Studio Hire & Photography Rates London
Fully equipped blackout studio in South London. Professional lighting, grip, and production support included. Transparent pricing for studio hire, portraits, and commercial work.
Studio Hire Rates London
Lighting is included at every tier. Hire by the hour — 2hr minimum weekdays, 3hr minimum weekends. Not sure what to book? Just message and we’ll point you in the right direction.
Self-sufficient — you know what you’re doing
- Full lighting kit and modifiers
- Initial setup and breakdown
- Props and facilities access
On-demand help during your shoot
- Everything in Basic
- On-demand lighting changes
- Extra screen for tethered shooting
Full technical and creative assistance
- Everything in Basic and Standard
- Dual-screen tethering setup
- Full creative assistance throughout
- Discounts on extras
| Hours | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 hours | £100 | £120 | £140 |
| 3 hours | £150 | £180 | £210 |
| 4 hours | £200 | £240 | £280 |
| 5 hours | £250 | £300 | £350 |
| 6 hours | £300 | £360 | £420 |
| 7 hours | £350 | £420 | £490 |
| Full day discounts apply below | |||
| 8 hours | £380 | £455 | £530 |
| 9 hours | £420 | £505 | £585 |
| 10 hours | £450 | £540 | £630 |
Not sure which tier suits your shoot? Send a quick message — we’ll point you in the right direction.
Portrait Packages London
All packages include studio hire, lighting, retouching, and an online delivery gallery. Commercial and corporate portraiture is charged at commercial day rates.
- 2 hour shoot
- 300 images captured
- 2 lighting setups
- 2–4 outfit changes
- 15 full-size selects
- Headshot & portrait only
Professionals, performers & creatives needing standout headshots for profiles, portfolios, or casting.
Book- 3 hour shoot
- 600 images captured
- 4 lighting setups
- 4–5 outfit changes
- 30 full-size selects
- Headshot & portrait only
More range and variety — ideal for building a portfolio or wanting multiple looks in one session.
Book- 4 hour shoot
- 800 images captured
- 5–6 lighting setups
- 6–8 outfit changes
- 50 full-size selects
- All lengths
For actors, musicians, and artists looking for expressive, styled, or character-led portraits.
Book- 6 hour shoot
- 900 images captured
- Multiple lighting setups
- 7–8 outfit changes
- 60 full-size selects
- External & studio
Explore concepts, experiment with styling, and build a wide portfolio in one day.
Book- 8 hour shoot
- 1000+ images captured
- Multiple lighting setups
- 10+ outfit changes
- 80 full-size selects
- Set builds & external
An editorial-style experience for musicians, performers, or anyone wanting a highly creative session.
Book- 2.5 hour shoot
- 600 images captured
- 3 lighting setups
- 4 outfit changes
- 30 full-size selects
- Portraits & full length
For models wanting a classic set of editorial portraits for their portfolio and socials.
Book- Full studio hire and lighting
- Private online gallery — medium-resolution images
- Downloadable gallery with basic edit applied
- Selects & retouches as full-size and medium JPGs
- Individual exposure & crop corrections in Capture One
- Spot removal and eye-bag lightening
- AI-assisted retouching — natural, not overdone
- Colour grading on request
| Hair & Makeup Artist | £150 – £250 |
| Assistant / Lighting Support | £150 – £250 |
| Extra Retouches (per image) | £5 – £30 |
Commercial Photography Rates London
For brands, agencies, and businesses. All commercial work shoots in the fully equipped South London blackout studio. Every project is quoted individually — briefs, shot lists, and production requirements all vary.
A clear brief makes all the difference. The more detail you share — shot list, usage, timeline — the more accurately the project can be costed.
- Photographer + full studio hire
- Lighting & modifiers included
- Pre-shoot consultation
- Basic retouching — up to 30 images
Clean, high-quality imagery for web, social, and promotional use. Suitable for designers, creatives, and small brands.
- Photographer + studio hire
- Full lighting setup
- Pre-production consultation & shoot planning
- Image selection gallery
- Standard 1-year UK usage licence
For established brands and agencies requiring professional production value and precise image quality.
| Pre-production / Concept Development | £400 – £500/day |
| Assistant | £200 – £250/day |
| Stylist / Prop Sourcing | As required (+15% coordination fee) |
Day rate includes editing: colour correction, exposure and contrast adjustments, sharpening, noise reduction, and an online proofing gallery. Discounted rates may apply for multi-day shoots. Extended licensing quoted separately where required.
