Suggestions for building a rental studio?

Shinnya

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Hi,

I wanted to ask for some suggestions from those who use commercial studios.

We are in the middle of doing fundraising print sale, and we have raised enough money to start the second phase of construction at our studio. In this phase, we want to build a 600-800 sq ft multi-purpose room. The idea is to use it for teaching various classes/workshops we offer, lecture room where we invite photographers to give lectures to our local community.

Also, I want to explore a possibility of offering as a rental studio for commercial photographers in the area. Since I have never been to one or rent one personally, I wanted to find out what people would look for when they go to a rental studio in general. Also what would be requirement for infrastructure like electricity and others.

If you can give me some suggestions, we would appreciate it. Thank you again for your input in advance.

Warmly,
Tsuyoshi

p.s.: I was not sure where to post this message...
 

Roger Hicks

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Changing rooms with toilets for models. Triple phase power for big hot lights. A 'cove' (infinity curves in the walls) and the option of having it painted out. Comfortable seats for clients, art directors, stylists, etc. Good security You don't want people wandering in and nicking the kit). Parking. A modest supply of materials for sale including background paper on a 'cost plus' basis. Some equipmemt for loan/hire (lights, camera stands...) Somewhere nearby they can get refreshments.

That'll do for a start (I began my professional career in a studio attached to a campany that did a lot of pharmaceutical advertising, and hired out space as well).

Cheers,

R.
 

David A. Goldfarb

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Since your living space is also in the same building, you could build your dream kitchen (if you have such dreams) in the studio and try to attract food photo clients. It's a pretty high-end business.
 

bjorke

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SUch a dream kitchen should also have fantastic light, so choose the corner wisely
 
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Shinnya

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Thanks for the suggestions.

David,

Though I would like to add a kitchen, it would be too little money to go that far this time. I am hoping to major plumbing work next phase (trenching concrete slab for 100 ft!), I can add the kitchen next time.

Let me go over the list by Roger:

Changing rooms with toilets for models
- Though I do not have it on the same floor, They can use the one of 2fl for now... Adding one will be the part of the next phase.

Triple phase power for big hot lights
- What is this? How much of amp are you talking about?

A 'cove' (infinity curves in the walls)
- Is this really necessity? Can I build one with plywood?

the option of having it painted out
- No problem at all. I can be a printer once in a while

Comfortable seats for clients, art directors, stylists, etc.
- Not a problem either

Good security You don't want people wandering in and nicking the kit).
- Not a problem either

Parking
The entire block is parking lot!

A modest supply of materials for sale including background paper on a 'cost plus' basis
- Not a problem either

Some equipment for loan/hire (lights, camera stands...)
- I can even loan 8x10, 7x17, and 11x14 cameras! Or I can run to Calumet to get ones.

Somewhere nearby they can get refreshments
- There is a nice Indian restaurant near by!

How about electricity. Do people use 220/240V for their equipment? How much of amp do they need?

How about window? Though I cannot afford this time, but maybe next time, we can add large north-facing windows too...

Also, My building is 20 ft wide, and I am hoping that 30 feet of depth would be enough for this space (so 600 sq ft). Though I am not intending for photographers who shoot car or some huge product, is this decent enough for people to use it professionally?

Let me know what you think. Thank you again for your suggestions.

Warmly,
Tsuyoshi
 

TheFlyingCamera

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20x30 is a very nice sized space, if the ceiling heights are good. Frankly, as someone who usually shoots individuals or small groups, I would kill for that kind of square footage in one room. Having the cyclorama wall is a nice plus. If you do it only on part of one wall, you can get away with not having it professionally made, and doing it out of plywood. If you are anticipating putting it in a corner, or having a multi-section wall where there might be a seam in the panels, get a professional to do it. This may be something you wait on until you have some more cashflow from the studio; I don't think the absence of it will stop most of your customers from using you. Also keep in mind that it will take up a big chunk of floor space (about 4 feet).

