email) serving as the primary sales channel.
Hands On Studio is a privately held, founder-owned business with no disclosed institutional investment, parent company, or external funding. The copyright notice spanning 1996–2024 indicates direct personal ownership by Kyle Chesser, who also functions as the named primary contact and creative lead. No headcount, revenue, patents, certifications, or formal partnerships are disclosed in the public record. The firm functions as a horizontal, founder-led creative services business rather than a focused niche or technology platform.
The Hands On Studio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Hands On Studio
- Legal name
- Hands On Studio
- Website
- https://thehandsonstudio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Founded in 1996 by Kyle Chesser, The Hands On Studio is a San Jose-based creative production firm offering professional photography and video production services to Bay Area clients across technology, hospitality, retail, financial services, and sports verticals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Hands On Studio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Photography & Video Production
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Commercial Photography (541922)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Content Production (Video, Design, Copy, Studio) (BPAFAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Studio Campus / Production Facility Operators (MPADAIAC), Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams) (BPAFAIAJ)
Keywords
Where The Hands On Studio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Jose
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Hands On Studio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Photography Services: Professional photography services including advertising, architectural, concept, corporate events, food, lifestyle, model/fashion, portraits, product, and real estate photography. Billed per project or assignment.
- Video Production Services: Video production including advertising, animations, corporate videos, infomercials, instructional content, live streaming, product videos, television shows and commercials, trade show displays, and video headshots. Project-based pricing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
The Hands On Studio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Hands On Studio delivers professional photography and video production services from a San Jose-based studio and on client sites across the Bay Area. Services cover advertising, corporate events, product, food, lifestyle, architectural, real estate, and portrait photography, alongside video production including corporate content, commercials, live streaming, and drone videography. Engagements are project-based, scoped and quoted per assignment, and delivered as finished creative assets.
Product overview
The Hands On Studio is a San Jose-based creative production studio founded in 1996, offering two core service lines: Video Production Services and Photography Services. Video Production includes advertising, animations, corporate content, infomercials, instructional videos, live streaming, product videos, TV shows, TV commercials, trade show displays, and video headshots. Photography encompasses advertising, architectural, concept, corporate events, food, lifestyle, model/fashion, portraits, product, and real estate work. The studio operates as a single unified service offering rather than a software platform, providing end-to-end creative production for corporate, tech, hospitality, and individual clients.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Video Production Services Full-service video production covering advertising, animations, corporate content, infomercials, instructional videos, live streaming, product videos, television shows, television commercials, trade show displays, and video headshots for corporate, agency, and commercial clients.
- Photography Services Comprehensive photography services including advertising, architectural, concept, corporate events, food, lifestyle, model/fashion, portraits, product, and real estate photography for commercial and corporate clients.
Companies that use The Hands On Studio
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
The Hands On Studio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Hands On Studio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights3 records
The Hands On Studio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tool of North America: Tool of North America is a commercial content production company producing commercials, branded content, and films for global brands. Directly comparable as a commercial photo/video production studio serving enterprise and agency clients.
- M ss ng P eces: M ss ng P eces is a Brooklyn-based commercial production and creative studio producing commercials, branded films, and experiential content. Comparable to Hands On Studio as a creative production studio serving brand and enterprise clients across photo and video.
- Bullion Productions: Bullion Productions is a commercial production company producing broadcast commercials and branded content. Comparable as a full-service commercial video production studio with similar enterprise client mix.
Broad incumbents
- Smuggler: Smuggler is a global commercial production company producing films and commercials for major brands and agencies. Broader incumbent in the same commercial video production category, with significantly larger scale than Hands On Studio.
- Radical Media: Radical Media is an established production company spanning commercials, branded content, documentaries, and feature films. Larger incumbent with overlapping capabilities in commercial video and branded photography.
- RSA Films: RSA Films is a Ridley Scott-associated global commercial and content production company. Overlaps with Hands On Studio in commercial and branded video production, though at a substantially larger scale and broader portfolio.
- Anonymous Content: Anonymous Content is a global content production company spanning commercials, film, TV, and branded content. Comparable in commercial production services but with far broader scale and capabilities than a regional studio.
- Partizan Entertainment: Partizan is a global commercial and entertainment production company producing commercials, music videos, and branded content. Overlaps with Hands On Studio in commercial production for brands and agencies.
Emerging players
- B-Reel: B-Reel is a creative and production agency producing branded films, interactive content, and digital campaigns. Comparable in producing commercial video and branded content, with adjacent capabilities in interactive/digital execution.
- VaynerMedia: VaynerMedia is a digital-first creative agency with in-house photo and video production capabilities serving enterprise tech and consumer clients. Comparable as a Bay Area-rooted creative production outfit targeting enterprise marketers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Hands On Studio social profiles
Digital presenceThe Hands On Studio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Hands On Studio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Hands On Studio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Hands On Studio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Hands On Studio
What does The Hands On Studio do?
The Hands On Studio delivers professional photography and video production services from a San Jose-based studio and on client sites across the Bay Area. Services cover advertising, corporate events, product, food, lifestyle, architectural, real estate, and portrait photography, alongside video production including corporate content, commercials, live streaming, and drone videography. Engagements are project-based, scoped and quoted per assignment, and delivered as finished creative assets.
Is The Hands On Studio a public or private company?
The Hands On Studio is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Hands On Studio founded?
The Hands On Studio was founded in 1996. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Hands On Studio based?
The Hands On Studio is headquartered in San Jose, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Hands On Studio make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Photography Services are the primary driver. The others are video Production Services.
Who are The Hands On Studio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tool of North America, M ss ng P eces and Bullion Productions. Broad incumbents are Smuggler, Radical Media, RSA Films, Anonymous Content and Partizan Entertainment. Emerging players are B-Reel and VaynerMedia.
Does The Hands On Studio have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Hands On Studio.
What industry is The Hands On Studio in?
The Hands On Studio's product category is Commercial Photography & Video Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAAAF, Content Production (Video, Design, Copy, Studio), with a secondary code of MPADAIAC, Studio Campus / Production Facility Operators. Its NAICS code is 51211 and its SIC code is 7812.