The past two weeks I have received a couple of text informing of a new studio for rent -- one in Makati and another one in Ortigas. With this, several questions come to mind and I hope forum participants can enlighten me more.

Do you think that a studio rental is a viable business?
How much do you think is the reasonable studio rental rate?
Are photographers still interested in a studio considering the popularity of outdoor photography?

Your comments shall be highly appreciated. Thanks

Fol

interesting question.... BUT NOT A SINGLE COMMENT...

doesn't any one have any input regarding this? i'm interested to find out too

it is a good business, but have to invest to a lot of equipment and space.

I have no idea about this but just thinking aloud...

Assuming you're a pro (or rich) as well and ALREADY have intensive amount of equiment, letting other photographers rent your equipment in the confines of your chosen location (studio) will make sense if you're not utilizing those equipment all the time.

Otherwise, it may seem like a really expensive venture catering to a very small and specific market only.

There's 2 arguments kasi with regards to pricing sa tingin ko...

1) If it's a pro that needs a studio all the time, he'll probably get his own set up rather than continously paying for "rent".
2) If it's a hobbyist lang that wants an occational shot in studio, then the rental price can't be that expensive.

Nice thing is, photography equipment are usually pretty standard, you won't have to upgrade your stuff that often compared to other electronic gadgets.

Rental rates I think are from 450-600 per hour, correct me if I'm wrong. Not all pros can afford the monthly overhead of a studio. Some specialized in location shoots, hence the necessity of a rental studio for those once in awhile shoot. You also don't have to invest in all that equipment upfront. A decent studio can cost you Php 250k upwards, so if you're a startup, rentals might be better. So renting a studio for 4 hours, 4-5 times a month is still cheaper.

Thanks David and Jun. I thought that studio business here is really not a viable busines since I did not get an answer for almost a month :). Anyways, I appreciate the insights.

Also, thanks Cris for your interest in this topic.

Viable, I don't know but, because its not that outdoor is popular, its that studio equipment is getting more affordable. A few years ago it was unthinkable to own a good set (stand, attachment and etc.) of 2 lights for under 50k. Now one can be had for roughly 30k.

Thanks David and Jun. I thought that studio business here is really not a viable busines since I did not get an answer for almost a month :). Anyways, I appreciate the insights.

Also, thanks Cris for your interest in this topic.

We have two large studios (can be subdivided into four "regular" studios), and for a while we thought of going into the business of studio rentals. But we did once or twice, and then at the last moment, we had to turn down our advertising client (not the studio rental client) because they called after we had already committed the studio to other photographers.

Sometimes, the studios are not utilized, and sometimes, they're over-utilized. My main challenge is having schedules committed to certain clients then they cancel or postpone. I should charge a cancellation/postponement fee but I have not been successful in doing that with our advertising clients.

We're now studying how we can combine studio rentals with advertising studio photography, and how to make our advertising clients queue as outside photographers would.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Its a like a factory, if you don't keep it running it costs you money. But having said that, we still have never rented out Bella Luce. We've had several requests from very prominent photographers and our answer is always no. Why? Because everyone is so used to paying such a ridiculous low rate for studio rentals. P600 per hour is not worth it considering the wear and tear to your studio and gear.

Going rate should be around P5,000/hour which is still a cheap price for international standards.

hi fol~

if you are thinking of establishing a studio.. it would really be hard.. well, i don't have one but of course like any business, it sounds nice at first but of course problems would rise one by one..

i also know that you have to invest to SO MANY stuffs.. and not just stuffs.. high end stuffs.. if you want your client to keep coming back..

but i wish you luck!! if i have the resources.. i would do the same.. but again.. ask experts advise like ma'am harvey and sir nick! =)

i think now is not a right time to venture to that line of business because like billiards ( 3-4years ago ) and internet cafes, there would be more than enough studios here, some of your would be competitors are hobbyist who decided to make a studio just because they already have the equipments, meaning you would be competing to people who do not consider their investment,, that's why studio rentals are so cheap nowadays,, but i might be wrong with good equipments, marketing, loaction, your studio might make it,,

good luck k:)

Its a like a factory, if you don't keep it running it costs you money. But having said that, we still have never rented out Bella Luce. We've had several requests from very prominent photographers and our answer is always no. Why? Because everyone is so used to paying such a ridiculous low rate for studio rentals. P600 per hour is not worth it considering the wear and tear to your studio and gear.

