Hiring a photo studio in Reims: lighting, backdrops, prices and preparing your shoot
Product photos for your online shop, team portraits, a to-camera video or a filmed podcast: hiring a studio saves you from setting up lights in an office that was never designed for it. Here is what to check before you book, how to prepare the session so you don’t waste time on site, and what you will find in Collab’s studio, rue de Talleyrand, right in the centre of Reims.
What to check before you book
In a listing, every studio looks well equipped. Six points make the difference on the day of the shoot.
The lighting included
Flashes, continuous light or both? Flashes freeze movement and give you power; continuous light is essential for video. Check the power, the number of sources and a trigger system compatible with your camera.
The modifiers
Bare light is harsh. Ask for the list of softboxes, stripboxes, octaboxes and reflectors: they shape the quality of the light far more than the brand of flash.
The backdrops
A white paper backdrop is the basis for packshots and portraits. For a specific colour, ask when you book: not every studio keeps the full range in stock. Also ask how paper is charged: a backdrop that has been walked on or stained cannot be reused.
The floor space
For a full-length portrait or a group, you need distance between the subject, the backdrop and the camera. Ask for the actual floor space of the set and how many people can work there together.
Gear for hire on site
A backup camera body, a focal length you don’t have, a wireless mic for an interview: being able to hire on site saves you from carrying everything, or from cancelling because one piece is missing.
Access and loading
Stands, cases, products to photograph: check where you can park, how far away and on which floor the studio is. For participants coming by train, the distance to the station matters too.
Collab's studio in practice
An 18 m² set on the first floor at 35 rue de Talleyrand, with a layout up to you and room for up to 20 people to work.
What is included in the hire:
- Flashes: one 400 Ws Godox and two 300 Ws Godox, with the Godox trigger for Sony cameras.
- Continuous light: two bi-colour LED lights (CRI 96+), a 60 W daylight LED light and a 51 cm ring light.
- Modifiers: 35 x 160 and 22 x 90 softboxes, 80 cm octagonal and square softboxes, and 5-in-1 reflectors up to 150 x 200 cm.
- Stands: four 256 cm light stands and a boom pole with counterweight.
- A used white paper backdrop, provided free of charge; the other backdrops we have are charged by the metre walked on or stained.
- 8 Gb/s fibre to transfer your files, coffee and the shared space right next door.
The full list, item by item, is on our equipment page. You arrive with your camera and memory cards; a member of the team welcomes you, shows you the equipment and stays reachable during the session.
Which format for which project?
Packshots and product photos
A white backdrop, two diffused side lights and a reflector are enough for most products. A half day is enough for a small collection if the shot list is ready in advance.
Team portraits and corporate photos
A plain backdrop, one large key light and a reflector give consistent portraits for the whole team. No photographer on the team? We work with partner photographers, on quotation.
Video, interviews and filmed podcasts
The bi-colour continuous lights and the ring light are made for this. Rode mics, a gimbal and a field monitor can be hired on site, and the coworking space around you lets you prepare and edit.
Preparing a packshot shoot so you don't waste time
Studio time is paid by the half day: anything that can be done beforehand should be.
- The shot list. For each product: the angles you want (front, three-quarter, detail, lifestyle), the final format (square for the shop, vertical for social media) and the backdrop. It sets the pace of the session.
- Spotless products. Dusted, with no price tags or fingerprints, and ironed for textiles. Bring a microfibre cloth and gloves for shiny surfaces: every mark has to be retouched afterwards, and retouching costs more than prevention.
- Lighting locked from the first shot. Once you have found the light on the first product, don’t move the sources again: the whole series will keep the same look, and cutting out will be easier.
- The camera on a tripod, in manual mode. An aperture closed down enough to keep the whole product sharp, low ISO, fixed white balance. Stable framing from one shot to the next saves precious retouching time.
- Checking on a big screen. Check sharpness and reflections on a computer during the session, not that evening at home, when it is too late to reshoot.
- Back up before you leave. Copy the files to a second drive before leaving the studio: the 8 Gb/s fibre also lets you send the images straight to your retoucher.
What it costs, and what is included
€189 excl. VAT per half day (4 hours, morning or afternoon), €289 excl. VAT per full day, from 9am to 5.30pm.
The price covers the studio and all the shared equipment: flashes, continuous light, softboxes, reflectors, stands, boom pole and a used white backdrop. It does not change with the number of people present; only the other backdrops, if you use them, are charged by the metre walked on or stained.
Optional, by the day and excl. VAT, booked at the same time as the studio and handed over at reception: Sony cameras from €25 excl. VAT (Alpha 7 II at €25, Alpha 7 III at €35), Sony and Tamron lenses from €10 to €25 excl. VAT, a DJI Ronin RSC 2 Pro gimbal at €30 excl. VAT, a field monitor at €10 excl. VAT, Rode mics from €10 to €15 excl. VAT. Details are on the equipment rental page.
Would you rather be in front of the lens? We offer a full shoot with a partner photographer or videographer, a Collab resident or regular, on quotation. And once the flashes are packed away, the studio becomes a presentation room for 20 people: handy for a training session or a team offsite.
Cancelling or moving a booking
The terms are the same as for the meeting room, and they are set out before you pay.
- More than 13 days before the date: free cancellation.
- Between 13 and 7 days: 30% of the amount due.
- Between 6 and 4 days: 80%.
- 3 days or less, or in case of no-show: 100%.
Refunds are made within 30 days. To move a date, write to us as soon as you know: the earlier, the simpler.
Getting here with your gear
Collab is at 35 rue de Talleyrand, on the first floor, between place d’Erlon and the cathedral.
Reims Centre station is 5 minutes away on foot: handy for a team or a model arriving from Paris. By tram, get off at Langlet or Opéra (lines T1 and T2); by bus, at the Etape stop (lines C, O1, U1 and U9).
By car, the Erlon and Buirette covered car parks are 3 minutes’ walk away. All the prices and tips are on our parking page. Also need a room for a client meeting the same day? Read our guide to hiring a meeting room in Reims.
Frequently asked questions
What people ask us most often before booking the studio.
What's included, and what should I bring?
All the lighting (Godox flashes, LED lights, ring light), softboxes, reflectors, tripods, boom pole and remotes are included, as well as a used white paper backdrop. Bring your camera and memory cards, or hire a Sony Alpha 7 and lenses on site.
How does equipment hire work?
Cameras, lenses, gimbal, monitor and mics are hired by the day, excl. VAT, and booked at the same time as the studio. The equipment is handed over at reception and checked on return.
How many people can work in the studio?
Up to 20 people. For a typical shoot, think photographer, model and two or three people around them. In conference mode, the studio seats 20 people.
Can I get help on site?
Yes. A member of the team welcomes you, shows you the equipment and stays reachable. For full support, we put you in touch with a partner photographer or videographer, on quotation.
Which backdrops are available?
A used white paper backdrop, provided free of charge. The other backdrops we have are charged by the metre walked on or stained. For a specific colour, ask us when you book what is available.
Book your slot
You can book the studio online in two minutes, half day or full day, with card payment and instant confirmation. For a slot less than 48 hours ahead, equipment hire or a shoot with a partner photographer, call 03 65 67 51 17 or request a quote.