LONDON RENTAL STUDIOS Oct 2007

Big Shed Studios have opened a brand new purpose-built 4000 sq ft studio located in Trafford Park, five minutes from Manchester city centre and with easy access to transport links.

At 3500 sq ft, the main studio has a large corner cove, walk-round gantry, skylight and adjustable blackout curtain, ideal for roomsets, vehicles, large products, video or TV commercials. The mezzanine space is 950 sq ft with cove and float ceiling, great for fashion, small sets, products and castings.

Their facilities include: 3 phase power, two kitchens, shower, change & make-up areas, greenroom and wireless internet. There is drive-in access as well as free parking. As a working studio there are many props, backgrounds, flats and equipment available for hire. Technical equipment includes Hasselblad and Sinar kits with Phase 1 P30+ back, and G5 Mac computers. They can also provide flash & tungsten lighting.

Clients who have used the studios include: JJB Sports, GHD, Littlewoods, Airstream Europe, Bank of Scotland, Dolphin Bathrooms, Sharps Bedrooms, Umbro and Silentnight.

Big Sky, central London's largest and most accessible full-service photography and media production complex, is a purpose-built facility designed specifically for the photographic and image-making industry.

The 37,000 square foot complex has five versatile, fully equipped self-contained studios, staffed by trained assistants who offer full support throughout the image-making process.

Big Sky offers a comprehensive range of services including equipment hire, catering, sets and props, communications and digital services. Services and budgets can be tailored to suit the individual needs of each production.

The company's philosophy is to "combine creative freedom and the best shooting experience, with a highly efficient and managed production formula".

Calvert Studios boasts some 30,000 square feet of coved studios and support areas, with a further 6,500 square feet of set building studios in the UK alone. Their services include camera and digital back hire, (Sinar, P45 and Canon), with computer rooms and proofing systems up to 60 cm wide, along with in-house 3D modelling, rendering and retouching facilities.

In Spain the company has access to 350 acres of mountains and platforms, with three daylight studios at various altitudes including one that can be filled with water. They also offer a 100m x 50m set built salt flat which can be spray-painted any colour, as well as a pool terrace, huge areas for set building and a coved studio.

With sixteen double en-suite rooms, tennis court, swimming pool and bar, their private and secluded locations offer a complete range of studio services and facilities.

Two excellent daylight studios form Curtain Road Studios, with a host of facilities and top-quality features for use by clients.

These include white/blackout blinds, make-up rooms with head-wash sinks, coloramas and painted canvasses, 3-phase power, and an open-plan stainless steel kitchen (in studio A) which is ideal for food photography.

The studio can offer a large choice of catering options, a lift, and one parking space per-studio, with extra parking available nearby. The location lies outside of the congestion zone.

Recent clients have included: Tatler, Marks & Spencer, ID, Vogue, Company, You and Your Wedding, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Debenhams, Littlewoods, and Redwood Publishing.

The Dairy Studio is situated on the site of an old dairy in south-east London. It is a purpose built studio in excess of 3000 square feet - the biggest daylight studio in central London. It can be hired for commercials, film production, TV and stills work.

Facilities and special features include an infinity cove with a 32ft x 20ft floating ceiling, and a 55ft x 20ft north light window in the roof. There are on-site processing facilities for E6, C41, and Black & White films, along with C-type and Black & White printing, whilst the company offers full stills post-production opportunities with drum scanning and proofing.

"The great artist of the past had one thing in common - all their studios face north, this meant they got constant lighting all the time. This is what I wanted for the dairy studio to make it the best north light studio in London. Ask the artist of the past and the film makers of the future." (Dan Tierney)

Holborn Studios is London's largest photo-plex, with 16 studios available for daily hire. This includes a lifestyle loft studio, three fashion coves including a digital suite, four drive-in studios, four daylight studios, a still life studio, a set-build studio and a casting suite. Holborn also offer an outstanding fly bridge motor yacht with spacious accommodation for up to six people.

Over the last 25 years Holborn has been host to the world's most celebrated photographers, magazines, advertising campaigns and celebrities.

Some of the legendary photographers who have used Holborn include David Bailey, Terence Donovan, Brian Duffy, Terry O'Neil, Albert Watson, Henri Lartigue, Norman Parkinson, Eve Arnold, Annie Leibowitz, Barry Lategan, Richard Avedon, Clive Arrowsmith and Helmut Newton.

Malcolm Ryan Studios is based in Wimbledon and offers 25,000 square feet of infinity-coved studio space that is available for hire 7 days a week.

The studios are modern, fully equipped and have all the facilities necessary for the most demanding of photographic and commercial shoots. Lighting is supplied in-house, and there is an onsite restaurant that serves delicious food. 

The complex specialises in car photography, and every studio is fitted with floating ceilings and all the necessary gadgets to shoot cars to the highest professional standards.

The Old School House, The Parish Rooms and The Georgian House sit within Photolink's 'creative complex', and anyone working within it has the ability to call upon the company's wide range of creative and technical support skills.

Their four studios combine traditional architecture with cutting-edge technology. Fully equipped and digitally networked, they have been designed and planned by photographers and technicians to provide the ultimate photographic facility. Plans are also underway to open two brand-new studios.

"Great spaces that compare with any London studios. We were very impressed and will definitely use them again when shooting in Manchester." Rankin Photography

Established in 1996, Street Studios are located just north of Shoreditch in London. The company offers four large, well-equipped and versatile studios, recently used for campaigns by Sony, Marks & Spencer, Nokia and Disney.

Street Digital offer a wide range of digital shoot and post production services, along with digital capture options - from the P45 Phase One to the Leaf Aptus range. Street Lighting can provide lighting and equipment for pre-shoot production. They have a comprehensive selection of Elinchrom lighting available for hire, and, should a change of scenery be required, they have the expertise at hand in the form of the versatile TC Setbuild.

The studios have free wireless broadband, high quality audio and iPod connections, fully equipped make-up rooms, steamers and shower facilities. As well as catering by local companies, there is also a large on-site kitchen. The area enjoys good road and public transport links, and the studio can offer free parking.

Situated in the heart of south London, the White Room offers superb contemporary studio space at an affordable price. Mixing clean open space and a comfortable working atmosphere, the studio can accommodate all types of photographic stills and film shoots.

Facilities include a stainless steel 'shoot-in' kitchen, dining area, comfortable sofa, eclectic music collection, and wireless broadband. With background support, poly boards, a 32amp power supply and cables, clothes rails, white 'fashion' blocks and a selection of colourama, the studio is more than fully equipped for any food, still life, beauty & fashion, portrait, lifestyle, and interiors shoot.

The White Room can be used for daylight or blackout shooting, and the company offer freelance assistants, set building, in-house catering, and equipment rental as options to all their clients. The studio also benefits from excellent links to local transport.