Fashion photography studios London

London has a wide variety of studios to suit every type of fashion shoot. 

A catalogue shoot is really a type of product shoot, the only difference is you have a model. But as the focus is on selling the clothing, a plain white background is ideal for capturing the details and not losing focus on the outfit. There are plenty of infinity cove studios in London which would suit this purpose. 

For a high fashion shoot, you’ll want a setting that evokes a specific mood and likely has a more luxurious feel - think high-quality textures, deep shades, and interesting furniture for the model to pose with. London studios offer spaces with plenty of props and a variety of backgrounds to ensure you get a selection of looks for different outfits. 

Editorial and lifestyle fashion shoots tell a story and usually accompany text in a magazine or newspaper. You’ll have a specific theme you want to portray so you’ll need to think carefully about the mood you want your location to convey. This is where the wide range of studios in London come in handy, so you can get specific about your background and equipment needs.

How to plan for your shoot before you hire a fashion photography studio in London

Develop a concept and storyboard

The beauty of choosing a London photographic studio is there’s a venue for every look and mood you could want to create, so your only limit is your imagination. To achieve a certain look for your photos you’ll want to build a concept for your photoshoot. This is so important because ideally, the concept drives all other creative and practical decisions for your fashion shoot. A great way to visualise it is to create a mood board, whether you use a physical or digital board using the likes of Pinterest. 

A mood board usually consists of a stream-of-consciousness style portrayal of all the elements that you want to capture on the day of your shoot. It may include fashion pictures, landscapes, interior design or even just shades of colours that you want to incorporate. You can start researching by flicking through fashion magazines, searching online, or seeking inspiration from movies and music videos.

The next step is to develop a storyboard so you know what looks you will capture on the day. You’ll want to make this as detailed as possible to determine how many times each model will need to change outfits or touch up their hair and makeup, and plan out every shot you'll take in sequence. Managing a shoot can be a logistical challenge so this will help you get the most out of your allocated time. 

Establish your budget 

Remember fashion shoots are a team effort, so not only does your budget need to cover the basic fee for studio hire in London, but you’ll also need to factor in the rates for your models, clothing stylists, hair and makeup stylists, photographer, and potentially photography assistants if it’s a large production.

Other additional costs to consider include the hire of backdrops and props, rates for going overtime, paid parking costs, and extra equipment rental.

Decide on floor space and facilities required

This will depend on how large your team is and knowing the capacity of the venue is vital, not only for the shoot itself but also for preparation. You’ll need a large enough changing room for your models and enough makeup stations for each stylist to be able to work simultaneously. You’ll also want to consider refreshment facilities so everyone is comfortable.

Pick a location

Will you need to drive to the shoot? And, if so, does the studio come with a dedicated parking space? A photo studio in central London may not be the right choice once you consider potential parking and traffic problems, but there are other studios to hire in London’s zones 2-4.

As you’ll be working with models and stylists you need to ensure everyone will be able to access the location. It’s a good idea to check public transport options such as nearby tube stations, and consider whether these will be available if you have an early start or late finish. You also might want to check out the local amenities for food and coffee options during your breaks. 

Once you have all your details nailed down, send a call sheet around to everyone a couple of days in advance which will include the shoot date and start time, location address (Including specific details like parking access), the responsibilities of each person, contact details, and schedule for the day. Ask each person to confirm they have received the call sheet so you know everyone has the correct information.

Choose the best equipment for your shoot

After nailing down your concept and your location, it’s essential you have the right type of equipment on your shoot day. Here are some useful tips for conducting different types of fashion photoshoots.

A catalogue shoot will require minimal accessories and props and typically the models stand straight, but you may like to take a box for the model to strike a sitting pose or for you to stand on to get different angles of the clothing. Often the biggest challenge is lighting because you’ll want to capture the details of the clothing without washing out the colours. 

An assortment of lights such as photo floodlights, tungsten-halogen lamps and incandescent lighting will allow you to capture your fashion subjects brilliantly. Many of these can be used in conjunction with a strobe or flash. You might also need a lightbox to diffuse light, a fill light to remove harsh shadows, and umbrella reflectors to bounce light onto your subject.

High fashion photography, with its elaborate outfits and exaggerated poses, offers you the opportunity to get creative with props and backdrops. You’ll want a good quality camera with good battery life and a selection of lenses to provide varied images. Again lighting equipment will be important to capture the details. 

It’s also a good idea to put together a grip kit to help you prepare for and troubleshoot during the shoot. A kit can include clamps and tape to secure potentially hazardous backgrounds, cords, clothing and anything else, screwdrivers and pliers, plus cords for charging and connecting electronic devices and lighting batteries.

With editorial and lifestyle shoots, you’ll likely need different types of shots which will require a large selection of lighting, props, and backdrops, so you’ll need a studio with ample storage space. Or if you don’t want to transport these yourself to the venue then you’ll want to find a well-equipped studio for your needs. 

Checklist for hiring a London fashion photography studio

Do you require a parking space? Using Tutti’s advanced search tool you can filter the studios by free or paid parking to ensure you will have a carpark space available. Each listing also shows you the local transport options including the closest tube lines and bus routes. 

What props do you need? Some photo studio hire fees include props and it’s a good idea to check whether you can move these existing props around to use them in your shoot. 

What lighting equipment do you need? Often basic lighting equipment like umbrellas and softboxes are included in the hire fee but if lights are chargeable, you’ll want to check how much they will cost so you can factor this into your budget. 

How much space will you require? This will depend on how large your team is. As you’ll have at least one model and makeup/hair stylist, make sure there is a break area and a kitchen/refreshment making facilities available, plus a changing room and enough hair & beauty stations for the number of stylists so they can work simultaneously.

What are your background options? Once you’ve decided on the style and colour themes for your shoot, you’ll need to ensure there is a good variety of background textures and coloured backdrops available at the photo studio to suit.

What are your power requirements? Under general information on each studio page listing, you can check whether single or three-phase power is available.