For the lights, determine what kind of lights you will provide, and what power output they will have. Also decide if you will allow renters to provide their own, or if you will include your own lights in the rental fee. If you are going with studio strobes, unless you are providing a huge powerpack to shoot cars or appliances on 8x10, I think 40 amps per circuit should be sufficient. Also, you will want to put each outlet in the studio on a separate circuit, to be on the safe side. That will allow you to operate multiple strobe units simultaneously, or multiple high-output hotlights.

Another thing to think about in the lighting department, especially since you are offering alternative process courses, is to have a large fluorescent continuous light source, like one of the big Kino-Flo lightbanks, to shoot wet-plate collodion in the studio. These will provide a lot of light output with lower power draw, and will not char-broil the subject in the process.
 
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Shinnya

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Flyingcamera,

The ceiling of the first floor is 13-14 ft. So, I hope that would be a plenty of height for this kind of usage.

40 amp per circuit? That is a lot of electricity! I was hoping I can have one 100 amp panel for the entire back room which includes more than this studio space. I guess I have to run one dedicated 100 amp panel then...

How many outlet would I need? Like typically how many packs or lights do people use though I am sure it depends on personal style...

Thanks again.

Warmly,
Tsuyoshi

p.s.: Once it is done, come to Philadelphia to use the space!
 

BradS

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A changing room with full length mirrors, running water and good, even lighting is absolutely necessary. (shared?) Toilettes on the second floor...depends...probably workable for some situations but, really not so for many others.

Other than the other things that have already been mentioned, I've always dreamed of a studio with big sky lights...with remote controlled shutters to cover them if desired.
 
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Shinnya

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Brad,

Thank you for your suggestions.

I guess I should frame the question a little differently. I am working with limited budget, and I am asking for what would be the minimum that I need to have as a rental studio.

Sure, it would be great if I have the dream studio, but it just does not work, I suppose.

Thank you for your input.

Warmly,
Tsuyoshi
 

TheFlyingCamera

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14' ceilings are excellent. Enough that if someone wants, they can get a light over their subject, even if their subject is a fairly tall man, or a piece of furniture. The 40 amps per circuit was what they had in the Maryland Institute College of Art photo studio. But they were hooking up sometimes 2000 W or more of floods, or two 2400 ws power packs. Normally, unless someone is shooting product photography of either very large or very small products, one or two power packs of 2000 ws or less would be expected. Most folks who are doing portrait work are not shooting 8x10 anymore, so it would be unusual to need more than 2000 ws for a portrait job. I have a total of 1500 ws on tap between two monolights that I use in my home, and the monolights are on a single 20amp circuit, and I've never tripped a breaker. I would have one four-socket outlet per wall in the actual shooting space. Put each outlet on a separate circuit. There are also outlet sets that have built in circuit testers, like the GFE switches you have to put in bathrooms. Talk to an electrician about exactly what to use.

I just looked at some power packs on the B&H website to get some amperage specs. It is unlikely that someone would walk in off the street themselves with a big high-power Broncolor power pack and heads and want to shoot in your studio, but as an example, they have a 3200 ws pack that draws up to 16 amps on 110 v. You should consider having 220v lines run, as on 220, the same pack only draws 10 amps. Assume that with heavy usage, at high output, it would be possible for the pack to spike and draw up to double the stated amperage- or if someone does something stupid and disconnects a strobe head while the unit is powered on and the capacitor is charged. This is why I was saying 40 amps per circuit.
 

MattKing

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With respect to electrical supply issues, I'd suggest that whatever you are able to set up in the short term, you should do so in a manner that is easily extended later.

In other words, don't wall in those panels and circuit breakers, and consider having easily accessable wiring and conduit, with an eye to future expansion.

I don't think anyone has mentioned ventilation and heating/cooling - good ventilation and temperature control (i.e. cooling) will be greatly appreciated.

Matt
 

Roger Hicks

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Dear Tsuyoshi,

No, the cove isn't essential, but it's useful. Ask a plasterer what it would cost. If the money's there, fine, if not, not.

If you get anyone who shoots hot lights, it's quite easy to use 20K. At 110v that's 181A -- before you add all the other uses. But given that you aren't planning car shoots, probably 100A will be enough. Can't help on voltages -- I'm in the UK.

NO WINDOWS unless they are in a room separate from the studio. They ruin the lighting and have to be covered up.

