Advice please from anyone who has a studio

missmoloko

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Hi guys

I already have a studio but due to water damage I am having a complete revamp and boy did it need it anyway.

The studio is on a busy main road and so need to black out the windows so no flashing can be seen outside. Ive using a piece of thick card come mdf cut to size. Bit amateur ish really. Any suggestions on what I could do ideally I want something that I can perhaps open and close as I would like to let the light in when I do a viewing so its light and airy.

Missmoloko
 
blackout curtains seem to be the most sensible to me..
 
what about some form of window tint film like you get on cars hard to see in and lets light in if you ask on a car forum if some 1 has a camera and midnight/heavy tint windows they could fire the flash and see how much/ if it shows outside the car
 
Black out curtains would be the best idea and if you get light leaks at the edges then just build a pelmet around them to stop the leaks.
 
Thanks for the replies. I already have blackout curtains with a pellet across the top for any light spill there but still can see flashing through that. This is why I have big pieces of cut out thick card stuff that I slot in. But windows are so big it's hard work for me to slot it in and out and a pain in the arse. There has to be something :bang::bang:

Miss moloko
 
Silver reflective car window tint film with the silver surface on the inside?
 
If I had a studio I would like people walking past to see the flash going off. Attracts them in
 
If your window frames are made of wood, I suggest just tacking or screwing a thin hardboard sheet to it and painting the board.
 
As mentioned I can't have the flashing seen outside as live on a busy main road could cause an accident.

Some kind of shutters may have to be the solution.

Thanks
 
Accident, really ! Must be a lucky guy as I have never crashed driving through lightning !
 
Test bloke

You're proving to give some very helpful advice aren't you!!! So glad I asked now.
 
Can you not backpaint the glass? You'll have to build up the coats but you could go for a nice aqua blue colour, then a couple of coats of black behind it. Or you could stick some vinyl to the glass first then paint it.
 
You could always tape the blackout curtains together at the joins & also to the walls. Cheap, simple & effective.
 
missmoloko said:
Test bloke

You're proving to give some very helpful advice aren't you!!! So glad I asked now.

Just dont see that it's an issue and I am a nebosh holder. Will leave you to it ...
 
I've had to google it too! I'm just paranoid that the flashing could put someone off especially as I'm right next to a school kids crossing as well. Plus I've never seen a photo studio's lights from outside. The windows are always blacked out.

:)
 
Worked in many studios over the years, most used ordinary blackout curtains. You could see the flashes going off if you looked for it. I have never known it to be a problem or heard of a photographer having a run in with a local council over it. Use a decent flashmeter that can give you relative daylight & flash readings & take a reading at the edge of the pavement by the road. Plus If there were bylaws to control it every celebrity would be taking action against the paparazzi. You will find the flash component is pretty negligable even at night.
 
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