Opening A Studio - Good Idea ?

[puretotty]

I have a mate who has a office space, it's a nice size... two floors... he's approached me with a view to converting it into a photographic studio...

It's in Milton Keynes, even though just on the outskirts... even though I think of this as a plus as it's quite and away from things...

Thinking of converting the top floor into 4 shoot spaces... girlie bedroom, rockchick bedroom, living room scene and a office scene...

Looking at charging around ?40 a hour, 140 for 4 hour half day... and ?200 for the full 8 hour day... Would come with both full pic and video lighting... Had a nice bathroom, kitch and parking space...

Do people think it's a good idea ? Means people dont have to travel into London with all the hussle and bussle of London and the inflated prices...

Are many people using Studios nowadays ?

[Nob3y]

?40 an hour ?!?!?!?!
I dont pay that at the studio I use..... In london !!!

[Paul Taylor]

I use apartments but the sets you mention including I don't have in apartments so if people wanted a set like the ones above its a good idea. However I have no idea how many people use studios anymore....... I'd say the bigger players do more. I shoot 2-3 times a month and I use a studio less than a half of them, but I'm a gonzo man so......

[Millzy82]

I won't call it a bad idea but you haven't mentioned the fact there is another pretty well known studio also on the outskirts of Milton Keynes with a bedroom and a dedicated studio backdrop with lighting and props at no extra cost.

Out of interest, how did you decide your hourly, half and full day rates? The studio in MK I mentioned has hourly, half day and full day rates which are more competitive than yours though by some margin though your studio may better cater for those looking for multiple sets for shooting. Several studios in London with their "inflated prices" are also less expensive that the rates you're looking at charging.

You didn't mention a changing/makeup room for the models either...

[puretotty]

We have also used apartments a lot... but they are usually much of a muchness looks wise (magnolia walls and all)

I think specific themed scenes would help attracting people to use it... I know if a studio opened and offered the scenes above I for one would use them...

And yes ?40 a hour is high end... but then it can be a pain in the ass setting up a studio for a 1 hour shoot... hence why there is better value in the half and full day bookings... and those prices were only a suggestion

I dont know where your shooting in London, but most London studios (apart from the really grubby or really small ones) are all over ?300 for the day... but if you found something cheap and goood then all power to you...

We're also looking at other things we could do to make money, wondering if there is a "webcam studio" option we could look to develop as well ? Like SheBangs maybe?

[Nob3y]

I would never pay that per hour for a studio.
But if you get people paying that much then "power to you" as you say

[derrick76]

There is a great East London (walking distance from Langdon Park DLR) apartment/studio that is nicely priced at ?25 per hour and ?175 for the day.

[Millzy82]

[quote]And yes ?40 a hour is high end... but then it can be a pain in the ass setting up a studio for a 1 hour shoot... hence why there is better value in the half and full day bookings... and those prices were only a suggestion

I dont know where your shooting in London, but most London studios (apart from the really grubby or really small ones) are all over ?300 for the day... but if you found something cheap and goood then all power to you...
[/quote]
How about a default setup for the studio and an additional charge if there's a request for a different set up?

There are several pretty roomy and well maintained studios for reasonable rates if you look hard enough but I'm not being argumentative.

[Nob3y]

Sounds like the very plave I was speaking of

[puretotty]

I have used Sarancen House which is the studio you are referring too... Well no offense but I am not a massice fan of the studio... I believe our studio would definetly offer a much better option (but then of course I would say that lol)

I used to run TheStudioMK in Milton Keynes and the rates I have used are very similar to what we were charging back in 2005... Also based on recent rates I myself were quoted...

If people want to link to some of these studios your referring too please feel free to post them, I would love to see what they have to offer...

And your right Millzy this is not an argument, it's just a thread (like I have placed else where too) to see if this is a option worth exploring... currently it sounds as though the industry would not really support such a studio... no biggie for me... I will just move on