Booking A Studio

Hi everyone and happy Monday!

This week I am continuing the series of posts that cover the more technical aspects of model photography. These posts are basically just practical guides to help you on your model photography journey.

Today I will be talking about using a studio for the first time, because if you’ve never booked one yourself before the thought can be quite daunting. I hope this post will help.

There will be no modelling images in this post, but there are a few selfies that seem vaguely relevant to some of the points I'm making. All of these selfies were taken at ARB Studio in Longton.

How to book a studio:

When it comes to booking a studio, it’s as simple as contacting the studio and requesting however many hours you need on whatever day. Some studios will have their own website where you can see the studio’s availability before requesting a day and time, or this information might be available in places like PurplePort too. Often you will be required to pay a deposit, or sometimes the entire cost of the studio upfront. It varies with each studio, but they will let you know when you place the booking. Then on the day, you just turn up about 10 minutes before the start of your booking with your model. It’s really is that easy!

What to expect at a studio:

When you arrive at a studio, the owner will generally meet you there and give you a quick tour, making you aware of any rules they have. They will often be available throughout the shoot to offer lighting assistance and you will be able to ask any questions you have.

Most studios will let you know if there’s anything they would rather you didn’t do, but mostly you will have free reign to move the lights and backdrops as needed for your shoot. Treat all of the equipment carefully and respectfully, and report any issues as soon as they occur. If there’s no general safety information given to you on arrival, then make sure to ask so you’re aware incase of an emergency. Hopefully you won't need it obviously.

Most studios will offer tea and coffee, and sometimes biscuits. It’s worth checking this before you arrive though, especially in the colder months so you can bring something with you if it’s not offered by the studio. There’s nothing worse than a cold model without access to coffee and biscuits!

Here are some coffee selfies taken at ARB:

Amy always makes sure there's coffee available and even makes sure theres oat milk there for me! Me and Dave also bring our own mugs with our names on because we are super cool.

And here are some selfies of me getting warm in between sets. First with the cuddly dressing gown Dave bought with him (photographer brownie points there), and then in my super cool dinosaur hoodie!:

Things to consider when choosing a studio:

Obviously there are loads of studios everywhere and it's difficult to know which ones will be best for you. This section outlines some things that I would consider when deciding where to shoot.

Not all of these things will be important for every shoot, but they're definitely worth keeping in mind. Most studios will have their own pros and cons, so it’s important that you’re choosing one that matches your goals for that particular shoot.

Price:

Obviously price will factor into your decision when choosing a studio. You may not need a more expensive studio for everything, but sometimes it’s worth it. Often you’ll find a studio that you like and is in your budget so you'll keep going back to it.

With some studios, you can buy blocks of hours up front for a cheaper rate, or shoot with one of the resident models for a reduced rate. Here is the poster for me as a resident model at ARB:

Time of year:

Different studios will be better at different times of the year. Especially in bigger studios where heating may be an issue in the colder months. Similarly, in a studio that relies on the natural light, they might not be as good on darker or rainy days. These things probably won’t be deal breakers in terms of whether or not to book a studio, but it may mean that you will want to adapt details like what time you start, what levels you shoot to, or whether you need to shoot for longer to factor in more breaks/less time so your model doesn't freeze to death.

Here are some images of me huddled up between sets on shoots over winter... some studios are just a bit chilly in the colder weather so make sure your model is happy to shoot there in the colder temperatures and make sure she brings something warm to wear in between sets like I do:

Quality of equipment and variety of props/sets available:

Find out what the equipment is like at a studio before you book it to make sure it will be sufficient for your needs. You can’t just assume that all studios will have a huge range of lights, especially if it’s a studio that relies on good natural light. There’s no point booking a studio that’s geared towards natural light work if you plan to exclusively use studio lights. It’s also worth checking that there is no extra cost for the use of certain equipment before you book.

Some studios have various sets and props available to use while you’re there so it's worth checking out what’s in the studio before you go. Be mindful of the fact that if there are props, a lot of other people will have already used them, but it can make a nice change from using your own props (more so if it’s a studio you don’t plan to use on a regular basis).

Here is a phone picture of the awesome Halloween set that Amy put in last year, and the set that me and Dave put together for our latest shoot when I took Pixie with me. I included them so you can see the variety that some studios can offer past the white wall experience:

And one of my Halloween selfies with the resident skeleton prop:

References:

Check out the references people leave for a studio before you book it. Look for a studio with lots of positive references mentioning things I’ve touched on in this post, as well as things like feeling welcome and whether or not they plan to go back. Also keep an eye on what models are posting on their social media from certain studios because it will give you a better view of what it's like to shoot there. Here are some of my mirror selfies from ARB:

Ease of access and links to public transport:

If you have any mobility issues, find out in advance where the studio is and how easy it is to get to. Some studios may be up lots of stairs, or parking may be a short walk from the actual studio space. It’s also something to consider if you’re asking your model to bring a lot of outfits or if you’re taking a lot of equipment yourself. You don't want to be exhausted before you start!

Lots of models travel by public transport so you’ll want to make sure that you can either collect your model from a local station (if they're comfortable with that) or check that it’s not going to take them a while to walk to it/cost them more in taxis to get there. And if they are driving then make sure there is enough parking at the studio.

I didn't have any selfies that would even vaguely sum up this point, but apparently I take loads of selfies of me drinking coffee, so I'll just leave these here:

That’s all from me for today. If you’d like to check out other posts in this series, you can do so by clicking here for posts about levels, level pushing and how to contact a model.

Have an amazing week (don’t forget, it’s pancake day tomorrow!) and I look forward to bringing you some more images next Monday, as well as the next subscriber-only post coming on Sunday :)

Misuzu x