UNDERSTANDING: RENTING KINGSIZE STUDIOS
This week, we are starting a blog series called the “Understanding” series. We will be talking about various gear and hire related topics, that we hope will empower you when you are shooting, help you with your productions, and assist you get the most out of your rental experience.
For a start, we thought we’d talk about renting a Kingsize studio.
First, we want to say, that everyone is welcome at Kingsize. You can be a complete beginner, through to the most discerning professional. Our clients include students at high school, graduates from AUT, Unitec, Wintec, Whitecliffe, Raffles, and all over the country. We love working with emerging photographers, or anyone who wants a bit of lighting or gear advice. We also work with pros who need to dissect a lighting plan, or other production problem.
Usually when booking the studio, we just need to enroll you in our system, provide you with a quote, and give you the various payment options. We take EFTPOS, Visa, Mastercard, but not American Express. Also our Internet Banking details are on our contact page of our website. You can also apply for a Trade Account, but that takes a few days usually. All first time clients must provide picture ID, such as a Driver’s Lisence or Passport.
We prefer to provide you with an emailed quote ahead of your booking, after discussing your needs, and we can supply you with some budget / or technical quote options.
You are of course welcome to bring your own equipment, and shoot in any of the Kingsize studios. We also can back you up, with New Zealand’s biggest still-motion gear hire inventory, all in house. We have Chimera softboxes, Westcott umbrellas, and Mola beauty dishes that can fit the following brands of flash: Broncolor, Bowens, Elinchrom, Hensel, Profoto, and Multiblitz. Just let us know in advance, and we can change out the speedrings prior to you arriving. This can even be done on the day.
If you need to use Kingsize gear, we are very happy to guide you through the technical specifications, and operation. There are some safety guidelines, and also techniques you need to know, so that you don’t damage anything, which would not be great, since it will slow down your shoot.
All our gear day rates include the cost of insurance, but not the excess. Your excess is $1000+gst per claim (not per item) If the loss or damage is less than $1000, then you are responsible for 100% of the repair or replacement cost. Our insurance offering is industry standard, and exactly like renting a car. In many cases the value of the gear you are hiring is worth well into the ten’s of thousands, so for over $1000 you are covered for a very high value loss, or damage.
We strongly urge you not to leave gear in your car at any time: ever. This is the number one theft scenario for photographers and film makers !!
So, back to renting a Kingsize studio: what do you get with a studio, and what is extra?
Every studio is fully self contained, except our baby Studio 4, and the Garden Studio. So in Studio 1 and 3, you get your own kitchen, bathroom, waiting area. In Studio 1, there is a dedicated client lounge, and production annex space, along with adjacent workshop for repairs and props work.
Studios 1 and 3, have commercial espresso machines, with fresh coffee for you and your crew. On that subject: catering is available on request of course !
Every studio comes with a dedicated makeup facility, including daylight balanced makeup lights, generous space for your stylist and makeup crew: iron, ironing board, clothing racks, styling table, pin boards for references, and shot lists, access to a steamer (these can be rented, or come with Studio 1) Within the actual shooting spaces, you will always have a ladder, poly-books (these are large sheets of black/white polystyrene) along with a table or trolley that serves as a digital work station. Each of these has a UPS for your computer.
Studio four has an opening skylight which is great for regulating your temperature, but in Studio 3 we have Air Conditioning for winter / summer use. Studio 1 is cool in summer, but heated in winter. We provide fans and gas heaters on the day, depending on the conditions.
And now with summer on it’s way: keep in mind our completely unique Garden Studio, which offers an out door shooting stage. This has single phase power outlets outside, and usually we set up an EZUP and tables, chairs, etc for makeup and styling or as a digital work station. You can be fully operational in the garden.
We look forward to working with you, no matter the project, or style of production. Give us a call, and we can get everything rolling.
The Kingsize Team.
+64-(0)9-378-1027
