Studio Location and Size

donkeymusic

donkeymusic

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Hello,

At present i am working from a garage studio, slightly larger than a single but not as wide as a double, gives me space but has the obvious limitations.

AS a result i have been looking at options, and one that has popped up which i hadnt considered was a rental unit in a large storage warehouse system, like here http://www.bigstorage.info/self-storage-warrington/

Where i can rent something slightly bigger than a double garage including bills for approx. £70 a week.

Now i know this isn't an ideal location but its manned 24/7 and secure but doesn't get passing trade as a shop front would be however not paying those rental costs so could advertise better to point them to the unit.
The unit would be unmanned from my side as i work full time at the moment so shoots would be arrange for evenings and weekends as i do now.

I just wondered what peoples views are on a unit like this? i can fit them out how i want so i can actually get it set up professional and think it would look a lot more professional to clients.

Any views or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks
 
As Big Storage also do office and workshop rental, I would suspect that they wouldn't want 'storage space' used in this way - or is that what you've been quoted the £70/week for? The other problem I see is that the key'd secure access (for storage units) would mean you would have to meet and great in the car park.

Paul
 
yeah it was the office space that i was looking at, and the location of the unit with in the storage building was near to the front so not a big problem.

If it was out of working hours i would have to meet the client in the car park and probably during the day but i don't see this as a major problem

The interesting thing was that on the testimonial page is refers to a photographer having used the office spaces for a studio.

Has anyone else considered the storage as possible studio space?
 
looks great but i don't have the space nor the funds for something like that, which is why i have looked at the storage space option
 
My view FWIW - OK, no shopfront, no passing trade, just a workspace.

But surely that's AT LEAST as professional as a garage or home studio and has the advantage of being secure too.

I feel that having to meet people in the car park could be a real pain, with any business it's much more efficient to meet people inside, and while you're waiting for them you can be getting on with other things.

I'm not sure that this is much help - but I wouldn't rule it out just because it was designed for another use.
 
Stoptime said:
How about a studio like this:

http://www.decoratedshed.com/garden-office-studio/building/garden-studio

click on the "studio" picture.

No idea of pricing - yet.
Click to expand...
It gives minimum pricing and price per sq m as a guide. Too expensive, without being flexible enough to me the needs of a studio. For example, the packages have low ceiling heights, and the bespoke models start from £48k, so a for the size you'd need yu can assume it's considerably more. Nice little building though :)
 
It was just an idea for an alternative. I didn't realise they were THAT expensive! - or I'd have pointed elsewhere.

Personally, I was thinking of roughly 24' x 12' and 8' high for much less, some time in the future.

Don't know whether you've seen it, but there's a simlar storage/office outfit that seems to have external 24/7 access on Winwick Rd.

http://www.safestoreoffices.co.uk/office_finder/warrington/warrington.aspx
- again, no idea of prices.
 
Stoptime said:
It was just an idea for an alternative.
Click to expand...
I wasn't complaining that you posted the idea (I had a good long nose around the site), just thought I should say I don't think it's suitable for us lot.
Personally, I was thinking of roughly 24' x 12' and 8' high for much less, some time in the future.
Click to expand...
Do everything you can to make it higher and wider :)
 
Stoptime said:
How about a studio like this:

http://www.decoratedshed.com/garden-office-studio/building/garden-studio

click on the "studio" picture.

No idea of pricing - yet.
Click to expand...

I was looking at these and loads of similar 'prefabs' to put in my garden, in the end I went for a real brick build as it was more cost effective for many reasons and didn't need planning permission whereas a wood structure did:cuckoo:. The other downside is that dimensionally they are usually made from fixed modules of length/width/height and custom options massively increased the price. Also if you are running business from part of your home there can be a world of pain attached :D

Paul
 
paul williams said:
in the end I went for a real brick build as it was more cost effective for many reasons and didn't need planning permission whereas a wood structure did:cuckoo:.
Click to expand...
Surely you gest? I've done a fair bit of building and read through the planning rules loads of times, can't remember ever seeing a clause where planning permission is required for something in wood, but not brick. Have you got a link/further info, because I think you're mistaken.
 
Triggaaar said:
Surely you gest? I've done a fair bit of building and read through the planning rules loads of times, can't remember ever seeing a clause where planning permission is required for something in wood, but not brick. Have you got a link/further info, because I think you're mistaken.
Click to expand...

I jest not - all to do with the proposed proximity to neighbours boundary and fire risk + all local planning offices seem to work with their own set of rules - so yes apparently if I'd have built this;
GR25a_0212.jpg

in wood, I'd probably have had permission rejected, but as a brick structure, not for living accommodation, no planning permission required and no compliance to building regs either (though when built it exceeded all requirements).

Paul
 
paul williams said:
I jest not - all to do with the proposed proximity to neighbours boundary and fire risk + all local planning offices seem to work with their own set of rules - so yes apparently if I'd have built this

in wood, I'd probably have had permission rejected, but as a brick structure, not for living accommodation, no planning permission required and no compliance to building regs either
Click to expand...
Interesting, I don't think any of the rules for permitted development specify whether a building is built of brick or wood etc, and so if you can build something without planning permission, planning permission can't be rejected. I take it you built this within permitted development rights (your property there is a house, not a flat).

