Equipment
Bring your own equipment, use ours – or a mixture of both! We offer a wide range of quality video and photography kit to make your shoots go that little bit easier.
On this page you can find detailed descriptions of the equipment available at Swindon Studio. For a complete list of our extensive lighting equipment, view our lighting kit list.
Most kit is included in the cost of your hire, however some of the more specialist pieces may incur an additional hire fee.
On your first visit, we’ll spend a little time showing you around the studio and explaining how the various bits of equipment works. This is a complimentary service but must always happen the first time you visit, even if we already know you.
If you would like some assistance during your shoot, setting up lights or recommendations on the best approach for the look you are after, then just add this when booking. We will get back to you promptly if we don’t have anyone available. The studio is often manned, but not all the time
Please note that all equipment must ONLY be used inside Swindon Studio. You must not remove any of our equipment from the studio room, for any reason.
Lighting
To help you get the most out of your shoot, we offer separate lighting for photography and video purposes.
We have too much lighting equipment to list on this page, so please view our full lighting kit list for a detailed list.
Photography Lighting
We have a wide range of photography lights available, including some which have been custom made.
Photography lights are normally flash lights.
Flash allows a low ISO and good depth of field during a very short burst of light. Typically an ISO of 100 and a depth of field of F8-F11 is used for photographing people, whereas much smaller apertures are used for close up or macro work. In these cases, an aperture of F32 may be required.
Studio video lights can also be used to allow a wide aperture such as F1.4 or faster. This gives the photographer a small depth of field so that they can direct the viewer’s eye to the sharpest parts of the image.
Video Lighting
Our video lights are all HMI’s and LED’s with a minimum CRI and TLCI of 95 to ensure the most accurate colours when filming.
They also need to be flicker free if you want to shoot in slow motion and silent for when you are recording interviews, training films and other pieces to camera.
Our lights are mainly from Hedler and Broncolor. They all match and work together in what configuration you want them to be.
To ensure correct exposure and colour accuracy, we have both a light meter and a video colour temperature meter that are available for use during every shoot. If you want to bring your own lights with you, you can match them with what we have in the studio using these tools.
Spotlights
Grids and snoots can be very useful, but a proper focusable spotlight gives control and usually allows a gobo to be used to shape and sculpt the light.
An iris may be used to tighten the beam some have blades used to reshape the beam.
These can be flash or constant light and we have a number of different types mainly from Elinchrom and Bowens. These are typically 1.5K or 3K as restricting the light also drops the output, they are usually run at high power.
Fresnel lights and modifiers
This term refers to the type of glass construction used to focus a light source into a beam.
Normally the light source can be moved in relationship to the lens to allow the beam with to be varied.
These are typically used in lighthouses and big searchlights as the Fresnel light focusing very efficient.
We have a number of Fresnel lights in flash and constant (daylight balanced) as well as modifiers that can be added to existing heads. We have the largest Broncolor Fresnel, the Flooter and this gives a beautiful large light that is very versatile
Stands
Once of the most basic requirement of any studio is that the photographer must be able to easily position heavy lights and the camera, and be sure they won’t topple over.
For your camera we have a large camera stand (tripod replacement) allowing the camera to be a few inches from the floor to over 8 feet in the air – see photo on the right with the blue backdrop. It has an easy slide system with a lock making it easy to move around the studio.
We provide many lighting stands, from small stands to large ones with wind up handles to get big lights high in the air.
We have a number of pelican stands and booms.
My favourite stands are the Strobe stands as they are easy to move but heavy and solid. We have the original weights for these making them the most versatile stands in the studio.
We also have a number of frames that are very useful for product shoots where large scrims are needed for shooting small and/or shiny products, e.g. jewellery.
Grids and snoots
Grids and snoots allow you to limit the spread of light.
We have a number of these available.
You are advised to attach them and point the head at a wall to see the light spread and intensity achieved by each light modifier.
We have three classic Bowens (Quadmatic) square grids. These are very useful as they have slots in them for a gobo and a slot at the end for a coloured gel.
If the gobo is a graduated with the centre clear, then the light is further constrained.
Placing a grid on the front of a light modifier will restrict the light spillage but also reduce the light output by as much as a stop (half the light output) with grids and even more with a very tight grid.
Reflectors
Large reflectors are also vital as they allow the light scatter to be controlled within the studio.
Typically, large wheeled boards painted white on one side and matt black on the other, we have three of these plus smaller portable sheets of board.
Scrims
Scrims are an often-overlooked way to manage light. They are used to produce wonderful highlights in glossy products, but can also be used as an almost infinitely variable light source for just about any shoot.
They can be a softbox replacement when used with a Fresnel or spotlight. We have rolls of diffusion material and supports.
Other equipment & accessories
Other items
We have a range of additional lighting equipment, including softboxes, striplights (metal cased lights), ring flashes and other light shapers and modifiers.
We also have a fibre optic light source which can be hired at an additional fee.
A smoke machine (smoke and haze fluid available) can be made available but must be requested before your shoot.
Props & clothing
We provide an ever-changing selection of props (including a sofa) and clothing (e.g. evening dresses). Most clothing is a size 8.
Not all of props are at the studio all the time so if you’re looking for something in particular, please contact us before your shoot.
General accessories
We have a selection of general accessories such as extension cables, lighting gels, cleaning equipment, clamps, clips, supports, flash triggers, etc.
Please check with us before you arrive if there is something specific you need and we’ll let you know if we have it.
Specialist equipment, available with supervision only
High speed flash
This is a custom built flash that uses a spark gap to trigger a large short arc flash tube.
The flash power is low as the duration is very short, bullet stopping speed using a 10,000volt power source.
Water drop kit
Capture stunning photography of water drops.
This can be used with our fast powerful Broncolor flash to give crisp images with a good depth of field.
Macro lenses
A 1-5x 65mm Canon macro lens and extension tubes can be hired for your shoot.
Please contact us for additional hire fees.
