References for Heavenly Bodies Studio

DominikaW

Wooow!!!

Another successful model weekend in Heavenly Bodies Studio. Studio got great equipment, lots of props to use, a great area for models to change, do hair and make up which makes feel comfortable. I'm very proud to be residential model of the studio. Helen & Roger are very friendly and welcome people. Roger is always happy to help with settings and lighting. Helen always makes sure everyone got plenty of fluids and food. She a great host.

Thank you for having me.

Lots of Love

Domi ❤️

Geoff Hawkins

Last Sunday saw me with probably my fifth or sixth shoot at Heavenly Bodies Studio. Helen and Roger were welcoming hosts as always, with great coffee and cookies on offer.

Always on offer too is a helping hand and gentle advice if needed, but your hosts also keep out of the way if that's what you prefer.

The studio is best described as "Compact and Bijou", but with all you need in the way of lighting and equipment.

Who could ask for more? I'll definitely be going back.

RLux

I have worked with the Heavenly Bodies Studio a number of times and thank Helen and Rodger for their help and great hospitality. The studio is well equipped with a number of lighting set-ups and backdrops. This particular shoot was portrait and experimental photography which was perfect for the studio. The studio can be set up as desired but help is at hand if needed. Helen and Rodger are perfect hosts and I particularly thank them for the fresh cooked chocolate cookies.

I can highly recommend Heaven Bodies.

Thank you for the great shoot.

R

VicPics

Just had my most recent of several shoots at Heavenly Bodies Studio, hosted by Helen and Roger. Yes, I keep going back! Because always receive an enthusiastic welcome and abundance of any help when required! Although I tend to use my own L.E.D lighting, the studio is very well equipped with conventional flash and modifiers for use if required :)

It was super to work with the 'resident Model': DominikaW, who apart from being an experienced model, is also an experienced photographer, so fully appreciates all aspects which always helps you to get the shots you want!

Helen's solo or duo studio days are always full of light-hearted fun but ensure super results and a satisfying session.

Heavenly Bodies Studio - happily 100% recommended by me for Photographers (and Models!)

Hrp53

This was my second visit to the studio and as a novice, I was a little apprehensive about the lighting set up. I had no issues with the lights or the universal trigger. The wonderful assistant (Helen) was on hand to provide refreshments and change the backdrops. I can highly recommend this small friendly studio to anyone just learning the ropes.

RLux

The Heavenly Bodies Studio is well equipped with a range of lighting set-ups and back drops. Helen and Roger are perfect hosts providing refreshments and help setting up the studio. My shoot with Helen using experimental filters was great fun and augmented by the particular lighting set we used. Great conversation and lovely music in the back ground made the shoot fly by. I highly recommend the studio to photographers and models alike.

Many thanks for the great support and help.

R

Ian49

I have posted my review of Helen under her name, so here's my bit about the studio.

We spent most of the time shooting outdoors before moving into the studio. The studio was equipped with a number of backdrops, lights and modifiers, including a boom light for overhead lighting. There was also a universal trigger which worked perfectly with my Sony camera. There were a number of props around and I spotted a ceiling hook and a heavy rope which we used towards the end of the shoot. I felt at home with the studio and lighting as it was very much like another studio I use.

I definitely recommend the combination of Helen and the studio. Helen was amazing, nothing was too much trouble! She is a lovely, friendly lady.

Dave Hammant

Arranged a shoot with Helen Diaz at the great Heavenly Bodies Studio, a well equipped studio in Helen and her husband's house. Good backdrops, plentiful lights and modifiers, everything that you would need for typical studio work ready to hand - and it all works properly!

Anyone looking for a studio can book here with confidence, and it comes with the possibility of shooting the lovely Helen Diaz if you need a model as well!

Definitely recommend this place and the combination!

Craig 2112

I had my first shoot with Helen at the weekend, working at her home 'Heavenly Bodies' studio with her husband Roger providing me with additional tuition.

Both were great to work with and very welcoming. My review of the shoot itself is on Helen's profile, but specifically on the studio, it is well organised, and allowed us to go through multiple set-ups with different back-drops and lighting as well as experimenting with options such as gels, oil, and smoke. In addition, there's the possibility of shooting outside in garden.

All in all, a great set-up and definitely recommended.

Jay Pegg

Had a lovely shoot at Heavenly Bodies Studio (formerly The Den) with the excellent Helen Diaz recently.

We were able to go through numerous set ups as the studio has a good variety of backdrops and lighting. There's also a smoke machine. Plus we were able to use the garden as well.

I can thoroughly recommend the studio and Helen too of course!

