Studio Problems.

Well, that's a legitimate approach I suppose - as long as it's made clear that you have to bring your own stuff (and not expect it to be laid on for you.)

Timmee said

Well, that's a legitimate approach I suppose - as long as it's made clear that you have to bring your own stuff (and not expect it to be laid on for you.)

I'm afraid it's a common symptom of those who inhabit the PP bubble - not knowing how things work in the wider world.

Well, I guess us poor dummies (who've been naive enough to imagine a studio might provide lights for a shoot we've booked) will just have to 'educate' ourselves. PMSL 🤣 

(So far lighting has been laid on by all the studios I've attended - just lucky I guess.)

Edited by Timmee

A MUA turns up at a shoot expecting YOU to provide the makeup
A Model turns up at a shoot expecting YOU to provide clothing/Lingerie etc
A photographer turns up at a shoot expecting the client to provide camera and equipment
Yet a lot of you seem to think it ok that a studio you hire doesn't need to provide basic lighting or clean useable backdrops ?

Nigel Boulton said

A MUA turns up at a shoot expecting YOU to provide the makeup
A Model turns up at a shoot expecting YOU to provide clothing/Lingerie etc
A photographer turns up at a shoot expecting the client to provide camera and equipment
Yet a lot of you seem to think it ok that a studio you hire doesn't need to provide basic lighting or clean useable backdrops ?

You'll laugh that happens but it so happens we have a nice changing room which is kept warm and plenty of clothing, lingerie, shoes etc

A few issues I see here.

1 many photographers here are just hobbyist so don’t have lighting kit, and if I was a studio advertising here I would expect the photographers to want at least something. This is different to a commercial shoot, then it’s just the hire of a big space.

2. Studios are renowned for just eating cash in both heating and props and costs have to be covered somehow.

The only problem I’ve ever had with a studio I’d booked was that coincidently the model was friends with the owner and even though I was the end client paying for everyone she blagged the only car space and I had to not only park on the street, carrying kit, clothes and props, but move it halfway through the morning.

FiL said

It's common for studios which cater to commercial clients not to carry any lighting or camera gear - they only provide an empty shooting space alongside a kitchen, lounge/viewing and makeup areas. Sometimes, the studio is on a secure site with parking to cater for celebrities. You'll tend to run into those studios more so in London. The client will hire in whatever lighting and camera equipment they need for the shoot.

Agreed - very common in London, especially if it's a large space.

Nigel Boulton said

1. Lighting. You run a studio. I don't care if you have " Great natural light" you should provide at least 2 lights and a basic Softbox or Umbrella set up. I do not drive and having to lug lighting all around London is not something I wish to do. Also paying for studio time to then spend it putting together lighting and setting it all up is a bit annoying. Not continuous lighting either, especially the cheap weak stuff that is useless in a large room.

As has been noted, this is a difference that hobbyists will more commonly trip over than those doing large commercial productions, as the latter will know to ask.

Nigel Boulton said

2. Backdrops. several studios now charge per metre for backdrops being soiled. I have recently hired 2 with this clause. This is IMO reasonable. However, if you do have this clause please keep your backdrops trimmed and clean. I had to unroll at least 4 metres at one studio to find a piece of backdrop that was actually white.

You say this like it's new, but it's been standard IME since I first hired a studio, back in the 1980s.

Nigel Boulton said

4. Accurate Pics. A few times I have selected a studio by how it looks only to find on arrival that decor, props etc are totally different from the pics shown on the website. If you upgrade your studio thats great but please take some time to rephotograph and update your site.

Certainly on a primarily hobbyist site like this I would expect studios to have sufficient pictures of the studio, estate agent style, and let their Credited images show what's possible to do in it.  Again, is it down to your expectations, or a dissonance between your expectations and those of the studio owner, who might more commonly let their space to commercial hirers?

Nigel Boulton said

A Model turns up at a shoot expecting YOU to provide clothing/Lingerie etc

Think of a commercial fashion shoot.  I shall say no more.

Nigel Boulton said

A MUA turns up at a shoot expecting YOU to provide the makeup
A Model turns up at a shoot expecting YOU to provide clothing/Lingerie etc
A photographer turns up at a shoot expecting the client to provide camera and equipment
Yet a lot of you seem to think it ok that a studio you hire doesn't need to provide basic lighting or clean useable backdrops ?

If you shoot at the top stills photo studios in the UK, places like Holborn Studios or Sunbeam, lights, modifiers, stands, even extension cables come as an extra hire cost. Colorama use is always billed by the meter. I once had a bill of £17,000 from Holborn to paint a white cove blue, then restore to white (client paid). I don’t understand why anyone can take issue with this unless a studio advertises free lighting and/or Colorama, but then fails to deliver on this. 

Lucky to find one. My closet are 30 miles away. Those that were closer closed. Had home set up.then daughter moved back home...

At our studio you pay for the space.

Lighting can be provided at an extra cost.

If you are happy to use the paper backgrounds in the current condition there is no extra charge... if you wish to have fresh paper you pay per meter for the amount cut off.

This is common in commercial studios and allows photographers to pay for what they use.

Sensual Art said

Certainly on a primarily hobbyist site like this I would expect studios to have sufficient pictures of the studio, estate agent style, and let their Credited images show what's possible to do in it.  Again, is it down to your expectations, or a dissonance between your expectations and those of the studio owner, who might more commonly let their space to commercial hirers?

Yep. I sometimes see profiles of studios on here, and all - or virtually all - of the pics are model pics that have been taken there. So I find myself asking 'but what does the studio actually look like?' 

Rubbish marketing, IMO. 

At our studio all equipment, backdrops, etc are included in the studio hire cost. This includes heating as the comfort of the models and photographers is of the up most importance. We all supply tea and coffee free of charge which we also see as a basic requirement.

Nigel Boulton said

Yet a lot of you seem to think it ok that a studio you hire doesn't need to provide basic lighting or clean useable backdrops ?

This comes down to doing your own research. You wouldn't just randomly point to a laptop in a store, buy it then be surprised when it’s not the i7 you wanted but an i3. That’s on you for not checking.

I’ve rented studios worldwide, and when doing studio searches it was always clear what’s included on the website. If it’s a studio with no equipment, it’s usually labeled as a "Daylight Studio." Most of these have good natural light but no gear, though some will state that they offer rentals for extras like flashes at an additional cost. If something is not 100% clear on the site of a studio that looks interesting to you? Contact them for clarification.

There's photographers that specifically want daylight studios without traditional equipment, including myself for certain shoots where daylight in a nice space is enough. These studios often charge less per hour than fully equipped ones, so it can work in your favor.

Bottom line: if you do your homework, you won’t be caught off guard by a studio’s offerings. Unless a studio misrepresented what they provide, that’s what reviews are for—check them beforehand to see if there's been complaints on that front. If they fail to deliver on what’s listed, ask for a refund and walk out and move on with your plan B, cause you always should have a plan B if you're seriously investing in doing anything (not just photography) i.e you booked a model beforehand as well etc.

Edited by Gwenny

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.