Going rate should be around P5,000/hour which is still a cheap price for international standards.

Whoever started renting studio space at P600 per hour must not have computed cost of electricity, depreciation of equipment and appliances, real estate taxes, etc. From what I heard, the studio rental business for that particular studio was like a loss leader - just to entice photographers to come - and they hoped to recover whatever they lost renting out by profits from a photo printing business that catered to photographers. Is this true?

Is it also true that the P600 per hour also included free use of photo equipment like studio flash systems?

I guess that's true (what Therat said), it'll depend on how you'll market and manage it in order for it to be worthwhile and profitable regardless of competition (that lowballs their prices).

How about implementing credit-card reservations like in hotels to prevent people from backing out or when they do damage your equipment (like a model/photographer trips and smashes your floor mounted light source to the ground)

Harvey, OWG charges 700/hr, min 2hrs, right? I think that's what they said in their website.

Whoever started renting studio space at P600 per hour must not have computed cost of electricity, depreciation of equipment and appliances, real estate taxes, etc. From what I heard, the studio rental business for that particular studio was like a loss leader - just to entice photographers to come - and they hoped to recover whatever they lost renting out by profits from a photo printing business that catered to photographers. Is this true?

Is it also true that the P600 per hour also included free use of photo equipment like studio flash systems?

I think the flash systems are already included...i am curious though if the studio/s (the existing ones in general) were set up with the intention of renting it out (i.e. getting more income from rental) or were the studios set up for "own" use and but were rented out to help defray costs?

Most of my work is still done on location or outdoors. I use my studio for those odd times that I need a controlled environment or as a place to meet clients. My studio is also currently seeing use as a venue for my seminars :D

from a return of investment perspective, unless the owner also uses the studio and has a higher profit margin for his/her own shoots, and just rents out the remainder time, it doesn't seem like a good investment.

You have to consider entire operational costs including air conditioning, utilities, and maintenance, and replacement, and insurance costs as well. Add a dressing room, and specialize lighting equipment and it's unlikely to get back the return of investment (ROI). Unlike an internet cafe or billiard halls, you can't just add computers (studios) to take advantage "high seasons". Each studio also requires a lot of floor space compared to internet cafes and billiard halls.

But from a photographer's or renter's perspective, as Nick implied, 400-600 an hour is a super bargain. it almost doesn't make sense to use your own studio let alone build one.

I wish these rental studios were here when we were starting. We had to build our own because studios for rent were non-existent in the 70's. We rented at RS Video in the 80's when we started shooting cars in a studio, but it was not an ideal situation for us as we had no control over availability, and we could only shoot at night (the studio then was not light-proofed). Working all night and then driving home at 6am was not quite safe, so we dreamt of having our own (realized in 1992). After a second photographer was trained and accepted by clients to do car photography, we would sometimes have simultaneous requests for shoot schedules, so we built a second studio. Obviously, we don't shoot cars everyday, but the big studios have come in handy for other large set ups (we also build sets and props). So if you guys need a large studio (if your shoots need a ground floor space and a space bigger than other studios for rent), consider us. We do charge higher than the others - but the convenience is there (large, airconditioned, ground floor, with parking, wifi etc.). We do not aim to compete with the other studios for rent, as our studios are specialized studios.

The other I suggest you do Harvey is to take out insurance (if you don't already) with a company like Malayan. Have them structure something for you where your clients have to pay for an insurance premium to use the studio. Just in case some equipment gets damaged because of negligence, you are covered.

