How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Photo Studio in NYC? (2026 Rates)

If you're budgeting a shoot in New York, here's the short answer: as of 2026, most professional photo and video studios in NYC run roughly $50 to $150 per hour for smaller spaces, and $600 to $3,000+ per day for production-ready stages with a cyc wall, lighting, and real power. The spread is wide because "studio" covers everything from a bare room with a paper backdrop to a pre-lit stage that's ready to shoot the moment you load in.

This guide breaks down what actually drives the price, what published rates look like at a working Brooklyn campus, and the hidden costs that catch producers off guard.

What drives studio rental pricing in NYC

Five factors move the number more than anything else.

• Space and cyc type. A bare-wall room is cheap. A hard cyc adds cost. A pre-lit cyc, with the grid, LED panels, and power already installed, costs more per day but often less per shoot, because you're not renting and rigging a lighting package on top.

• What's included. Some listings look cheap until you add lighting, stands, holding space for talent, and a kitchen for catering. A rate that includes those is a different product than one that doesn't.

• Power and grid. Commercial and fashion work needs real amperage and overhead rigging. If the listing doesn't state the power, ask before you budget.

• Hours and overtime. Most day rates cover 10 hours. Overtime typically runs 10 to 15 percent of the day rate per hour. If your shoot regularly runs long, model it in from the start.

• How you book. Marketplace platforms add service fees on top of the studio's rate. Booking directly with the studio usually gets you a better number and a direct relationship with the people who will actually be on set with you.

Real published rates: 100 Sutton Studios, Greenpoint, Brooklyn

For a concrete anchor, here are the current published package rates at 100 Sutton Studios, a 15,000 sq ft production campus at 100 Sutton Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, with six cyclorama studios, an LED volume stage, motion control, and a 70-seat screening room.

• Content Day: $2,200 for a 10-hour day. One pre-lit cyc studio, plus a holding studio, kitchen, and amenities. Overtime $275/hr.

• Dual Cyc Day: $3,200 for 10 hours. Two cyc studios running simultaneously, same inclusions. Overtime $400/hr.

• Memberships: 4 or 8 shoot days per month, which brings the effective day rate down to roughly $1,250 to $1,450 per day.

Availability is confirmed at booking. Half days and multi-day rates are available on request.

Why anchor on these numbers? Because they include the things that usually get added on elsewhere: the cyc is pre-lit, holding space is part of the package, and there's an actual production team on site rather than a front desk.

The hidden costs to budget for

• Overtime. The single most common budget overrun. Know the OT rate before you book, and build a buffer if your day has more than 8 hours of shooting in it.

• Platform fees. Marketplace bookings add fees that can meaningfully raise the total. Direct bookings avoid them.

• Gear sub-rentals. Specialty camera, lenses, or grip beyond the house package. Confirm lead times, 48 hours is a common minimum.

• Staffing. A PA or studio manager day rate if your production needs support. A certificate of insurance (COI) is standard for commercial shoots, so have yours ready.

• Repaint or cleaning. Ask how the studio handles cyc repaints and post-shoot cleaning before you book, policies vary.

How to compare two studio quotes

Put them side by side on four lines: total for your real day length including overtime, what lighting and power are included, whether holding and kitchen are included, and what the cancellation terms are. The cheaper hourly rate is often the more expensive shoot.

If you're new to cyc stages, start with our guide to shooting on a studio with a cyc wall, then price your day against the packages above.

Ready to price your shoot?

Send your dates and format to 100 Sutton Studios and you'll get an itemized quote back, pending availability confirmation. Visit 100suttonstudios.com or write to [email protected].