Toronto's Top 10 Photography Rental Studios

Are you unsure of which Toronto photography studio to rent for your next photoshoot or creative production? Well, join the club. Photography studio rentals are a dime a dozen these days!

Somehow, with the massive increase in photography studio rentals, the average rental price for photography studios has actually gone UP, not down, and many studios are becoming copycats of one another, with some Toronto photography studio rentals being outright scams or are of very poor quality.

So that's why in this article you'll learn about the top quality, best designed, and highest standards of service photography studios in Toronto, in addition to getting an understanding of their relative price points as well, so that you can make an informed decision as to where to best spend your money.

Why is choosing a good photography studio important?

Renting a reliable Toronto photography studio that won't double book you or charge you undisclosed, hidden fees after the fact will save you a massive headache.

Renting a high quality, boutique studio will allow you the option to expand your options. Happen to need a professional photography light kit while you're on set and

don't have the time to go to Vistek to rent a light? Boutique studios got you covered!

Most studios don't actually have very much decor, nor very well done decor, and the ones that have none at all simply have plain walls and the option to rent lighting. Why can't we have ALL of these things in ONE package? Well, you can! Look for the boutique Toronto photography studio rentals in this list!

What can go wrong if you choose the wrong studio?

From the Toronto studios for photography rentals on this list, for the most part, we have heard only good things, with only an occasional angry rant from a client who felt unjustly treated. But this happens to ALL businesses. You can't satisfy 100% of your customers because not all customers are always open to being satisfied, funny enough. Some people are just permanently grumps! :P

Onwards, these are, in our opinion, the only choice of studios when considering your next photoshoot if you can relate to any of the following:

• You want to be charged fairly, no hidden fees.

• You don't want to have a place not look like the

  marketing images.

• You don't want to be double-booked, and end up stranded on your shoot day.

• You don't want to shoot in someone's house or basement.

• You don't want to go to a dangerous area to shoot.

• You want peace of mind during your rental.

The wrong photography studio can result in a lost opportunity. If you're shooting an editorial piece, or are working with demanding clients, then it's more important that they feel comfortable and happy in their surroundings. That feeling of comfort is crucial to producing authentic imagery where your subjects forget about themselves while being photographed and THAT is what we think is most important. It's impossible to describe the FEELING that some of these photography studios elicit but believe us, they're phenomenal. The best photography studios will be able to provide this environment without issue - you just need to find the one which suits your needs and budget so that's why we created this list for you!

We Labelled Each Studio's Name.

In each studio title, you'll see the name of the studio itself, as well as some $ beside it, and if the studio is a boutique studio then you'll also see the word Boutique next to it. The lowest value we assigned to studios was $$ and the highest was $$$$$. This doesn't mean you can expect to pay $20 at $$, and $10,000 at $$$$$. This is just a relative number to help you compare price points between studios based on the value of the area in which they are located, and the average market value in that area.

BTW What is a Boutique Photography Studio?

A boutique photography studio means it's a la carte. You can book just the space itself, furnished., without any fancy bells and whistles You can also book the photography equipment provided by the studio whether it's lighting or seamless coloured paper rolls for an extra fee. You can

also opt-out and just bring your own photography lighting if you want. Included is also a well-lit makeup and styling station. A boutique photography studio means that the studio stocks everything you would need for a personal or commercial photoshoot. Just bring your camera and your subject, and you'll be well taken care of by the studio!

So Which Are the The Top 10 Best Photography Studios in Toronto Available for Hourly and Daily Rentals?

Let's start off with the obvious favourite...

1. THAT Toronto Studio | Boutique | Top-Rated

$$

• Soundproof, private space (not shared with other renters)

• You can instant-book online, in under a minute

• Rent two very different, unique and well-lit rooms

• You can rent pro lighting kits, directly from the studio

• Clean, organized, and tidy studio with private washroom

• 99% phone call response rate, friendly, responsive staff

THAT Toronto Studio is undoubtedly the top-rated, photography studio rental service in Canada. Driven by a mission to ensure a massively positive experience with each and every client hosted, expect the highest calibre of service, studio, and all at the fairest possible price.

THAT Toronto Studio has two rooms, well-insulated walls (soundproof) and hosts all types of clients and uses, ranging from:

• artists & photographers (mixed use, photography)

• production companies & video (commercial, music videos)

• workshops, live streams, podcasting (mixed use)

• yoga & meditation ceremonies (mixed use)

• private company mixers / functions (events)

• as well as individual influencers who are looking to capture quality content in an affordable but high quality and well-decorated space (mixed use)

Expect the following from THAT Toronto Studio:

• tidy (and clean)

• private (not shared with other renters)

• private washroom & change room

• multi-functional, full-service (option to rent gear)

• aesthetically pleasing, balanced feng shui (well-decorated)

• easily accessible, with nearly everything at the touch of a button or a phone call away (super customer service)

THAT Toronto Studio has some of the best prices in Toronto, and can also be booked in an instant. You can check availability and book online in a matter of minutes (and just seconds if you've got an existing member account).

