Everything you need to know.

Book online in three steps:

• Check availability – see open dates and choose hourly, a half day or a full day.
• Confirm and pay – your booking is confirmed by email straight away.
• Shoot – access details and directions arrive before your day.

Check availability, or email hello@blackgoldsunstudios.com if you'd like to ask something first.

Yes. Once you've paid online you'll get a confirmation email immediately. That email is your booking confirmation – keep it handy, as it includes your date, times and booking reference.

Payment is taken online by card when you book, through our secure booking system. We don't take card details by phone or email.

For larger or regular bookings, production companies and agencies can ask to pay by bank transfer against an invoice – email us before booking.

Full payment is taken at the time of booking. This secures your slot so nobody else can book it.

Yes. A receipt is sent automatically when you pay. If you need a formal invoice with your company name, address or a PO number, email us with your booking reference and the details you need on it.

As early as you can, especially for weekends and full days, which go first. That said, we often have availability at short notice – check the calendar, as same-week and even next-day slots do come up.

Yes, viewings can be arranged when the studio isn't booked. Email hello@blackgoldsunstudios.com with a few times that suit you. You can also see the space and kit on our home page and on Instagram at @blackgoldsunstudios.

Yes – if you're planning regular sessions (weekly or monthly), a run of days, or a longer production, get in touch and we'll put together a rate for you.

Of course. Book under your name and email, then let us know the name of the person who'll be leading the shoot on the day so we can send access details to the right person.

The full day is the best value per hour. Every booking includes exclusive use of the studio and all equipment at no extra cost.

Yes, hourly bookings have a 2-hour minimum. After that you can add hours one at a time. If you need 4 hours or more, the half day (£165) or full day (£300) works out cheaper.

No. Lighting, modifiers, backdrops, the green screen and the kitchenette are all included. The only things that could cost extra are going over your booked time, or damage beyond normal wear and tear (see below).

Yes. Set-up and pack-down happen within your booked time, so please build that in when you choose your slot. As a guide, allow 15–30 minutes at each end for lights and backdrops, and more for a larger crew or a complex set.

Your access starts at the beginning of your booking, as there may be another booking before yours. If you need extra set-up time, simply book it – or email us and we'll tell you if the slot before yours is free.

Please let us know as soon as you think you'll overrun. If the studio is free after your booking, extra time is charged at the hourly rate (£45/hr), billed in 30-minute blocks. If someone is booked after you, we'll need you to finish and be packed down on time.

Yes. Early starts (for example, to catch morning light), evenings and days longer than 8 hours can be arranged – get in touch with your dates and times and we'll confirm availability and price.

Available slots are shown in the online booking calendar. Standard hours are 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, with times outside that available by arrangement.

Prices shown are the full price you pay. We are not currently VAT registered, so no VAT is added.

• More than 7 days' notice – full refund, or move your booking free of charge.
• 48 hours to 7 days' notice – 50% refund, or move your booking once free of charge.
• Less than 48 hours' notice – no refund.

To cancel, email hello@blackgoldsunstudios.com with your booking reference. Notice is counted from when we receive your email.

Yes, subject to availability. Email us with your booking reference and the new date or time you'd like. Changes with plenty of notice are usually no problem; see the cancellation policy above for late changes.

Please let us know as soon as possible. Your booking will still end at the booked time, as there may be someone in after you, so arriving late shortens your session.

It's very unlikely, but if we ever have to cancel your booking we'll tell you as soon as possible and offer a new date or a full refund – your choice.

Black Gold Sun Studios is a photography and video studio in Hither Green, in the London Borough of Lewisham. Big factory windows on two sides give soft, directional daylight. Pull the blinds and it becomes a fully controllable space for flash, continuous light and video. The look is industrial – exposed brick, large windows and warm floors – with plenty of plain wall and backdrop space for clean set-ups.

Yes – it's one of the best things about it. Large industrial windows run across two walls, giving soft, directional light that changes through the day. Every window has a blackout blind, so you can shape the light, mix it with flash, or block it completely.

Yes. Blackout blinds are fitted on every window, so you can shoot with flash or continuous lighting in a fully controlled space – ideal for video, low-key portraits and product work.

The main studio floor is approximately [XX] m² ([XX] sq ft), with a ceiling height of around [X] m. There's room for full-length portraits, small groups and a small crew. If you'd like exact measurements for a set build, email us.

The studio comfortably fits up to 10 people, including photographer, crew, talent, and hair and make-up. If your team is bigger, let us know before you book.

Yes. Every booking includes exclusive use of the studio – you won't share it with anyone else during your time.

Yes. There's a clothes rail and space for hair, make-up and styling. If you need a private area for changing, let us know in advance and we'll make sure it's set up for you.

• Kitchenette with kettle and sink
• Clothes rail and space for hair, make-up and styling
• Toilet
• Free Wi-Fi
• Plenty of power sockets around the studio

You're welcome to bring your own food and drinks.

All of it is included in every booking, at no extra cost.

Yes. We provide lighting, modifiers and backdrops, but not cameras, lenses, tripods, triggers for your camera system or memory cards. Please bring your own camera, and a trigger or transmitter compatible with Godox if you want to fire the strobes wirelessly (a sync cable is provided with the Esprit flash).