I think you're talking about building regs, not planning permission:
"If the floor area of the building is between 15 square metres and 30 square metres, you will not normally be required to apply for building regulations approval providing that the building contains NO sleeping accommodation and is either at least one metre from any boundary or it is constructed of substantially non-combustible materials."
 
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donkeymusic said:
thanks for this but none of this helps my original post
Click to expand...

Sorry for going off-topic, but in essence I think it would be far more professional than using your own garage - especially if there is good height within the room, something you rarely ever get in a garage and makes the work so much easier. Some of the downsides have been mentioned, but also what would you get in the way of facilities like WC, changing area & can you paint/tailor the inside to your specific needs or again would you be restricted?

Paul
 
Surely any kind of home or storage unit based studio will not give clients the luxury experience that any kind of photo studio should - either way, it doesn't scream 'real business' - you can rent industrial units and even shops for not vast sums of money - more than a self storage unit, sure, bit if you're trying to build a business - there's a large part to be gained in justifying that you're 'real' - i'm not in the social markets so could be wrong, but as a member of the public, being led into a garage, summer house in the garden , or a storage unit - just wouldn't feel 'pro' :/

All depends where you're pitching ypur business I guess - look at the attention to detail that Edinburghgary put into his studio, and now he's too busy to cope. But he gives his clients a well thought out and professional experience. Anything else will just come over to some people as hobbyist.
 
Just a thought, and would take a bit of organising, but is there someone else in a similar position who you could come to an arrangement with about sharing an industrial unit or shop? Would keep the costs down between you.
 
donkeymusic said:
thanks for this but none of this helps my original post
Click to expand...

I'm paying £120pcm all in for a 200sqft space in Chesterfield.
Its in a Council run building, and attracts a business rates discount.

I cant see Warrington being any more pricey than Chesterfield, its out of town with no passing trade, but its secure, dry and a perfect space!

There must be something similar over your way.. £70pw is well expensive IMO for 'office' space

Speak to your local council, or check out the free and or local papers for adverts

Not having a shop front does not make any difference to me at the moment, as most work is on refferal etc...
 
paul williams said:
Sorry for going off-topic, but in essence I think it would be far more professional than using your own garage - especially if there is good height within the room, something you rarely ever get in a garage and makes the work so much easier. Some of the downsides have been mentioned, but also what would you get in the way of facilities like WC, changing area & can you paint/tailor the inside to your specific needs or again would you be restricted?

Paul
Click to expand...

Once i agree to the unit i have full control so can replaster the walls, decorate, hang what i want, lights where i want them, so pretty much what i ant to do.

There are toilets, kitchen on site which can be used.
 
itsdavedotnet said:
Surely any kind of home or storage unit based studio will not give clients the luxury experience that any kind of photo studio should - either way, it doesn't scream 'real business' - you can rent industrial units and even shops for not vast sums of money - more than a self storage unit, sure, bit if you're trying to build a business - there's a large part to be gained in justifying that you're 'real' - i'm not in the social markets so could be wrong, but as a member of the public, being led into a garage, summer house in the garden , or a storage unit - just wouldn't feel 'pro' :/

All depends where you're pitching ypur business I guess - look at the attention to detail that Edinburghgary put into his studio, and now he's too busy to cope. But he gives his clients a well thought out and professional experience. Anything else will just come over to some people as hobbyist.
Click to expand...

If i am able to do the unit up as i want it would offer me the same luxury that a shop would offer, shop or storage unit/office gives me the chance to design the space how i want.

I could put the same attention to the studio that Gary does just that i would not have a shop front.
 
scoff said:
I'm paying £120pcm all in for a 200sqft space in Chesterfield.
Its in a Council run building, and attracts a business rates discount.

I cant see Warrington being any more pricey than Chesterfield, its out of town with no passing trade, but its secure, dry and a perfect space!

There must be something similar over your way.. £70pw is well expensive IMO for 'office' space

Speak to your local council, or check out the free and or local papers for adverts

Not having a shop front does not make any difference to me at the moment, as most work is on refferal etc...
Click to expand...


mmm, thats a good point may look into that, do you have photos of your space and how your use it?

Thanks
 
scoff said:
I'm paying £120pcm all in for a 200sqft space in Chesterfield.
Its in a Council run building, and attracts a business rates discount.

I cant see Warrington being any more pricey than Chesterfield, its out of town with no passing trade, but its secure, dry and a perfect space!

There must be something similar over your way.. £70pw is well expensive IMO for 'office' space

Speak to your local council, or check out the free and or local papers for adverts

Not having a shop front does not make any difference to me at the moment, as most work is on refferal etc...
Click to expand...

Can i ask what area of the council you contacted to get this information?

Thanks
 
didnt go down the storage route but now need to look for a space to rent, not much cash available what do you think my best options would be?

thanks
 
It was me who gave that testimonial and in most cases the use was to photograph products for a client who makes wrought iron dragons as garden art. They're at least a metre high and wide so with several to shoot it was ideal.

Definitely not for people shoots although I did a short fashion shoot - the corrugated Walls made a good background.
 
Hi Jim, would love to see some of the images of the garden art. Any chance you can show some?

Malcolm
 
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