Help! I'm trying to expand from location portraits to also cover studio work. There are several local studios that offer rental by the hour or by the day, but with limited experience in studio work I'm not sure what to look for.

Anybody have a 'shopping list' they can share. I guess there should be a room. Light is nice, and I guess it will not be the battery operated flash I'm used to. Tea kitchen might be nice, or at least a vending machine. Changing rooms for the model? On-site processing and consumables sale? A chairto sit on for a short break? ...

I'm drowning in features. What's really important? What questions should I ask on the 'phone? And if anybody are in the UK: how much should I expect to pay?

-- Allan Engelhardt (allane@cybaea.com), April 13, 2000

Answers

Having visited the UK, I'd like to point out that the comfort of the model is paramount which might mean to ask about heat and cooling... And obviously, you should check toilets, changing room, chairs, etc. As for the photographer, you must know if you need lights on site, gels, gobos, screens, barndoors, brollies, reflectors, etc or not. What about backgrounds? Posing stools/tables? What condition will you find the place and in what in condition must you leave it?

I've thought of doing this myself and decided that I'd rather trash my living room when needed than expect to go to a 'neutral site' and expect it to be in any condition to use (if not downright vile) after the last person uses it. And I'd have to haul more stuff thatn I'd like, and if I forgot anything behind, I'd have to expect it to vanish.

Taking the photo might be the easy part...

Cheers, Richard

-- Richard Rankin (rpr@coolabah.com), April 17, 2000.