Absolutely – bring any lighting, props or sets you like. Remember the studio is on the first floor with no lift, so plan for carrying kit up the stairs, and leave enough of your booked time for loading in and out.

We have a large selection of Colorama paper backdrops plus a green screen. Stock changes as rolls are used and replaced, so if you need a particular colour, message us before your shoot and we'll confirm it's available – or let you know if you should bring your own roll.

Normal use is included. Please don't walk on paper in shoes, and tear off and bin any section that gets marked or creased. If a roll is badly damaged or used up for a full-length or messy shoot, we may charge a replacement fee – just ask if you're unsure.

Yes, a green screen is included. Combine it with the continuous lights and blackout blinds for even, controlled lighting that keys cleanly.

The studio is self-service – you'll have the space and kit to yourselves. Everything is easy to use, and the lights are laid out ready to go. If you'd like help or a quick run-through of the kit, ask us when you book and we'll see what we can arrange.

Let us know straight away using the contact details in your access email and we'll help sort it. Please don't try to repair equipment yourself.

• Portraits, headshots and personal branding
• Fashion, lookbooks and model tests
• Product and e-commerce
• Editorial and campaigns
• Music videos, short films, interviews and content creation
• Small creative workshops and classes

If you're not sure the space suits your idea, email us and tell us what you're planning.

Yes. The blackout blinds and continuous lights make the studio well suited to video. As with any London studio, there can be some outside noise from the street, so for dialogue-critical work we'd suggest a directional microphone and building a little time into your schedule for retakes.

Yes, for shoots. Children must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times, including on the stairs. Pets are welcome for shoots – please let us know in advance, keep them under control, and clean up after them.

Food and product shoots are fine. For anything messy – paint, powder, glitter, confetti, water or fake blood – please check with us before booking, protect the floor and backdrops, and leave the studio as you found it. Extra cleaning may be charged if the studio needs it.

No smoke, haze machines, candles, sparklers or other open flames, as they can set off the fire alarm and are a safety risk. Battery-powered candles and LED effects are fine.

Possibly – small workshops, talks and creative sessions can work well in the space. Email us with your plans, numbers and timings and we'll let you know.

Yes, at a reasonable volume. Please be considerate of neighbours, especially early in the morning and in the evening.

Black Gold Sun Studios
174–176 Hither Green Lane
London SE13 6QB

We're in Hither Green, in the London Borough of Lewisham, South East London. Full access details and directions are emailed to you before your booking.

The studio is about 15 minutes from London Bridge.

• Hither Green station – direct trains from London Bridge, Cannon Street, Charing Cross and Waterloo East.
• Lewisham station – National Rail and DLR, for connections from Canary Wharf, Greenwich and the City.
• Buses – several local bus routes stop nearby; use TfL Journey Planner with our postcode, SE13 6QB.

There's no dedicated studio parking. Some street parking is available nearby – check local signs for restrictions and payment. You can usually stop briefly outside to unload kit. The studio is inside London's ULEZ, so check your vehicle is compliant.

No, sorry. The studio is on the first floor and reached by stairs – there is no lift. Please bear this in mind for heavy kit and for anyone with limited mobility. If you have specific access needs, email us before booking and we'll talk it through with you honestly.

Most kit, props and furniture are fine, but everything needs to go up the stairs by hand. If you're bringing anything large or heavy, email us the dimensions before your booking and we'll confirm it will fit.

Access details and directions arrive by email before your booking, including how to get into the building and who to contact if you need help on the day.

• Your camera, lenses, memory cards and batteries
• A Godox-compatible trigger if you want to fire the strobes wirelessly
• Any props, wardrobe, steamer or styling kit
• Food and drinks for your team
• Your booking confirmation email

• Start and finish within your booked time, including set-up and pack-down.
• No smoking or vaping anywhere inside the building.
• No smoke or haze machines, candles or open flames.
• No shoes on paper backdrops.
• Keep noise reasonable and be respectful of neighbours.
• Supervise children at all times, especially on the stairs.
• Leave the studio as you found it.

Before you leave, please:

• Return lights, stands and modifiers to where you found them
• Roll up backdrops and tear off and bin any damaged paper
• Wash up and tidy the kitchenette
• Put rubbish in the bins provided, and take any large waste or props with you
• Close blinds and windows and switch off lights, as directed in your access email

Generally no, as there may be a booking straight after yours. For multi-day bookings, ask us and we'll let you know what can stay.

Please do! Tag @blackgoldsunstudios on Instagram – we love seeing what people make in the space and often share work with credit.

We strongly recommend that you have your own public liability insurance, and insurance for your own equipment. Professional and commercial shoots must hold public liability insurance, and we may ask to see a copy.

Accidents happen – please tell us straight away. The person who made the booking is responsible for the studio and equipment during the booking, and may be charged for repair or replacement of anything damaged beyond normal wear and tear.

You are. Please keep your kit and personal items with you, and take everything when you leave. We can't accept responsibility for items lost, stolen or left behind, though we'll always try to return anything we find.

Fire exits, extinguishers and the assembly point are explained in your access details. Please keep exits and the stairs clear of kit at all times.