Apart from that I'll second what everyone else says -- especially toilets on the same floor. Use the small-bore 'macerator' type if need be.

Cheers,

R.
 

Richard Kelham

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Roger Hicks said:
That'll do for a start (I began my professional career in a studio attached to a campany that did a lot of pharmaceutical advertising, and hired out space as well).
Click to expand...



Not, by any chance, located in the Wandsworth Road, corner of Silverthorne Road?

BTW I agree with your specs for a rental studio – 600 sq ft should be enough for full length portraiture or small(ish) product shots.



Richard
 

Roger Hicks

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Richard Kelham said:
Not, by any chance, located in the Wandsworth Road, corner of Silverthorne Road?

BTW I agree with your specs for a rental studio – 600 sq ft should be enough for full length portraiture or small(ish) product shots.

Richard
Click to expand...

The very same, with en-suite pub. Did you hire the place at any time? Or what? Did you know Colin? You may or may not know that he died a few years ago...

Cheers,

R.
 
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Shinnya

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Hi everyone,

Thanks for the comments so far.

We finished the framing of the room, and it looks like this. It is hard to see the space entirely, but it is a pretty good size. All the plywood on the walls are for hanging photographs since this room also serves a gallery space.

We will be doing a rough-in for electrical work next and a little bit of plumbing for the future expansion.

I also wanted to ask about the floor. Right now, I have a panted concrete floor. I was wondering if I need to paint completely like white. Or leaving it as it is rather OK.

Also, I would like to buy some equipment for now. Not so much of light and powerpacks since our budget is limited. But other things that people would not want to transport to the studio. I can think of the background and paper for it. But also what else I should have?

Let me know what you think. Thank you again for all of your input!

Warmly,
Tsuyoshi
 

TheFlyingCamera

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Paint it neutral gray, or black - white will throw too much reflections. If your budget can stand it, instead of seamless paper, get a few cloth backdrops instead, because you'll go through paper very fast. Two or three rolls of paper and you're up to the price of that backdrop, which you can always wash when it gets dirty.
 

Roger Hicks

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DON'T use a floor paint that can't easily be painted over.

Cheers,

R.
 

mgphoto

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TheFlyingCamera said:
Paint it neutral gray, or black - white will throw too much reflections.
Click to expand...

I would highly recommend against black unless you want it to feel like a small cave. It would seem the intuitive thing to do but in reality, it will make the room incredibly clostrophobic and un-inviting. Most commercial studios I have shot in have had the walls painted white or light grey. Movable flats painted black on one side can be used to cut reflection when necessary. Just make sure the ceiling is somewhat dark.

Cheers,
Mark
 

TheFlyingCamera

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I was specifically referring to the floor, not the walls. I agree- a light neutral gray for the walls. Whatever color, it should be a neutral color, so it does not create color casts. One option to solving the wall color issue is to have black drapes hung that can be pulled across the walls when working to selectively cover parts of the room you do not want reflections from.
 

GraemeMitchell

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Yeah, I agree not to skimp on the power. It's nice to have a circuit per outlet so you can easily run a 3200w/s pack on each outlet, or a 2000w hotlight. Then maybe one big 220 plug in case someone want's to bring in a 5k or something (though the space is a bit small for that kind of power).

I'd say b/c the space isn't really huge an infinity cyc could be nice b/c they give the illusion of space. Check out Avedon's old space for an example, now via splashlight: Dead Link Removed.

The only other thing I'd suggest is good sound system with easy ipod in, and the attitude that anything someone wants, you'll provide it. That's what matters in the end in the rental biz I think, the service. If it's good, most people will pay extra for it.
 
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Shinnya

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Thanks everyone,

As for cyc wall, I looked at the instruction from Calumet to see how it is done. To me it is much more cost effective to frame with plywood and attach a couple of layers of 1/4 drywalls. We do make curved walls in the studio already.

The only thing is that this space is not just a shooting studio but for other programs, and taking 4 feet from the parameter of the walls are not quite acceptable for our use. I am thinking if I can build a mobile one... Let me see.

Warmly,
Tsuyoshi
 
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