PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES LONDON Dec 2006

Andy Knight's team combines set building and model making skills to create sets for advertising photographers working in all areas - fashion, cars, locations, still life and studio sets. The skills they offer range from construction and paintwork to scenic work, rigging, sculpture and fine model making. The team works closely with the photographer to solve problems on the shoot.

Sets and models are prepared in large central London workshops, saving hire studio time. If appropriate, sets can be built in the 4,500 sq ft hire studio on site, so everything is ready to shoot when the photographer arrives. Alternatively, the crew is happy to transport and build in any studio or location.

The team has extensive experience in problem solving and creating sets to high standards for some of London's best photographers and agencies. They say that they can meet tight deadlines and are happy to discuss any project.

Big Fish was created in 2001 by Mike Clark to provide location and production services for stills, commercials, feature films and TV.

The company's main focus is scouting locations and producing shoots for UK and international photographers and advertising agencies.

From a day's research or scouting to a complete production service, Big Fish offers creative and cost effective solutions, whatever the brief. Password protected websites are a quick and convenient way for clients to view locations, casting and props.

Recent campaigns include:

Landrover, Dove, MasterCard, Toyota - Nick Georghiou
Canon, Harmony Hairspray - Kelvin Murray
RAC, Southeastern Trains - Nick Meek
Microsoft - Markku Lahdesmaki
Guinness - Conor Masterson
Stella Artois - Andy Glass
Peugeot - Allan McPhail
Opodo - Tara Moore
NEC - Kulbir Thandi
Mercedes - Ed Lee

Though specialising in the UK, Big Fish has worked in Thailand, the Caribbean and Pakistan, including a production of a music video featuring the Ashes winning England Cricket Team.

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

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

Services offered include set building, lighting, catering, digital capture and post-production.

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

Converted from a 19th century depository, Castle Gibson is an unusual location in Stoke Newington, north London, offering large creative spaces with plenty of natural light.

The ground floor is 3000 square feet and features a cobbled alleyway, goods-in yard and original parquet flooring. The 2000 square foot studio, with kitchen and bathroom facilities, has a more contemporary feel, with steel, aluminium and reclaimed features. The 2000 square foot loft has a vaulted ceiling, exposed brickwork, original windows and a 1000 square foot mezzanine.

There is 3-phase electric wiring, changing rooms, small kitchen area, loading area, off-street parking and goods lift. Props are changed regularly, and are an eclectic mix of 19th and 20th century furniture and lighting.

The studio has been the set for recent campaigns that include Thomas Burberry, Esprit, Monsoon, John Lewis, Kookai, Ikea, Habitat, Sony... Recent editorials include Dazed and Confused, Vogue Hommes, FHM, GQ, Elle.

Happy Finish is a collective of independent digital photographic retouchers working for worldwide clients from central London studios, in Soho and Shoreditch, with full on-site scanning and proofing facilities.

Happy Finish retouchers specialise in particular areas of retouching and, similar to a photographic agency, prospective clients are able to see portfolios of each retoucher and select the person they want to work with.

The individual retoucher's portfolios are on the newly re-launched website, which shows much of their recent work. The Diesel 'Camouflage World' campaign is one to check out closely. MD Stuart Waplington explains: 'The concept is that the world was to be entirely camouflaged, apart from the models. Most people who see the shots think it was set dressing and body paint but it was all done in post; it certainly kept us out of the pub for some time!'

Tomo London is one of the leading production companies for advertising in the UK. Because of the creativity and experience of its team, Tomo London's regular clients include Levis, Nike, Mercedes, Volkswagen as well as agencies including M&C Saatchi, Grey Advertising and Wieden & Kennedy.

Recent projects include:

Orange mobile: Photographer: Dan Tobin Smith - Agency: Mother
Nokia: Photographer: Sue Parkhill - Agency: Grey Advertising
VW: Photographer: Nadav Kander - Agency: B.B.H.
Daks: Photographer: Robert Wyatt - Agency: In - house
O2 Blackberry: Photographer: John Offenbach - Agency: TBC
Sony Handycam: Photographer: Stefan Ruiz - Agency: Fallon London
Sony Bravia: Photographer: Dan Tobin Smith - Agency: Fallon London
Vodafone: Photographer: Neil Wilder - Agency: J.W.T.
ask.com: Photographer: Kyoko Hamada - Agency: Fallon London

Tomo London Productions is currently working on projects for ITV Primevial with Klaus Thymann & French Elle Magazine with Ellen Von Unwerth.

Jasmine Studios, located in Hammersmith close to Shepherd's Bush, features award winning, purpose-built studios and a client oriented service that is second to none.

Jasmine is easy to find, yet discretely situated in a private courtyard featuring plenty of on-site gated parking.

Each of their five daylight studios has full black out facility, superb sound systems, WiFi internet connections - in short: a full range of high-specification equipment and services. The studios are very versatile and beautifully maintained. They feature a drive-in facility, a cove, high ceilings, mezzanines, showers, a professional kitchen (great for food shoots) and a private café/bar area. There is a comprehensive selection of additional on-site lighting equipment to hire at a moment's notice courtesy of Direct Lighting.

The Jasmine team is friendly and professional and on hand at all times to help with all requests, large or small. With the concierge service they provide, and the experience to anticipate clients' needs, they are a huge asset to anyone using Jasmine.

The studios are only five minutes walk from Hammersmith tube and a 30 minute drive from Heathrow.

Shootfactory is a full-service location agency, representing UK and international properties, studios and venues of all types for TV, film, music, photo shoots, press/media, product launches and events.

With over ten years' international experience in their respective arenas of photography, styling, location management and media, they are a committed team, striving to provide their location owners and clients with the best service, advice and support.

The Street Studios have four large studio spaces, including coves. All the studios are equipped with free wireless broadband internet and high quality audio with iPod connection.

The Street digital team offers Phase One and Leaf capture systems, 'in-house' post production, digital studio packages and location solutions.

They have a comprehensive selection of Elinchrom lighting available for hire. And if the scenery needs to be changed, they have the expertise at hand: the versatile TC Setbuild.

They offer a range of catering options - from small snacks to a big banquet - as well as hair and make-up rooms and a lounge area with TV and free off-street parking.

Contact details can be found at their website.

LouLou Locations have had a busy year scouting and producing advertising campaigns both internationally and in the UK for clients such as VW, P&O Cruises and most recently Puma, Nicorette and TFL.

Recent months have seen a variety of challenging and diverse jobs including various car shoots on location with rigs and extras, to shooting locations and Premiership footballers around the UK for Puma.

With projects starting before Christmas taking them into the New Year, the company is looking forward to a busy January and they would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a great 2007.

You can visit their website to see more.