The other I suggest you do Harvey is to take out insurance (if you don't already) with a company like Malayan. Have them structure something for you where your clients have to pay for an insurance premium to use the studio. Just in case some equipment gets damaged because of negligence, you are covered.

We do have comprehensive (all risks) insurance for our equipment, but I need to compute how much to charge clients for insurance as a separate item that they need to pay for, in addition to equipment rental.

Harvey, OWG charges 700/hr, min 2hrs, right? I think that's what they said in their website.

After reading this, I recommended OWG to a group of amateur photographers from another forum who need a studio to use for them to do their portfolio.

I likened Studio to Call Center business. No captured market, you are DEAAAD!

I for one wanted to put up a studio just for my own use. Was not worth it. Hobbyists friends did the same, bought own studio lights, lull in their hobby rented it out for a song to friends, until finally sold the darn thing. Think of the end result.

Hi all,

Just new here DPP, S$35.00/hrs cost of Studio Rental here in my place with the following equipment.

- 1.7M sun umbrella
- tethered shooting w/ apple mac
- minolta light meter
- multi channel radio trigger
- wireless access internet
- instant 4r dye-sub prints
- continous lights
- and some more....

Hope can give idea to all planning a studio rental.

The past two weeks I have received a couple of text informing of a new studio for rent -- one in Makati and another one in Ortigas. With this, several questions come to mind and I hope forum participants can enlighten me more.

Do you think that a studio rental is a viable business?
How much do you think is the reasonable studio rental rate?
Are photographers still interested in a studio considering the popularity of outdoor photography?

Your comments shall be highly appreciated. Thanks

Fol


my idea of a very good rental studio is like a theme park for photographers.

for example, a lot of us here in DPP have weekday jobs. something to look forward to during the weekends is driving to nearby provinces like Tagaytay or Pampanga or Sta. Rosa.

in those places, you visit a small villa or a medium-sized subdivision lot that has 2-3 well-equipped studio rooms + a lounge (with DPP magazines :D, Shelves of Photography Books, a WiFi Zone and a Big LCD TV where you can play DVD Photography Tutorials :) )

since it's a villa-type of setting, syempre nature sya. so outside the studio, may garden, may landscaping, may waterfalls (to test shutter speed values :Grin: ) may scenic arcs/views and of course flowers, insects, plants etc... If I bring a model with me, best of 2 worlds na, I can photograph her inside the studio as well as outdoors. the outdoor garden must be equipped with litepanels and a large industrial fan.

if you forgot to bring a model, there must an aquarium with numbered models in it wherein you can choose .... este ... the owner of the studio villa may provide one for you.

how I wish an enterprising real estate developer can setup something like this.

my idea of a very good rental studio is like a theme park for photographers.

for example, a lot of us here in DPP have weekday jobs. something to look forward to during the weekends is driving to nearby provinces like Tagaytay or Pampanga or Sta. Rosa.

in those places, you visit a small villa or a medium-sized subdivision lot that has 2-3 well-equipped studio rooms + a lounge (with DPP magazines :D, Shelves of Photography Books, a WiFi Zone and a Big LCD TV where you can play DVD Photography Tutorials :) )

since it's a villa-type of setting, syempre nature sya. so outside the studio, may garden, may landscaping, may waterfalls (to test shutter speed values :Grin: ) may scenic arcs/views and of course flowers, insects, plants etc... If I bring a model with me, best of 2 worlds na, I can photograph her inside the studio as well as outdoors. the outdoor garden must be equipped with litepanels and a large industrial fan.

if you forgot to bring a model, there must an aquarium with numbered models in it wherein you can choose .... este ... the owner of the studio villa may provide one for you.

how I wish an enterprising real estate developer can setup something like this.

what an awesome idea!- and also invite pros who would impart knowledge to the younger generations for a slice of pizza and a coke.

