Studio Request....What to do?

[uva185]

A potential client requested a shoot in a studio. I do not own a studio and have had a very difficult time finding a studio I can rent by the hour or day in Columbia, SC. Would you recommend I create a makeshift studio in my apartment (which I think would be a bit tacky) or simply tell the potential client a studio is not available and potentially lose the business? Thanks!

PS. If anyone knows of a studio I cant rent in Columbia, SC please let me know!!

[stathunter]

Calm down................you will be fine. Remember it is not what you have but how you handle yourself. You can find a studio for rent in your area.
My first google search found this: http://www.gatheringguide.com/event_directory/rc/sc_south_carolina/columbia/evl_photographers.html
I would call a few of them tell them you are new and looking to rent a studio for a project. Call a few and you will find one. You can also go to other professional photographer website listings and contact them.
You might also want to search craigslist.
I am sure there are others here who can also point you to some.
You will be fine.

[rhys]

There's a fellow in Chapin that rents out his studio. $25 per hour.

[sfaust]

I would look into renting a studio as the solution, rather then trying to do a makeshift one in your apartment. Add that cost to your overall fee, and pass it on to the client. If you can't find a studio, then I would let the client know you don't have your own studio, can't find a local rental studio, but if they want to save a few dollars on the studio rental, you are willing to create a makeshift studio at your apartment.

This will keep the client from feeling taken if they wanted a studio, and show up finding an apartment instead. If the client feels the studio was important, they may feel cheated and that will hurt your reputation.

If the studio isn't that important to them, and they don't mind working in your apartment, you could end up with a long term client that doesn't mind the cramped environment because he is saving some money in the process.

If you do find a rental studio, it is fairly normal for photographers to rent studios and include those costs as a line item in the estimates/invoices. Typically, in my area (Boston), studios run from about $250 per day to around $1,000 for the higher end ones.

Another alternative is to look at what they need, and suggest a location shoot if thats possible. While I have a studio myself, sometimes I convince the client to shoot on location because the images will come out better. Its not hard to convince them if the images will be better, and they save the cost of the studio. It all depends on the shoot.

[ryant35]

I would look into renting a studio as the solution, rather then trying to do a makeshift one in your apartment. Add that cost to your overall fee, and pass it on to the client. If you can't find a studio, then I would let the client know you don't have your own studio, can't find a local rental studio, but if they want to save a few dollars on the studio rental, you are willing to create a makeshift studio at your apartment.

This will keep the client from feeling taken if they wanted a studio, and show up finding an apartment instead. If the client feels the studio was important, they may feel cheated and that will hurt your reputation.

If the studio isn't that important to them, and they don't mind working in your apartment, you could end up with a long term client that doesn't mind the cramped environment because he is saving some money in the process.

If you do find a rental studio, it is fairly normal for photographers to rent studios and include those costs as a line item in the estimates/invoices. Typically, in my area (Boston), studios run from about $250 per day to around $1,000 for the higher end ones.

Another alternative is to look at what they need, and suggest a location shoot if thats possible. While I have a studio myself, sometimes I convince the client to shoot on location because the images will come out better. Its not hard to convince them if the images will be better, and they save the cost of the studio. It all depends on the shoot.

I would stay away from words like 'makeshift' I have taken some great portraits in my apartment with rented studio equipment.

[bieber]

More importantly than having a studio, do you know how to use the studio equipment? If you've never worked with it all before, suddenly having it won't do you much good, I'm afraid.

[uva185]

Thanks everyone for your input.

I have my own lighting equipment but I usually use it on location. I just had a hard time locating a studio in Columbia (not a very big city). I'm ruling out the apartment idea. If I had a spare room to set up a studio that would work, but considering I dont have that spare space I think it would be too tacky.

Rhys, thanks for the info!

Some of the pictures to be taken are Cap & Gown pictures which IMO should be taken on the university campus. It is such a beautiful location and many bridal sessions are even taken there!

We'll see what happens...