McDonald College

McDonald College’s New Photography Studio: Building a Space for Creativity & Professional Skills

At McDonald College, creativity is at the heart of learning — and now, thanks to a brand-new professional photography studio, students have the perfect space to bring their ideas to life. This purpose-built studio, designed and installed by Dragon Studio Solutions, combines flexibility, durability, and industry-standard equipment to prepare students for real-world creative careers.

Professional Overhead Lighting System

The centrepiece of the build is the LightPro 4 Pantograph Kit, featuring dual ceiling tracks and four pantographs. This setup allows multiple lights to be suspended overhead and easily repositioned without ladders or stands, keeping the floor clear and reducing trip hazards. With adjustable counterbalancing, lights can be raised, lowered, and angled with minimal effort — giving students the freedom to experiment with lighting setups that range from dramatic portraiture to soft product photography.

Versatile Background Solutions

To support a variety of creative projects, we installed the LightPro 4 Hook Expan Background System. This system accommodates multiple rolls of Superior Seamless Paper Backdrops in Arctic White, Blue Lake, Carnation Pink, and Jet Black. Whether it’s a clean, high-key look, a moody dark aesthetic, or vibrant colour-pop imagery, the backdrop system allows students to switch styles quickly and efficiently.

Industry-Standard Lighting Gear

Lighting is the heart of photography, and McDonald College is now equipped with four Godox DP600III-V Studio Flashes — powerful, reliable, and perfect for fast-paced learning environments. To maximise creative flexibility, the kit includes:

• 90cm Quick-Fold Softbox with Grid – for soft, controlled light ideal for portraits.

• 55cm Beauty Dish with Honeycomb Grid – to create crisp, contrasty lighting with beautiful catchlights.

• Barndoors with Colour Gels – for shaping light and adding creative effects.

• Reflective & Shoot-Through Umbrellas – lightweight, versatile modifiers for both soft and specular lighting.

Seamless Integration & Safety

The installation was designed to integrate all components neatly into the studio space. Power, ceiling mounts, and background systems were positioned for maximum efficiency, ensuring the studio can accommodate both single-student shoots and group learning sessions. The clean design not only looks professional but also prioritises safety — an essential factor in a busy educational environment.

A Creative Learning Hub

This new studio gives McDonald College students more than just equipment — it provides a hands-on training ground that mirrors professional working environments. From learning how to balance multiple light sources to understanding the impact of different backdrops, students can now experiment with the same tools they’ll encounter in creative industries.

With the McDonald College photography studio now complete, the next generation of photographers, designers, and visual storytellers have a space that empowers their creativity while preparing them for the professional world.

If you want, I can also create before-and-after photo layouts and gear highlight graphics for this blog so it’s visually rich when posted on your site or social media. That would make it pop even more.