Barry M. Robinson
Photography
Support Services
Sources of unusual props, large rental studios, pro photo labs, specialized photo equipment rental, fashion and food stylists are listed to the right. This should be of interest to graphic designers, ad agency people and anyone else involved in creating exciting images. This list should give you an idea of the range of services that are available in Toronto. I've also included, for comparison, similar services in the U.S. and Europe.
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Studio One(Toronto)
Rental studios located at 9 Davies Avenue (north of Queen Street East near the Don Valley Parkway) on the edge of
studio district. Four separate studios are available, each with a kitchen and styling/make-up areas. Commercial
rental rates are from $400 to $900 per day depending upon the studio. Close to photo retailers and professional labs.
Wallace Studios (Toronto)
Wallace Studios, Toronto. 3 studio sizes; rates for photographic use vary from $575 to $875 per day. Also available
for film and video.
Headshots Rentals(Toronto)
Headshots rents and sells a wide variety of photographic equipment including lighting, grip equipment, lenses and
digital cameras. The owner of Toronto camera retailer Henry's, Cranbrook Glen Enterprises Limited, recently
purchased Headshots (March 31, 2007). Headshots moved to a new Toronto location at the end of July 2007, at
1122 Dundas Street East (at Carlaw).
Vistek Photographic Equipment Rentals (Toronto)
Vistek rents a wide variety of photographic equipment including lighting (flash and tungsten), grip equipment, lenses,
digital cameras and digital camera backs. Download the price list for more information.
Toronto Image Works (Toronto)
A full service photo lab offering film processing C-41 (negative) and E-6 (transparency), darkroom rental,
output services including Giclée Fine Art Prints, scanning (Imacon, drum, flatbed, PhotoCD),
training and more. See their website for more info on upcoming courses.
PIKTO - Photo lab & Gallery (Toronto)
Located in the historic Distillery District of Toronto, Pikto offers a variety of digital services including Imacon scanning, a digital darkroom with high-end Macs and output in a variety of
formats. They can also provide top quality portfolios for photographers, artists and models (see their website for more information). A
1700 square foot rental studio (with a cove) is now available. The studio is linked to the lab with a high-speed fiber-optic cable.
Colour Chameleon - Make-Up Artist Natalia Zurawska (Toronto)
A make-up artist located in Toronto, Canada. Visit her site to see her portfolio. Now represented by Judy Inc. (see next entry)
Judy Inc.- hair and make up, stylists, props, fashion etc.(Toronto)
Provides hair & make-up, stylists and more for photographers, film and video.
Plutino Group
A Toronto agency representing stylists, make-up artists, directors, producers and other creatives.
Set/Reset - Recycling for the entertainment Industry (Toronto)
Props and sets from film and television productions for sale and rental. Stock varies, drop by the site to see what they have.
Air Magic Special Effects (Toronto)
Specialists at special effects and pyrotechnics for stage, sporting events, fashion shows, concerts and much more. They also stock
a variety of "do-it-yourself" materials and rentals (e.g. T-Shirt guns, fog, smoke, snow, foam and bubble machines). See their website
for complete information.
Jed Root Inc.
An international agency, founded in New York 1989, represents photographers, stylists, make-up artists, hair stylists and manicurists. Additional offices are
in London, Milano, Paris and Tokyo. Represents photographer Bettina Rheims, known for her editorial work and books such as Female Trouble.
The Cloutier Talent Agency (Santa Monica)
Cloutier Talent Agency represents hairstylists, makeup artists, wardrobe stylists, manicurists and wardrobe & prop stylists. Offer a complete
service to ad agencies, production companies, photographers and more. Located in Santa Monica, California.
Trengove Studios - Photographic Props and Effects
A source of acrylic ice cubes for beverage photography (ice that doesn't melt during the photo shoot, used
by most food photographers, $32 per cube standard, $70 each for a floating ice cube, prices in US dollars), floating
bubbles for drinks (used to put a small bubble at the side of a cup of coffee or juice, $13 each or a set of
three for $33). Custom splashes made from acrylic are available, custom priced per piece. Also steam chips (used
to create a steam effect in photos), ice powder (makes a realistic ice slush) and much more.
Milk Studios (New York City)
Rental studios with ancillary services on-site including equipment rental, gallery space, cafe (with catering) and a VIP lounge.
45,000 square feet of rental space divided into several studios of various sizes. Located in New York city. Rates for smaller studios are as
low as $700.00 per day (US dollars) at Formula Studios (a division of Milk Studios). Milk Studios is popular for
celebrity shoots and other events. Lindsay Lohan, singer and actress, fractured her wrist at a party
held at Milk Studios during New York Fashion Week
which ran from September 8 to 15, 2006
Pier 59 Studios (New York City)
Located on Pier 59, Chelsea Piers on the Hudson River in New York City. Consists of ten studios and one sound stage,
together comprising 100,000 square feet. Rental equipment and prop rental is available, high speed Internet connections,
restaurant and catering services on-site (with customized menus available).
In-Focus Studios (Germany)
A rental studio located in Germany, right by the motorway A9 between Nürnberg and Munich. Brand new with hydralic lift for
cars and other large products, 500 square meters of studio space. Secure building.