Are you on the fence?

See why THAT Toronto Studio has the most exceptional photography studio rental service in Canada, as evidenced by over 200+ of your peers! Oh, and you’ll always feel at home in this studio; the feeling this space offers is indescribable, and the friendly staff are sure to put a smile on your face! Rain or shine! Book here!

Want to come check out the feeling this studio has to offer you? Check out the virtual tour and video on the rooms page or book a tour directly by emailing management!

2. Working Proof Studios | Boutique

$$$

Working Proof Studios is the longest operating Toronto photography studio rental brand which is still around in Toronto! Located in the heart of Leslieville and just North of East Toronto's Studio District, Working Proof Studios boasts some of the best value in a fully-loaded studio.

Working Proof has been around for nearly 2 decades and has serviced some of the biggest brands and commercial photographers in Canada and has been one of the most trusted names in studio rentals since its inception.

This studio used to be run by the awesome model and photographer Chelsey Boll, who was always an absolute delight to speak to whenever clients needed assistance. Chelsey has since moved to Montreal though, so she's no longer actively working at Working Proof Studios!

EDIT: The Working Proof Studios brand has just been purchased by THAT Toronto Studio (studio #1 above) and will now offer professional, high quality short-term, hourly, daily, or weekly working spaces for young professionals.

3. Neon Demon Studio

$$$$

The studio is a cool alternative to other photography studios in the GTA that are usually blandly decorated; because this studio is far from bland! The studio has revitalized the retro scene with its retro neon lights, chrome robot props, and is full of funky furniture and is Canada's largest neon collection which is open to the public. They describe themselves as the coolest studio in Toronto, and we definitely think they're pretty darn cool.

Toronto's Neon Demon Studio offers studio rentals and photography workshops for beginners to get shots they're proud of. To rent their studio, expect to pay a pretty penny; and rightly so—neon signs are expensive to buy and maintain (and can you imagine their electricity bill?). Either way, it'll be worth the unconventional photos you'll get from your shoot there, and if you’re into that retro neon look, what are you still waiting for? Go book them ASAP!

4. Wade Studio | Boutique

$$

Wade photography studio is located in the West end of Toronto. It includes a blend of modern and antique features and furniture, giving it that vintage feel with an industrial twist. This photography studio rental space also features large windows for ample natural light as well as high ceilings to make your photos stand out.

Wade Studio is a hard loft as well, showing wonderfully aged brick on some of its walls to give it a nice rustic and industrial era feel. Wade Studio is owned by an awesome and kind fella named Mark who has always been a pleasure to deal with.

5. Lovt Studio | Boutique

$$$

Lovt’s Toronto photography studio rental is located in the upper West end of Toronto near Casa Loma, Album Studio Rental, Wade Studio, and Preto Loft. They offer photography studio rentals for those who want a professional photo shoot. It used to be quite antique-feeling but has since flourished with quite an airy modern feel with

large windows to take advantage of natural light during shoots.

This studio is owned by Zach and Amanda who have always been absolute gems to speak to whenever we've had any questions.

6. Studio by House | Boutique

$$$

Much like the story of many of the other photography studio rentals in Toronto, Peter House is a photographer who decided he wanted to do more than just shoot photographs for his fashion clients, so he opened up Peter House Studios! The aesthetic is wonderfully cozy and no detail is left untouched. Studios by House is definitely a crowd pleaser, though it is a tad far if you don't drive--located all the way out in Mississauga, you'll definitely benefit from having a set of wheels. Noteworthy is that Peter's studio aesthetic has a very morning light, sunrise type of feeling to it which makes for some pretty amazing boudoir pictures, IMHO!

7. Mint Room Studios | Shared studio (not private)

$$$$

Mint Room Studios has a dainty, whimsical feel to it, and it’s definitely the most massive of the retail photography studio rentals in Toronto, both in terms of budget and square footage. They're owned by a giant wedding conglomerate, so Mint Room Studios is said to have the biggest operating budget out of all the other studios we've listed in this article here today. This can be both a good and a bad thing: let's start with the good! They have very intricate, and out of this world sets. The turnaround time on how fast these sets and room remodels happen is absolutely astounding. They have remodelled from their Halloween/Autumn sets to Christmas sets overnight before! That is the magic of operating at high budgets--construction crews can do things overnight! But you gotta make money, to spend money.

So now let's talk about the cons: Mint Room Studios is expensive. In fact, they're one of the most expensive retail photography studios for rent in Toronto. Expect to pay to use their makeup and styling stations (and a client revealed that they even charged for use of electricity).

