Building a new photography studio for shooting products. Need advice

[bosharpe]

I'm not sure where to post this so please correct me if this is inappropriate!

Our company is re-designing our main photography studio and I was wondering if anyone had any tips or advice.
Storage ideas would be particularly useful. We've got a lots of items like power packs, light stands, rolls of paper, cables etc. Having something robust but stylish if possible would be excellent!

We will be using the space for videoing products too. Mostly still and 360 but we'll be doing training videos and video on request of a client. because of this we'll be looking to store items such as Arri lights, LED lighting, Green screen backdrops etc.


If anyone has any suggestions/solutions I'd really appreciate any opinions.


Many thanks!


Alex

 

[Michael Carter]

I've owned two one-man studios. The hardest thing, really, is decent soundproofing. Many spaces, when it rains, you have to shut down, sounds like a drummer on the roof. Most people think soundproofing is foam panels or fiberglas insulation. That's really more sound deadening. Sound proofing takes mass or isolation. If you're in a block or cast concrete building, that's great for walls - roofs can be a huge pain in the ears.

In Texas the other biggie is efficient AC, gets hot as hell down here. And the HVAC has to be quiet, plenty of info on the web for the recording studio biz on DIY approaches to audio-in-a-building issues. Google "Ethan Winer Forum", though a lot of that is about room-tuning (like for your editing room).

For storage, it's not about something "robust" (like a case) it's about a good system to store all your robust cases - and it's nice if there's a wall or something to hide those and keep things neat.

On a budget, framing off a sort of long closet and building a 2x2 and plywood shelving system with spaces for seamless rolls, stands, and cases and dairy crates can be pretty handy, way cheaper than steel shelving and very sturdy. You might also consider a really secure locking closet for cameras and pricey stuff like monitors and HMI gear.

A good security system if your building is easy to get into, and really good cameras outside and in - cameras that can show faces and license plates.

Some sort of ceiling grid system is awesome - with switched power is a plus. For hanging lights and (especially) really big-wall diffusion. Nothing like having a 10' square softbox for soft light. I always had a conduit system to hang diffusion for big soft-white wrapped light.

A nice clean changing room with wardrobe racks, mirrors, makeup lighting, steamer, etc. Talent and stylists will love that.

A small workshop space for repairs and stuff - even just a desk-height shelf in your storage space with power outlets and lighting and maybe a small tool rack.

A cyc is really freaking cool to have, and will be a bonus if you want to rent the space during downtime.

If you have brick or block walls, a framed wall that can be painted, textured, etc is really handy. Great for green screen (just paint it and you never have to stretch and steam).

Jesus, I could go on and on...