I'm also planning to set up an office studio in Makati, some friends from ad agency told me that it's best if I can put up my own. I would love to have one, but after reading these threads, I'm having second thoughts. Maybe I'll just rent a small unit and put a simple studio that doubles as a design studio. I hope it's a good idea.

I wonder if the Pro photographers like Jake Versoza, Mark Nicdao have their own studios? Have run into these guys a couple of time over at DPI studios.

If you need to rent a big studio (over 200 sq.m. post/column-free) with cyclorama, give us a call. We also rent out lights (they come with an assistant). You just need to bring your own camera and lenses.

if youre going to buy lights for your own use then more power to you but if youre going to buy lights for the sole purpose of renting them out for a profit, then you need to ask yourself a question....

why would they go to my studio rather than to lets say DPI or OWG?

I'd set up a studio but not for rent, and not that big.

Maybe just enough for some products, portraits, or talent shot. Portable make up rooms and movable curtains for division. I already have many lights and other equipment in my collection which I've been using for years now so "bawi na". I know it will not be the ideal size, no studio for cars and furnitures, just big enough for my needs. If the need for bigger studio is required, I'd rent a warehouse space and transform it into a studio, or rent a bigger studio. I'm not a big player yet but I plan to be one. I like to have a 60 sq.m. room in makati that will double as an office for my design studio where I can do my design projects. Shoot, design and paint, thats what I do. A studio for 3 types of art all in one. :) I'm dreaming. :)

my idea of a very good rental studio is like a theme park for photographers.

for example, a lot of us here in DPP have weekday jobs. something to look forward to during the weekends is driving to nearby provinces like Tagaytay or Pampanga or Sta. Rosa.

in those places, you visit a small villa or a medium-sized subdivision lot that has 2-3 well-equipped studio rooms + a lounge (with DPP magazines :D, Shelves of Photography Books, a WiFi Zone and a Big LCD TV where you can play DVD Photography Tutorials :) )

since it's a villa-type of setting, syempre nature sya. so outside the studio, may garden, may landscaping, may waterfalls (to test shutter speed values :Grin: ) may scenic arcs/views and of course flowers, insects, plants etc... If I bring a model with me, best of 2 worlds na, I can photograph her inside the studio as well as outdoors. the outdoor garden must be equipped with litepanels and a large industrial fan.

if you forgot to bring a model, there must an aquarium with numbered models in it wherein you can choose .... este ... the owner of the studio villa may provide one for you.

how I wish an enterprising real estate developer can setup something like this.

Beautiful... my eyes hazed up when i was imagining this Gleoh... sana magkatutoo :)

Yes, a very good dream studio for WEEKENDS. Now to find a very rich not so enterprising businessman to set it up. :)

But how much are we willing to pay for the setup Gleoh suggested?

Beautiful... my eyes hazed up when i was imagining this Gleoh... sana magkatutoo :)

:) maybe some of our retired senior citizens' can setup one or two hehehe. particularly those who own lots and who are into nature-tripping. ika nga, two birds. na-enjoy na nila yun activity/excitement of setting up a garden/nature/landscapes, puwede pa additional source of income, aside from their pensions/benefits. their real estate also appraises in value, kasi in a way naging commercial.

wait, wheres the nearest studio for rent in alabang?

wait, wheres the nearest studio for rent in alabang?

Before we built our own studio, we used to rent at RS Video. They are located on the street before Sucat, if you are coming from Alabang and if you are on the west service road. It's a huge studio. They should be listed in the White or Yellow Pages.

i think the Php500/hr rentals that some studios do were more due to the hobbyists who bought some lights, had some extra space somewhere and thought that might as well rent out his equipment to somehow recoup money from his expensive hobby and some, well to get to know other hobbyists, a "barkadahan" sort of thing.

but also, a few years ago, studio equipment was way expensive until - CHINA came... A vacant space and some China strobes at about Php30,000 one set (3 headlights, stands and some softbox) ayun - Php500/hr may not be a bad deal most likely.:)