Alexander Wares Photography

Spent two very relaxed hours working with Dominika at The Den. Lovely welcome from Helen and Roger and made to feel completely at home. Made the most of the lovely garden, with fantastic late afternoon light. Take advantage of the weather, while it lasts and use this wonderful location. Of course the studio is also available, but it seemed a shame not to take advantage of the outdoor space. Absolutely recommend The Den as an alternative to booking large studio space. Thank you Helen and Roger, see you soon.

JohnDuder

I'd booked a shoot with Helen Diaz - and the Den was a pleasant bonus...

So the studio takes second place to Helen, but what an excellent little add-on: compact and thoughtfully equipped with lights, backgrounds and modifiers which make a wide range of looks and effects possible. Having shot indoors and outside in the garden, I didn't explore anything like the full range of options, but would be entirely happy to work there again.

I'm deeply envious of both the space and the environment, because it offers so very many creative options.

Togtastic77

My first shoot at the Den and what a lovely experience it was. Helen was my host and model, making me feel right at home from the off, being so bubbly a character, plying me with tea and biscuits throughout the session.

The first hour was spent in the enclosed garden, which offers both shade and open areas, with overhanging trees and shrubs and offers a great deal of privacy.

The next 2 hours was spent in the studio, which although is not on a grand scale is perfectly adequate for most genres of studio photography, with several backdrops, reflectors, furniture and several studio lights, one with a large boom arm. There's also a small discreet changing are for the model. I also made use of the smoke machine to add atmosphere to our final shots of the session.

I highly recommend the Den for all its excellent facilities and a wonderful host.

K Kev

An amazing compact studio with an abundance of lights and modifiers.

Fantastic helpful hosts and I thank you all for an enjoyable shoot

Looking forward to my next shoot at The Den.

Kev

Gareth Oakey Photography

I had the pleasure of shooting at The Den in a collaboration with Dominika Wenz. Comms beforehand were excellent, they shared info before I needed to ask. The studio itself is not far from the M4 and is easy to find. On arrival I was given a friendly welcome and showed around both the studio and garden. Roger was on hand to explain and setup anything I needed throughout my stay. As can be seen in the images, there is a good variety of lighting / modifiers and backdrops., they also have some costume for models to hand. I managed five different sets over the two hours I'd booked. Once again I'd like to thank Helen and Roger for making everything so easy and for the home baked cookies!

rhinocer

This was my second shoot at The Den - and they welcomed me back ! I was pleased to shoot here again because of my previous positive experience and because of the favourable package on offer, which included an opportunity to work with DominikaW, the talented model-in-residence (see separate reference for DominikaW).

The Den is a compact studio offering a comprehensive range of lights/modifiers, different backdrops, a hoist, changing facilities: everything to suit my photographic requirements and those of most photographers. Dominika and I also took advantage of the private garden (part of the package: open area and shade) to take some outdoor shots in splendid weather.

Roger and Helen were always close at hand to provide advice and support, including props and even, in one instance, lending an item of clothing to enhance the objectives of the shoot. They achieved all this efficiently yet unobtrusively.

Aside from the technical support, there was the hospitality: covering seemingly limitless supplies of tea, coffee, water and biscuits to help fuel the shoot. I was even given a sandwich at lunchtime !

Everything about The Den ensured a successful, enjoyable and productive half day shoot.

So thank you Helen and Roger.

I highly recommend The Den studio.

uwfa

I chose the Den as we needed a studio not far from Bristol with a good blackout. I've worked with Helen before felt that this would be a good choice. I was pleased with the space. I augmented the black background with one I brought, making a corner, in order to get minimal reflected light.

It proved to be a great workspace and after many technical issues with my experimental technique were resolved, we got some excellent, rather weird stereo images. It was great that everything was peaceful and quiet around. Thank you Roger and Helen. I will have it as a first choice for this area and this sort of work. Highly recommended.

Mick W

I had a very enjoyable six-hour shoot with Helen, who is a lovely host, at her home studio The Den. The lights were already setup in an ideal configuration for our first set, which got us off to a flying start. I had my own lighting ideas for what I wanted to shoot and the studio had more than enough kit to do what I wanted. Everything worked perfectly and was easy to adjust and move around. It was great to be able to bring not much more than a camera and rely on everything else being there ready and waiting at the studio.

Urban Gecko

This is a fantastic studio. I used it a few weeks ago and loved it. I certainly will want to use this well equipped studio.

Roger and Helen are fantastic and bring a great deal of experience to both the studio technical setup and modelling. They are both very personable and genuine.

Definitely one of my favourite studios!

Techquila Photography

I had a shoot this afternoon at The Den with the lovely Dominika W. We shot both in the studio and in the garden which gave us a really nice range of styles and moods to work with. This is a really great little studio to work in with plenty of equipment and lots of help if you need it. Special shout out to Roger who managed to come up with the vital bit of wire I stupidly forgot to bring with!

Highly recommended.