Renting & cleaning the studio - what's normal & what's not??

AlleyCat · Mar 8, 2012

Ok, so I'm a newbie. I've been shooting outdoors for a year and decided it was time for me to try the studio lighting. I've been to only 2 studios. First one was 1 hour away from my house, it was cosy, small, and I had the privacy since I'd just be there with my team, nobody else. But still - it's 1 freakin hour away.

And then I got a really good deal from a studio near my house, and the first shooting went like this. The owner was there, watching us, i didn't feel comfortable but kept my mouth shut cuz I thought okay maybe he wants to know how I handle all the pricey equipment. He even let me borrow his pro camera & lens, but then uploaded all my pics in his computer. I also kept my mouth shut. Then we finished, and he asked me to mop the floor because our shoe prints were everywhere. The studio was huge, the mop was ancient, and it took me like 20-30 mins to clean everything. I probably wouldn't have mind if it were our own shoesteps, but it was mostly his since he was running all over the place. I was never asked to mop the floor after a shoot before and I'm quite confused - is this normal or am I being taken advantage of? He even laughed at me and had sarcastic comments when I finished and there were smudges on the floor... :-(

I just need to learn about the lights and the rent is a good deal, but we never agreed on me being their cleaning lady!

What do you think?

jonathon94 · Mar 8, 2012

My only experience comes from other people and not photographers but he sounds like a major meanie( for lack of a better word)

-Please ignore typos I'm currently on my phone-

2WheelPhoto · Mar 8, 2012

In Tampa the studios are competitive and offer great price point and service. Even the studio Scott Kelby did training videos in with all his props and lights can be had on the cheap when not in use.

ph0enix · Mar 8, 2012

Don't know about mopping the floor but he just decided to steal your photos? Was that the agreement?

o hey tyler · Mar 8, 2012

Yeah, what Phoenix said. You're complaining more about the fact that you had to mop the floor when the real travesty is that he jacked your shots. WTF is up with that ?

Scuba · Mar 8, 2012

yeah I would be concerned about your shots.

sm4him · Mar 8, 2012

Find a different place. I agree with the rest, the floor mopping is ridiculous but the REAL cause for concern is that he would just upload all your pics to his computer. NO way I would have let THAT happen and kept my mouth shut. I'd have been out the door right then.
I don't DO studio photography, I'm not a pro, I'm not even all that good...but by George, when I take a picture--good, bad or indifferent--it is MY picture and ain't NObody else doin' Jack with it without my approval.

It may all SEEM like mere annoyances to you right now, but if he is already stealing your photos and *demanding* cleaning services from you, as well as the fact that it sounds like he's just a sarcastic, mean jerk...it is ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.
Get out NOW. Even if it means driving an hour to do your studio practice.

DiskoJoe · Mar 8, 2012

AlleyCat said:
Ok, so I'm a newbie. I've been shooting outdoors for a year and decided it was time for me to try the studio lighting. I've been to only 2 studios. First one was 1 hour away from my house, it was cosy, small, and I had the privacy since I'd just be there with my team, nobody else. But still - it's 1 freakin hour away.

And then I got a really good deal from a studio near my house, and the first shooting went like this. The owner was there, watching us, i didn't feel comfortable but kept my mouth shut cuz I thought okay maybe he wants to know how I handle all the pricey equipment. He even let me borrow his pro camera & lens, but then uploaded all my pics in his computer. I also kept my mouth shut. Then we finished, and he asked me to mop the floor because our shoe prints were everywhere. The studio was huge, the mop was ancient, and it took me like 20-30 mins to clean everything. I probably wouldn't have mind if it were our own shoesteps, but it was mostly his since he was running all over the place. I was never asked to mop the floor after a shoot before and I'm quite confused - is this normal or am I being taken advantage of? He even laughed at me and had sarcastic comments when I finished and there were smudges on the floor... :-(

I just need to learn about the lights and the rent is a good deal, but we never agreed on me being their cleaning lady!

What do you think?

You paid someone to clean their floors and steal your work. Do I need to explain more or do you realize now how much he screwed you?

DiskoJoe · Mar 8, 2012

o hey tyler said:
Yeah, what Phoenix said. You're complaining more about the fact that you had to mop the floor when the real travesty is that he jacked your shots. WTF is up with that ?

And SHE PAID HIM TO DO IT!!!! That is the REAL problem.

Bitter Jeweler · Mar 8, 2012

In my experience with studios for various sorts of work, we always had to clean up when we were done.
But, the leasor NEVER took our work.

tirediron · Mar 8, 2012

Bitter Jeweler said:
In my experience with studios for various sorts of work, we always had to clean up when we were done.
But, the leasor NEVER took our work.

^^This! I would think it odd NOT to clean the place up after I was done shooting. The whole up-loading your images thing though is more than a little strange, and I would get that sorted out PDQ or find another place to work. The studio I use requires it to be left spotless, but when I'm there, it's mine. No one other than the people I have for the shoot are around.

AlleyCat · Mar 8, 2012

LoL..i'm not too concerned about the pics 'cuz I'm not a pro, I don't shoot for money, just for fun. It was a photo test with my friend and I'd end up sending the pics to her anyway.. Although it is kinda odd he asked me to bring my full-res portfolio over so he can see and give me some feedbacks.. Maybe i'm just too nice to see the bad in people???

I didn't mean to whine about the floor mopping, but it just seemed odd to me. I'm paying the rent, it's not like I borrowed it for free. Just like you don't wash your own dishes after you finished a meal in a restaurant. I disassemble the lights & I put them on the shelves, clean up after myself, but mop the floor??

480sparky · Mar 8, 2012

AlleyCat said:
LoL..i'm not too concerned about the pics 'cuz I'm not a pro, I don't shoot for money, just for fun. It was a photo test and I'd end up sending the pics to the model & the agency anyway............

It's still theft. Just because I'm filthy "Bill Gates" rich doesn't make it right for some guy to break into my house and steal my 96" plasma.

AlleyCat · Mar 8, 2012

You guys are right :-/ Too bad I already paid 1 month rent and now I have to utilize the place as much as i can just so it pays off... I'll pay better attention next time - going there this Sunday again - don't think I can escape the mopping thing but alright, my mistake to stay & now I have to deal with it. It's just I don't want to seem overprotective of my pictures like they were some kind of masterpiece or something.. (insecurity speaking)

Well I guess that ought to teach me how to deal with certain types of people...