MASTER PHOTOGRAPHY REPORT HASSELBLAD’S HIGH END STUDIO
W
ithin a short dis- tance of each other, London’s media-rich
districts around N1 sport many studios, design houses and agencies all working together; Hasselblad’s new “in house” so- lution located at Fanshaw Street is a little bit different, offering an open solution to all photog- raphers wanting to experience working with a Hasselblad system whilst also providing a genuinely useful benefit to Hasselblad digital owners. As part of a value-added package of benefits, for photographers in the South East the new studio could be a very welcome addi- tion.
The studio space is ex- tremely accessible, close to Old Street and Hoxton connections and with surprisingly ample (albeit expensive, naturally) street parking in the area plus slightly cheaper spaces a small walk away. Hasselblad’s studio manager, Natasha, is resident with the studio and is a fully trained operator with a degree in photography and digital imaging, and has worked as an assistant and studio manager part and full time since gradu- ating – a lot of the images you see around their marketing are Natasha’s work.
New fixed abode
Hasselblad’s evolving take on the UK market has seen a few roadshow studio day demonstra- tions – the Fanshaw Street loca- tion is likely to be used to offer more regular events to introduce new users to the system. Meanwhile, their new prod- uct range that has seen offers like the outgoing H3DII-31 on sale for £6,995 ex. VAT (I think these sold out before I even learned about the deal) and the newly released H4D-31 start- ing at £8,995 ex. VAT. There’s an obvious intent to avoid price erosion of the small volume, high cost equipment by build- ing a set of benefits around it, whilst taking on competitors like the incoming Pentax 645D and
MASTER PHOTOGRAPHY 44
established Phase One/Mamiya systems.
For a photographer in the South East, Fanshaw Street is quite compelling as part of a package. The initial hire rate of £650/day ex. VAT (plus rental charges if you’re not borrowing someone else’s ‘blad; Pro Centre naturally offers good rates and 20% discounts here) drops to an area-competitive £260/day for registered Hasselblad digital owners or £390/day for Has- selblad film users or users with third-party backs. You can’t use non-Hasselblad cameras for the shoot and secure the preferential prices; video-DSLRs and the like are permitted if you’re working on training or similar material. The 2,800 sq. ft space includes a mezzanine hospitality suite (it’s also possible to use this as a vantage point for shooting, as it overlooks the infinity cove), production and output spaces, dressing room and an alcove with studio tables.
If you’re a sole operator used to working from home, with shoots on location as many wedding photographers are, then this available space allows you to do a lot more with your investment in Hasselblad gear including providing valuable client-facing facilities and shooting space.
Gear and gearheads
Additional equipment is avail- able for rental on location, including Profoto and Broncolor lights, and The Pro Centre’s backup includes Didgeridoo operators and services again at 20% discounted rates; Steve Moulsher heads up the team and oversees operators deliver- ing services like the package deal for studio users - list prices go up to £900, delivering 10 hours of operator time plus an H3D-50 or Phase One P65 on H2 and four lenses, Mac Pro with two Eizo calibrated screens and appropriate backup, storage and editing tools like a Canon Selphy printer and Wacom tablet.
The mezzanine floor gives a high viewpoint
Like most London studios, the exterior is functional and it’s what lies beyond the loading doors that counts
For information visit:
www.hasselbladstudio.com
The
studio offers a full service team
for ‘turn up and shoot’ hire.
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