Studio Problems.

indemnity said

To bring things into context there are varying types of studios. For the most part members on here are probably looking for an affordable space with enough equipment that they are familiar with to use at an affordable price. To be fair there are a few people on here with nice studios which essentially they subsidise in order to rent them out for latent income to help with costs. It's not rocket science to work out that the true cost of renting a professional studio starts at about £1200 a day and can cost significantly more, these are purpose fitted commercial ventures.

Bare studios are a  lower cost but even then depending where they are can still be costly. It's impossible to have a fully equipped, warm, clean, insured and staffed studio in a city centre with parking and good connection and facilities for £30-40 p/hr, so it's either £200hr min, a compromise, or the kindness of a photographer letting you use their space at an affordable price.

It's patently clear it's an uneconomic business model to hire out professional studio spaces for a pittance. A photographer who does paid work might rent out their space when it's not in use but you have to realise you're not renting a purposed facility it's getting access on a budget, some spaces will be fab, others not so much.

Good analysis and fair points made.

Nevertheless, those offering their studios to amateur photographers for a fee aren't always as forthcoming with information as they might be, IMHO. I just performed a PP search for VIP member studios within 160 km - assuming these are the ones that are looking for business from other PP members.

Whilst some are very thorough in regard to their specifications, there is a significant number of others that don't bother listing kit at all. Nor do they mention toilet or changing facilities. Indeed, a surprising number don't even state how big their place is, i.e.: length x width. Or the parameter most likely to lure us home studio types out of our comfy but suboptimal creative hovels: ceiling height.

Edited by waist.it

waist.it said

indemnity said

To bring things into context there are varying types of studios. For the most part members on here are probably looking for an affordable space with enough equipment that they are familiar with to use at an affordable price. To be fair there are a few people on here with nice studios which essentially they subsidise in order to rent them out for latent income to help with costs. It's not rocket science to work out that the true cost of renting a professional studio starts at about £1200 a day and can cost significantly more, these are purpose fitted commercial ventures.

Bare studios are a  lower cost but even then depending where they are can still be costly. It's impossible to have a fully equipped, warm, clean, insured and staffed studio in a city centre with parking and good connection and facilities for £30-40 p/hr, so it's either £200hr min, a compromise, or the kindness of a photographer letting you use their space at an affordable price.

It's patently clear it's an uneconomic business model to hire out professional studio spaces for a pittance. A photographer who does paid work might rent out their space when it's not in use but you have to realise you're not renting a purposed facility it's getting access on a budget, some spaces will be fab, others not so much.

Good analysis and fair points made.

Nevertheless, those offering their studios to amateur photographers for a fee aren't always as forthcoming with information as they might be, IMHO. I just performed a PP search for VIP member studios within 160 km - assuming these are the ones that are looking for business from other PP members. Whilst some are indeed very thorough in their specifications, there is a significant number of others that don't bother listing kit at all. And a surprising number that don't even state how big their place is, i.e.: length x width. Or the parameter most likely to lure us home studio types out of our comfy but suboptimal creative hovels: ceiling height.

If you visited our studio page you would see what we have to offer

Art Asylum Reloaded Photo Studio said

waist.it said

indemnity said

To bring things into context there are varying types of studios. For the most part members on here are probably looking for an affordable space with enough equipment that they are familiar with to use at an affordable price. To be fair there are a few people on here with nice studios which essentially they subsidise in order to rent them out for latent income to help with costs. It's not rocket science to work out that the true cost of renting a professional studio starts at about £1200 a day and can cost significantly more, these are purpose fitted commercial ventures.

Bare studios are a  lower cost but even then depending where they are can still be costly. It's impossible to have a fully equipped, warm, clean, insured and staffed studio in a city centre with parking and good connection and facilities for £30-40 p/hr, so it's either £200hr min, a compromise, or the kindness of a photographer letting you use their space at an affordable price.

It's patently clear it's an uneconomic business model to hire out professional studio spaces for a pittance. A photographer who does paid work might rent out their space when it's not in use but you have to realise you're not renting a purposed facility it's getting access on a budget, some spaces will be fab, others not so much.

Good analysis and fair points made.

Nevertheless, those offering their studios to amateur photographers for a fee aren't always as forthcoming with information as they might be, IMHO. I just performed a PP search for VIP member studios within 160 km - assuming these are the ones that are looking for business from other PP members. Whilst some are indeed very thorough in their specifications, there is a significant number of others that don't bother listing kit at all. And a surprising number that don't even state how big their place is, i.e.: length x width. Or the parameter most likely to lure us home studio types out of our comfy but suboptimal creative hovels: ceiling height.

If you visited our studio page you would see what we have to offer

I already did so. You have a very nice set up and you are indeed commendably thorough in your specifications. Sadly however, many others are not a thorough as you are. And, unless I missed something glaringly obvious, even your page does not state ceiling height? :-)

As our studio is an old coach house we have beams which can be used for suspension, aerial hoop etc which means we have plenty of height plus there is open roof space above the beams. 

Art Asylum Reloaded Photo Studio said

As our studio is an old coach house we have beams which can be used for suspension, aerial hoop etc which means we have plenty of height plus there is open roof space above the beams. 

Everyone I know who has used your studio always speaks well of it. Out of curiosity, how high is that beam? Based on counting the courses of bricks above the doorway, I'm guestimating about 2.7 metres?

Edited by waist.it

waist.it said

Art Asylum Reloaded Photo Studio said

As our studio is an old coach house we have beams which can be used for suspension, aerial hoop etc which means we have plenty of height plus there is open roof space above the beams. 

Everyone I know who has used your studio always speaks well of it. Out of curiosity, how high is that beam? Based on counting the courses of bricks above the doorway, I'm guestimating about 2.7 metres?

Edited by waist.it

Thanks glad to hear that and I'll measure it for you next time i'm in

We are based just outside of London, I ensure our studios are clean, fully equipped and manned.  At the end of the day it’s my business and you have to take pride in your business, otherwise what’s the point.

Fine and DanDee Studio's said

We are based just outside of London, I ensure our studios are clean, fully equipped and manned.  At the end of the day it’s my business and you have to take pride in your business, otherwise what’s the point.

Agreed, its about putting in the time to ensure your clients are happy and catering for their needs

As highlighted previously in this post by others, the term "studio" is at best vague, a bit like trying to define the proverbial  "how long is a piece of string".

IMO it isn't such a surprise that there are so many types and levels of studio facilities, they all cater for different types of needs, from camera clubs to advertising agencies, from readers wives shooters to full-time high-end commercial photographers, from a few tens of pounds an hour to several hundreds, small, intimate and cosy, large cold bare, customised for a gender of photography or another, some take the approach of mimicking locations, even to the extent of having a fully equipped DIY joinery shed for custom-builds. Some unfortunately are a total waste of money, dirty unsuitable and sometimes even dangerous. I would dare to say that there are as many "sub-categories" of studio as many types of photography.

I believe that the secret lies in creating a personal portfolio of suitable options to choose from, it's a painful exercise, but it pays in the long run, and at the same time have at least a basic personal kit to fall back onto.