Hiring a Photographic Studio
I guess it's the dream of many a budding photographer to spend a day in a photographic studio. So what is stopping you? Is it the price? Or is it that you find it all rather intimidating and you are not sure that you will know what to do when you get there. The first time that I was looking to hire a photographic studio I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by the price. If you are new to it all then you will be pleased to know that some studios charge by the hour. They don't all do this so you may have to shop around. Others offer half day hire.
The advantage of hiring a studio for a couple of hours or half a day isn't just financial. It can help to break you in gently. If you are comfortable with the one that you have chosen then there is nothing to stop you from returning and having another go. If the photographic studio that you tried wasn't right for you then don't despair try another one. Before you book try and make sure that the studio that you have chosen is right for your requirements. It may offer every facility that a photographer could dream of, but even then that doesn't mean that it will be right for you. Some welcome people new to the studio environment and are more than willing to offer advice and assistance before you feel ready to direct your own shoot.
Photographic Studio Charges.
The big question is just how much it will cost you. In a quick survey of around 20 studios the cheapest was £10 per hour with others offering a half day for £50 and a full day for £80. Rates will differ depending which part of the country that you are in and don't forget that the cheapest isn't always the best. Of those prepared to quote £700 per day was the top end, but I'm sure that there are locations out there that will charge you substantially more. Some will also quote a weekly rate and offer discounts for repeat sessions. Fees can also vary depending on the time of day that you with to hire the studio for. Some are now open just about around the clock, seven days per week. Some also actively encourage groups or camera clubs to come along. This is a great way of sharing the cost. It's even possible to join a group session. I think this is often a good way to start out as you can see how other photographers with more experience of the photographic studio environment act and behave.
Finding a Subject
Obviously you can bring along your own objects to photograph, whether they are for still life photography or are real live photographic models. A number of studios can supply subject matter with many having catalogues for you to select from. If you are looking to hire a model then again many photographic studios have either an in house model or a register for you to select from. A guide rate for hiring models is £20 per hour. Depending on the model and the type of poses you are asking him or her to do this figure can obviously be substantially more.
Photographic Studio Facilities.
So what should you expect from a photographic studio? Well with some all you need to do is turn up with your camera and start shooting. Everything else is provided. There are some studios where you don't even have to bring your own camera as they have high quality cameras available for hire. You do need to be careful on this point though as working with a camera that you are not used to in an environment that you are not used to may give you some problems. Some are basically large bare rooms where you need to bring all the equipment yourself. Others are fully equipped and will cater for all your lighting and backdrop requirements. Studios that are fully equipped may quote you an "all inclusive" price. Others will hire the lighting and backgrounds to you for an additional charge.
More serious photographers will have a small checklist of items that a photographic studio must provide to ensure that it meets their requirements. These will include darkrooms, film processing, equipment hire, a readily available supply of film, paper and Poloroid, specific items of furniture, smoke and wind machines. Some studios also make assistants available.
If you are using a model always ensure that changing facilities are available. Another important point to consider is if you are planning to use a lot of your own equipment then you will need to make sure that your chosen photographic studio has easy parking and loading and unloading areas.
You Won't Go Hungry.
A final thought. I'm not sure why, but a number of photographic studios go out of their way to stress the fact that they have great kitchens, excellent catering or there are numerous bars, cafes and restaurants on their doorstep. Just make sure that your not paying out £30 per hour or more while you consume a monster, slap up lunch!
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