If you've ever visited Le Saint Motel, you already know we're one of Montréal's most colourful and unique photo destinations. But behind the vintage phones, immersive sets, and endless photo opportunities, there's a lot more to our story than meets the eye.

Here are five things you might not know about Le Saint Motel:

1. We Hire Local Artists and Workers

Every set you see at Le Saint Motel is the result of countless hours of work from talented local creatives.

From painters and builders to photographers, designers, and fabricators, we believe in investing in Montréal's creative community. Many of our photo sets begin as sketches and ideas from local artists before being transformed into the immersive environments our guests explore today.

Supporting local talent isn't just part of our business model, it's one of our core values.

2. We Recycle More Than You'd Think

One of the things we're most proud of is how much of Le Saint Motel is built from reclaimed materials.

Many of our furniture pieces, props, architectural details, and building materials have lived entire lives before finding a home in our studio. We've rescued treasures from theatre productions, movie sets, estate sales, antique shops, and even our own family homes.

Some of our favourite pieces once belonged to our parents and grandparents. Others spent years backstage in productions across Québec before becoming part of a photoshoot set.

Not only does this approach reduce waste, but it also helps create the authentic, eclectic atmosphere that makes every room feel unique.

3. We're Not Actually a Motel

This is probably our most frequently asked question.

Despite the name, Le Saint Motel isn't a hotel or a place to stay overnight.

The concept was inspired by the themed roadside motels that once dotted Québec's highways. These motels often featured bold architecture, colourful signage, and quirky themes that made them memorable destinations in their own right.

We loved the nostalgia, creativity, and photogenic nature of those spaces and wanted to capture that spirit in a modern immersive photo studio.

As for the "Saint" in Le Saint Motel? That comes from our love of gothic architecture, dramatic design, vintage aesthetics, and the beautiful historic churches that helped shape Montréal's visual identity.

4. It Started with Small Home Studio Photo Sets

Long before Le Saint Motel existed, there were home studio sets.

Marisa began building photo environments in her home studio. Astrid used these sets to photograph her jewelry, while Oli helped bring many of the ideas to life through construction and fabrication.

What started as a small creative experiment quickly evolved into something much bigger.

Over time, the sets became larger, more ambitious, and more immersive. Eventually the idea grew into what Le Saint Motel is today: a private self-serve photo studio filled with themed environments designed for photographers, content creators, families, tourists, brands, and anyone looking for a unique experience in Montréal.

5. Our Mission Goes Beyond Photography

At its heart, Le Saint Motel isn't really about photos.

It's about creativity.

Our goal has always been to create a space that is accessible, welcoming, private, and inspiring. We wanted to build a place where people could experiment, celebrate, create, and connect without needing expensive equipment or professional photography experience.

Some guests come to create content for social media. Others celebrate birthdays, host bachelorette parties, film music videos, record podcasts, create cosplay content, or simply spend quality time with friends.

Every booking helps support local artists while making creative experiences more accessible to our community.

More Than a Photo Studio

Le Saint Motel is constantly evolving. New sets are added, old favourites are transformed, and every visit offers something a little different.

Whether you're looking for a unique indoor activity in Montréal, a creative photoshoot location, a private event space, or simply a place to have fun with friends, we hope you'll become part of our story too.

After all, the best thing about Le Saint Motel isn't the sets, it's the people who bring them to life!!