Because their rooms don't have floor to ceiling walls dividing them, you'll often hear the renters in the other rooms speaking or shuffling around, which can absolutely destroy a video shoot which requires sound capture. There is however a solution around this (albeit an expensive one), which is to simply book all the studios in the space so that there is no one in the adjacent studios during your rental. Though this can easily rack up to thousands of dollars for only a few hours. Not something most people can afford to do, which is why for the same kind of look, we suggest going to Lovt Studio or Peter House Studios for much more modest prices and fully insulated walls, plus you’d be helping to support the little guys and gals, not the conglomerates!

8. Linen and Love Studios

$$$$

Linen and Love Studios has a cute aesthetic, and it's actually not a Toronto studio rental as much as it is a Markham studio rental. The thing about Linen and Love Studios which receives much criticism is that they are often termed "The Mintroom Clone". They definitely have a nice aesthetic and put good effort into their studio, but the

resemblance to Mintroom in terms of aesthetic, decor, and even studio policy is uncanny. Just like Mintroom, they also charge to use their styling and makeup station. If you're in Markham, this is probably a good studio to rent!

Also, we’re not actually sure if they’re private or not… We know they have multiple rooms, but from what we know, their walls are actually properly insulated between their rooms.

9. Sol Atelier Studio Toronto | Boutique

$$$$

Born of Lovt Studios, Sol Atelier is now owned and operated by Ashley, who's not only a photographer but has a love for interior design. She's created a wonderland for influencers to come take epic selfies in a super chic spot that looks very high class. What we like about Sol Atelier, is that every last intricate detail is considered in the design of the space, making it feel more like a home. Unlike, for example the next studio we'll cover, which has more of a commercial empty design feel to it.

10. The Glasshouse Studios | Shared studio (not private)

$$$$$

This photography studio is the furthest North out of all the studios listed on this page, which is actually a Richmond Hill Studio Rental. Their aesthetic is very posh, and they have several rooms which are designed to look upscale, but somehow these rooms leave much to be desired. Set design doesn't appear to be a very big emphasis at this studio since its design feels to be lacking soul (as compared to Sol Atelier which has a ton of heart and soul in its layout and choice of furniture), they do sometimes have nice holiday themed sets which are great for retail photography. This studio also looks like it's the most expensive, so we put 5 "$" beside it to mark it as most expensive.

And here’s a bonus, 11th studio just because you’re still reading…

11. Silverline Studios

$$$$

Remember back when studios were just a big empty space where you could bring in all your own furniture and decorate it however you want? Well, this blank canvas is what you can expect with Silverline Studios! Silverline Studios are actually located in Leslieville’s studio district next to all the film studios, which is convenient because if you’re looking to host a production where you can design your own set, build it, and bring it into the studio to set it up in their blank canvas, this is the perfect spot! They’re a little pricey given that they don’t come furnished, have pre-designed sets, nor seem to have light rentals.

IN CONCLUSION

Toronto photography studio rentals are important for photography students and photo professionals alike. We believe that there is no better place to snap your photos than at one of these facilities, which range in size from small studio spaces that can accommodate just two people to mega-studios with multiple rooms. Each Toronto photography studio has its own unique qualities depending on what you're interested in and need. And if you're looking for more information, please feel free to contact us here!

WRITTEN BY DANIEL CAMER, TORONTO PHOTOGRAPHER

That Toronto Studio’s List of Gear for Photographers!

Here’s a list of gear that can help make your shoot a success. We have tried to list products from several price points / tiers so that no matter your budget, you can have an awesome and successful shoot!

Portable Lighting

Neewer 300W Battery Powered Flash w. Softbox | Neewer RGB Camera Mounted LED | Heavy Duty, Tripod-base Light Stand

Drones & Cameras

DJI Mini - highest-end drone manufacturer, great for exploring new areas

Off Brand Drone - affordable drone for low cost urban aerial exploration

GoPro 360 Camera - great for documenting your shoot. Shoot BTS & time-lapse!

Sony A7IV Camera - excellent low light camera. Professional grade.

Canon R6 Mirrorless Camera - high quality pro-grade mirrorless camera.

Canon M200 Vlogging Camera - excellent vlogging camera. Low price point.

Portable Computing, Storage, & Power

13” M1 Macbook Air | Waterproof Hard Drive | Sandisk Extreme Pro 128gb SD Card | 20,000maH Power Bank | 10,000maH Power Bank | AirPods | AirPods Pro | AirPods Max | SD Card Dongle for iPhone

Gimbals, Screens, Tripods & Tools

DJI Ronin SC | Screen for Ronin | Best Low-Priced Tripod | Joby Gorillapod for DSLRs | Joby Gorillapod for Light Cameras/Phones | Tripod for Vloggers | Gerber Multi-Tool

Rainproofing

Rainproof Camera Cover or this Waterproof Cover | Large Umbrella for 2 people

And don’t forget to take care of yourself too!

Protein Bars | Filtered Water Bottle | Mentos Fresh Gum (6 x 50 pack) | SPF 50 Sunscreen