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Studio Build FAQ — Questions Answered From Experience
Dragon Studio Solutions has completed more than 80 professional photography and video studio builds across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane — for ecommerce brands, broadcasters, schools, government departments, and content creators. These are the questions we answer every week, from businesses at every stage of the studio planning process.
Frequently asked questions
Training and Ongoing SupportEquipment Selection and SupplyLighting and Colour AccuracyCycloramasStudio Design and Construction
Should I outsource product photography or build an in-house studio?
If your annual external shoot cost is above $20,000 and growing, the in-house studio conversation is worth having. At 40 shoot days per year at $1,200 per day, the external cost is $48,000 annually. A mid-range in-house studio build amortised over five years costs around $11,000 per year — a saving of $37,000 per year from Year 2.
The non-financial benefits are often larger: same-day turnaround on new products, consistent results across every SKU, near-zero marginal cost for additional shoot sessions, and full creative control. Forcast, Pet Circle, Glassons, Bondi Sands, Chemist Warehouse, and Pillow Talk all built in-house at the same inflection point — weekly or higher shoot frequency where the economics are unambiguous.
Read more → https://www.dragonstudiosolutions.com.au/post/should-i-outsource-product-photography-or-build-an-in-house-studio
What is the ROI of an in-house photography and video studio?
ROI comes from two sources. Direct saving is the money no longer paid to external studios, photographers, and production crews — at moderate shoot volumes this alone pays back the build cost within two to three years. Indirect value is often larger: speed to market (same-day product photography versus waiting for a booking), consistent results that reduce editing time at scale, and content volume — businesses with in-house studios produce significantly more content because the marginal cost of an additional session approaches zero.
Pet Circle photographs new products the day they arrive and has them live on the site the same day. Forcast produces all new-season fashion content in-house across 30+ boutiques nationally. Both reached break-even within the first two years of their studio build.
Read more → https://www.dragonstudiosolutions.com.au/post/what-is-the-roi-of-an-in-house-photography-and-video-studio
Does Dragon Image stock all of these lighting brands?
Yes. Dragon Image stocks LightPro, Godox, Nanlite, Amaran, and Aputure across its showrooms in Sydney (Artarmon), Melbourne (Collingwood), and Brisbane (Bowen Hills). Dragon Image is an authorised Aputure dealer, meaning all Aputure and Amaran products purchased through Dragon Image carry full Australian warranty and authorised dealer support.
The showrooms operate as working studio environments — products can be demonstrated in a real studio context rather than assessed from a product page alone. This is particularly useful when choosing between lighting systems for a specific studio application. Visit dragonimage.com.au or contact the nearest showroom to discuss your requirements.
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