UPDATE 30th April: Good news - the construction work is near completion, so we are accepting studio hire bookings for May 14th onward.

Courtenay Studios has be closed for a time as the building is being earthquake-strengthened. Progress updates will be posted here and progress photos on Facebook
We apologise for any inconvenience this causes our customers.

Our Courtenay Place photography studio is available for hire:

• Central Wellington CBD location, great light and atmosphere, loads of cafes

• Shooting area approx. 8.5m x 4.8m with a high ceiling, sloping from 3.7 to 4.5m - see layout below
• 1st floor with gentle stairs, but no lift or disabled access. Plenty of metered parking on street. No reserved parking, sorry. Loading zone right outside.
• Assistance with initial setup is free, additional assistance available if required
• Available for hire 24 hours 7 days (see below for after hours & Sundays)
• Hire fee all inclusive. no extra charges for use of lighting equipment, etc, but see below for background paper use and abuse
• Can be used for video or TV studio for interviews etc, but the room is not soundproof - you will get background noise. We have a set of small redheads (500W with dimmers, 3200K).
• 2 sets of window blinds: diffusion and blackout
• Ideal for casting, headshots, fashion, hairdressing, portraiture, wedding group & product range shoots, stills photography or video
• Not suitable for large products or props due to access restrictions (stairs and standard-size door)

We believe the studio room and its equipment fills a need for a modestly-priced photography studio hire facility in Wellington city. While the lighting equipment is not the latest computer-controlled gadgetry, it is robust, reliable, and easy to understand and use - it does the job. And you're not paying through the nose for each piece of kit you use - it's all included in the standard hire fee, and with free assistance in setting up.

Since opening, the studio has proved to work well for apparel and product shoots, modelling and acting portfolio shoots, profile photos, portraits, nudes and figure studies. The warmth and relaxed feel of the space immediately puts clients, models and photographers at ease, making for a relaxed and enjoyable photo shoot. It has also been used for video productions involving many people. The central location makes it convenient and easy for people to locate and reach by public transport.
The window area is good for natural light shooting as well, particularly for portraits.
See Hire Rates

If you're not already familiar with Courtenay Studios, here are some basic notes on using the flash meter, radio triggers, and suggested camera settings.

Backgrounds on two walls allow shooting longways or across the room (better for side-lighting) . There are blinds to diffuse and/or block out the daylight.

Courtenay Studios floor plan - click to enlarge

Studio in use, December 2013