Professional Quality, Fair Pricing
Twenty years of photography experience, six of them working professionally. I’ve built and run a fully equipped South London studio, and I’ve been on both sides of a brief — commissioning and producing work — so I know how important clear communication and realistic budgets are from the start.
My work spans commercial campaigns, eCommerce, portraits, and editorial, with clients who value reliability and a clean, professional workflow. Studio hire, lighting, and support are included as standard — not charged as extras.
Rates reflect London’s professional standard: fair, transparent, and matched to the experience, equipment, and production support each project actually needs. For context on how our rates compare, the Association of Photographers (AOP) publishes regular guidance on professional photography rates in the UK.
Booking Terms & Delivery
Payment & Deposit
- 50% deposit required to confirm your booking
- Balance due when gallery is published (portraits) or on delivery of final images (commercial)
- Cancellations within 48 hours of shoot day: 50% charge applies
- Rates exclude extended licensing unless stated
What You Receive
- Private online gallery — medium-resolution images
- Downloadable gallery of all images with basic edit
- Selects & retouches as full-size and medium JPGs
- All prices include studio, lighting, and creative support
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about photography costs, studio hire, and what to expect when booking Arch Photo Studio.
Pricing & Rates
Studio hire at Arch Photo Studio starts at £120 for 2 hours (VAT included), in a fully equipped South London blackout studio with professional lighting and modifiers. Rates run to £636 for a 10-hour Premium session. Most clients hire for 3–4 hours. Lighting is included across all tiers — no surprise extras on the day.
Yes — all studio hire and portrait package prices shown are VAT inclusive. Commercial rates are quoted on a per-project basis and VAT will be clearly stated on your estimate.
A professional headshot session at Arch Photo Studio is £260. That includes a 2-hour shoot, 2 lighting setups, up to 4 outfit changes, and 15 retouched full-size selects. If you want more variety — more looks, more outfit changes, a larger set of selects — the Creative Starter at £390 is the natural step up.
Commercial day rates at Arch Photo Studio range from £850–£1,200 for individuals and small businesses, and £1,000–£1,600 for larger brands and campaigns. Half-day rates are available. The day rate includes studio hire, lighting, editing, and an online proofing gallery. Every commercial project is quoted individually — get in touch with an outline and you’ll get a clear, detailed estimate.
The Larger Business & Campaigns rate includes a standard 1-year UK usage licence. Extended licences — longer duration, broader territory, or unlimited use — are quoted separately. This is standard professional practice and ensures the licence is matched to the actual value of the images to your business.
Studio & Booking
Lighting is included across all three tiers — Basic, Standard, and Premium. All tiers include access to the full equipment set (props, backdrops, grip), plus setup and breakdown. Standard and Premium add progressively more hands-on support: lighting changes on demand, tethering monitors, and ongoing creative or technical assistance during your shoot.
Yes — the Basic tier is designed for self-sufficient photographers who just need the space and lighting. You get the studio fully set up on arrival, access to all equipment, and help with backdrops and booms. If you want someone on hand for lighting adjustments or tethering support, Standard or Premium will suit you better.
The minimum hire is 2 hours on weekdays and 3 hours on weekends, across all tiers. Most clients find 3–4 hours is the sweet spot — enough time for multiple setups without paying for a full day.
We recommend booking at least a week ahead to secure your preferred date and time, though last-minute slots do come up. A 50% deposit confirms the booking. For commercial projects requiring pre-production planning, 2–3 weeks minimum lead time works best.
Arch Photo Studio is at Arch 267, Urlwin Street, Camberwell, London SE5 0NG — a railway arch studio in South London, roughly equidistant from Denmark Hill, Loughborough Junction, and Elephant & Castle stations. On-street parking is available nearby. Note: there’s no right turn from Walworth/Camberwell Road onto Urlwin Street — come down Grosvenor Terrace and go around the block.
Ready to Book or Get a Quote
Message with your shoot plan — you’ll get a fast, straight answer