Metro Imaging Ltd  

Metro Imaging's five hire studios located in Clerkenwell and in Soho offer a unique environment for photographers and their clients.

All studios have air-conditioning, broadband internet access, sound systems with MP3, blackout blinds, kitchen and catering facilities, hair & make-up and client seating areas.

Their studio assistants are trained in all aspects of production, lighting and camera set-up and Metro Imaging will organise in-house set-building if required.

Together with their sister companies - Direct for camera and lighting hire and The Horsemen for digital shoot hire - they provide a complete package for photographers and their clients.

Snap Productions  

SNAP Productions London is based on the border of Shoreditch and Islington, and offers a 2000 square foot daylight/blackout studio.

The studio/lifestyle space has attractive windows overlooking Shoreditch park, and an Infinity Cove. It is well suited to fashion, beauty, catalogue and still life shoots, and has space to allow more than one setup at a time. There is also roof-top access.

The studios include on-site catering, private styling and changing area, daylight balanced make-up bench, a large range of coloramas, G4 laptop, airport and cable broadband, Bose stereo, telephone line and lift access. They also have full equipment, digital rental and film stock, available for on-site or off-site shoots.

The studios are 7 minutes walk from Old Street tube station and are easy to get to by road with free parking on a first come first served basis.

SNAP also has an office in New York.

Photolink Creative group  

Photolink Creative Group has three studios in The Old School House, a 150 year old building which combines new technology with traditional architecture.

These shoot spaces opened this year following a six figure refurbishment, and have a full range of facilities. Fully equipped and networked, the studios have a direct link to a digital suite, and a full support infrastructure.

The studios have already been used by clients such as Manchester United Football Club, Kangol, H&M, Nike and Adidas. 

Studio One is 2000 sq feet, with a 16 foot high ceiling, wrap-around shooting wall, separate kitchen and changing room.  Studio Two is 2200 sq feet, with a 20 foot high beamed ceiling, a 23 foot scoop, and raised stage and kitchen area. Studio Three acts as an overflow, and is appropriate for smaller shoots and fittings.

The Muse London  

The MUSE London combines a digital studio with a cool location to offer a creative space for location photography, film and events.

Formerly, a large print factory located near Streatham Common in South London, the space has been designed to emulate a New York loft.

It has contemporary “ZEN” styling with rich textures, muted tones, leather, suede and natural wood floors. The modern functioning kitchen, in dark oak and pale travertine marble, will be appreciated by product photographers. In addition to streaming daylight, the space has blackout blinds.
Facilities include wireless internet, sound system, satellite, catering, camera hire and lighting hire.

Fish Tank Studio  

First established in 1998, FishTank Studio is located in the heart of London SE1, two minutes from the famous Borough Market and London Bridge.

FishTank's aim is to provide a practical space that is easily adaptable to clients' needs, as well as a friendly and helpful atmosphere. The studio provides very good daylight conditions.

The beginning of 2004 saw a massive refurbishment both in design and décor, which you can see in the images here and also at their web site.

Spaced Studios  

As a venue, Spaced Studios offers a flexible and refreshingly alternative space for hire for stills, video and film shoots, marketing seminars and PR launches.

Throughout two expansive floors of the building in De Beauvoir, London N1, this is an adaptable space that can be extended or retracted to suit most options and budgets.

Features include:

- large skylights

- South, East and West facing windows

- complete blackout facility

- lifestyle space and furnishings

Castle Gibson Location  

Converted from a 19th century depository, Castle Gibson is an interesting and unusual location in Stoke Newington, north London.

It is a large creative space over three floors with plenty of natural light, which can be hired for still and moving image productions, on a day basis or contract basis.

The 3000 square foot ground floor includes a cobbled alleyway, enclosed goods-in yard and original parquet flooring.

Upstairs, the 2000 square foot studio has a more contemporary feel, with steel, aluminium and reclaimed features. There are kitchen and bathroom facilities.

The 2000 square foot loft includes a vaulted ceiling, exposed brickwork, original windows and stripped walls plus a 1000 square foot mezzanine.

They have 3-phase electric, changing rooms, small kitchen area, loading area and off-street parking, with goods lift to all floors. The ever-changing eclectic mix of 19th and 20th century furniture and lighting is available for hire, too.

See the Castle Gibson website for more details.

Hungry Tiger  

Hungry Tiger studios consist of two interconnecting studios which are divided by a sliding acoustic partition, so it can be expanded and hired as 2200 square feet of uninterrupted space. Both spaces have informal, easy-to-use furniture, well-stocked bar fridges and music systems. The breakout area provides an additional space with plasma screen, magazines and freshly brewed coffee and catering.

Hungry Tiger are expanding to include a completely self-contained studio. Studio 6 (2000 square ft) will be aimed at TV, film, events companies and large scale shoots.

The new space will incorporate an 18 foot cove, kitchen, hair & make-up facilities and an over-hanging gallery lounge where clients can watch the activity below. The composition of the studios could work for a variety of set-ups and the high ceilings make it possible to construct medium size sets and Green Screen. This new space is due to open mid-March.

More details at Hungry Tiger's website.

Calvert Studios Ltd  

Calvert Studios is a huge 40,000 square foot facility for rent to photographers, designers and art directors. It offers everything from set-building studios to car coves with cranes and floating ceilings.

They have a broad client list that includes drinks manufacturers, furniture companies, catalogue companies as well as all the car manufacturers.

They are currently developing a 3D virtual studio for 3D and CAD file manipulation with a view to computer rendering.

Calvert also have 350 acres of studios 8 miles from Malaga airport in Spain with a 30 metre x 20 metre black studio for film and car workand two huge platforms for daylight work.

They also design, manufacture, hire and sell tracking booms in alloy and carbon fibre for photographing moving vehicles, trucks, cars and bikes.

Drop Studios  

Current TV clients include BBC, C4 & EndemolUK whilst Emap, IPC Media, Saatchi & Island Records are amongst those who use Drop Studios for photographic briefs.

The Street Studios  

Set up in 1996, The Street Studios are just north of Shoreditch in London and are easy to get to by road or public transport, with free parking.  There are four large, well-equipped and versatile studios that have been used for recent campaigns by Sony, Marks & Spencer, Nokia and Disney. 

Street Digital offers a wide range of digital shoot services and post production services, and digital capture - from the P45 Phase One to the Leaf Aptus range. Also, Street Lighting can provide lighting and equipment for pre-shoot production.

The studios have free wireless broadband; high quality audio and iPod connection; irons and hairdryers in make-up rooms; steamers and shower facilities. As well as catering by local companies, there is a large kitchen on-site.

Stone Studios  

Located in Yorkshire's beautiful countryside - and with convenient motorway access - Stone Studios claim is to offer a more spacious and relaxed alternative to the traditional inner-city studio space.

The studios are suitable for photographic, film, TV and video productions. Facilities include 4500 square feet of open-plan studio space, comprising three separate studios that are divided by curtains and folding walls, enabling them to be opened up to form one large work space.

There are drive-in doors at both ends with infinity coves and 3-phase electricity. They also have a fully equipped kitchen, garden conservatory, make-up/changing room and secure free car parking. Catering, set builds and equipment hire are also available if needed.

A recent production for Channel 4 said this about Stone Studios: "Their surroundings are an oasis of peace and tranquillity. We felt we were on holiday rather than working".