Four room sets? Can we build it? Yes we can!

It’s been really buzzing at Workhouse Studios this week. We opened our photography studio just a year ago with the boast that we  can build 5 room sets at any one time. Well, this week, I think we’ve exceeded our boast, as the set builders have been in and built four double room sets in just one day! (At a push we could claim that’s 8 room sets!)  I have to say they were professional, quick and applied their trade really well.

They take a big empty space, work with the photographer to understand the angles of the shots, build the wooden frames, build plasterboard walls, plaster the walls ready for wallcovering. Then come the stylists and prop the shots to get the required feel, and within a few days we’ve created exactly the pictures that photographer and client set out to achieve. Here’s some shots of the set being built yesterday.

up go the frames

overhead view

frames for walls

walls being plastered

photographer surveying the sets

Day in the life of Workhouse photographer.

Workhouse Photographer Andrew Woodhouse talks about a particularly busy day at Workhouse Studios with two different jobs either side of the country and completely different subjects to shoot. Here’s how the day went…

Workhouse enjoys Karting success!

Workhouse enjoys Karting success at the Stax 16th Annual Hardware Karting Challenge.

Stax Trade Centres which is one of Workhouse’s longest standing clients has run an Annual Karting Hardware Challenge for the last 16 years now with proceeds going to The Rainy Day Trust. The event see representatives from some of DIY’s top brands such as Crown, Dulux and Ronseal racing it out on a track to claim the coveted fastest lap and Best Team awards and avoid the bent axle award (and a battered pride) at all costs.

Sunday May 17th saw Workhouse on top form as they secured success at Speedkarting in Warrington. Workhouse Designer Jamie Brown proved once again to be top of the field winning all of his 6 heats and posting the fastest lap of the day: a storming 1:01:68 – around 2.5-3 seconds quicker than anyone else! His fourth year running.

The team, Workhouse Warriors won the coveted “best team award” (for the second year running) as result of some solid driving and a high points total. Designer Graham (Grez) Slater ended up collecting a black flag after someone spun directly in front of him- he had no choice but to hit him, although it was rather amusing.

Workhouse Photographer Andrew (Woody) Woodhouse won the final Grand Prix after fending off some tough competition, not a bad result considering this was his first time on the team and first time at the track!

All in all a great day and a very worthy cause.

Workhouse hosts Cars and and Model shoot for PPS.

On Saturday 18th April Workhouse Studios hosted a Cars and Model shoot for members of Preston Photographic Society. They day was great fun and was attended by about 10 photographers in all – including Workhouse’s photographer Andrew Woodhouse.

Highlights of the shoot included models Andrea Heaton and Lindsey Smith (Lixi), a Harley Davidson chopper kindly provided by Joe Rawsthorne and a blue Subaru Impreza provided by Rajdeep Sandhu.

People continue to be impressed by the vast space on offer in the 3500 sq. ft studio, with the highlight for many being the massive cove! Photographer Rob Georgeson said of the studio “A very professional and well equipped studio, I’d definitely be interested in using it again”.

A couple of the photos from the shoot are included below.

Workhouse takes Unistage to a new level

Workhouse have just completed a 3 and a half day product photography shoot for local company Unistage (www.unistage.co.uk). It was a very interesting 3 and a half days and the staging took over the whole 3500 sq foot studio and utilised the huge infinity cove.

The beauty of Unistage is it’s modular nature which allows the end user to create a variety of different stage designs out of a set number of pieces (set 12, set 16, set 20, set 24 or even a set 32).

The shoot went really smoothly and Unistage MD Steve Huckle said of Workhouse Studios “Workhouse Studios takes Unistage to a new level” ……”Photographer Andy was truly fab-his work and attitude was, and will be truly recommended- job well done”.

Below you can see some behind the scenes photos and also some example photos from the shoot.

Fashion Shoot at Workhouse Studios

Check out this months Live Ribble Valley magazine. Workhouse Studios was the venue of choice for the photography for the front cover, fashion and health and beauty features. Photographer Phil Garlington, Stylist Debbie Fish and their team of models, hairdressers and make up artists did a fantastic job. The magazine not only features some excellent photography but it looks good throughout, is an excellent read and much more contemporary than Lancashire Life.

Keep a look out on the blog for news of Ribchester’s very own Calendar Girls shoot, here at Workhouse.

Cover shot for Live Ribble Valley magazine taken at Workhouse Studios

Workhouse’s Resident Rock Star Gigs.

Workhouse Marketing has it’s very own Rock Star! Graphic Designer and all round entertainer Graham Slater is drummer in soft rock band Outsider.

A recent gig at Blackburn Bar Residence saw another fantastic crowd turn out and Outsider’s regular fans amidst the crowd cheering and signing along to Band favourites such as ‘Understanding’ and ‘Mute’. The venue was very busy and the band went down brilliantly.

Graham had an interesting night playing though as due to the flooring they were set up on his Drums were bouncing away from him with every beat. He pretty much had to chase them with his sticks! Provided much amusement.

Some images from the gig, taken by Workhouse Photographer Andrew Woodhouse, are below and you can also download more info on the band and their music at http://www.outsideronline.co.uk/

Workhouse Photographer Wins Second Place in Preston Photographic Society Competition

Workhouse Studios photographer Andrew Woodhouse secured second place in the Preston Photographic Society monthly print competition in the open mono section.

His superb image of an old war time hut was highly praised by the judge for it’s strong composition and superb tonal range. The judge particularly liked the detail and mood in the sky.

Andrew was extremely happy with the second place result saying “I’m chuffed, it’s only the second time I’ve entered the competition, so a second place is great news”.

Workhouse Studios. – Model shoot 1st March 2009

Demand is increasing for Workhouse Studios and with 3500sq ft of creative space in a picturesque, rural environment, what’s not to like!

Dr Rajdeep Sandhu (an aspiring photographer) said of his recent model shoot at Workhouse Studios “I enjoyed my shoot here………. Andrew was very helpful”.

With facilities such as underfloor heating, a spacious ‘Green Room’, changing and shower facilities, the studio is equally at home catering for models as well as commercial product photography.

Model Andrea Heaton said this about Workhouse Studios, “an unexpectedly huge studio……and very well equipped”

When asked if they would consider using the studio again both Dr Sandhu and Andrea said “yes”. In fact Dr Sandhu has already got another shoot in mind!