Sandon Studio

Sandon Studio is one of the largest and busiest shoot locations in the UK. It comprises a twenty-room house, most of which is available for shoots, and 1.5 acre mature and very private garden with lots of features, including over two hundred trees, outbuildings, and extensive parking areas. Originally built in 1580, with additions in 1760 and 1847, the house retains many of its original features. Some rooms contain built-in sets and others have movable furniture and lots of props. Most windows are VERY tall, thus providing an abundance of natural light throughout the building. There is a kitchenette, with milk, tea, coffee provided free of charge. The room also contains the original 19th century range oven.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE NO LONGER HAVE A SET OF IN-HOUSE LIGHTS OR BACKDROPS. PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE WELCOME TO BRING THEIR OWN LIGHTS, BUT WE HAVE LOTS OF NATURAL LIGHT IN MOST AREAS OF THE HOUSE. WE STILL HAVE RELECTORS FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO USE THEM.

Due to the size of the site, we specialise in catering for large groups of thirty+ people, but also welcome individual photographers who bring just one model with them. We are open seven days a week.

Disabled access: The ground floor, which includes several rooms/spaces, the kitchenette and toilet, is accessible to wheelchairs

Current sets include:

Arabian Nights: lots of floaty curtains/sashes, exotic style daybed/table and a carved mangowood screen.

Piano room/ Office room: this room has 12'6" ceilings contains a Victorian walnut piano, a Victorian velvet chesterfield settee, and a 1940's desk with an antique typewriter, a spinning wheel, and a 100 year old flap-top school desk. This room is large enough for groups to use for teaching or use as a base for large shoots. When we get groups of 20+ they often use it as a dressing room or room to put equipment and have lunch. It is next to the Kitchenette.

French Boudoir (Red room): 19th Century walnut French bed, Victorian silk screen, traditional red rug, and burgundy leather sofa. Antique furniture, classy paintings, including 15thC Venetian brothel scene, and antique oak panelling on the walls.

1960's style 'Mono' Sitting room- Black, white and grey chequered floor, grey modern modular upholstered chair, white and chrome funky swivel chair, chrome arc lamp and bentwood coffee table.

Art-Deco living room: 1930's French Bergère vintage sofa and chairs, wind up gramophone in cabinet, with musty beige rug.

Botanical Boudoir: Study bedroom, antique brass bedstead, and botanical posters. The room is 12'6" high and has very tall west-facing windows with 19th century shutters.

Models' Dressing Room/Pink Boudoir: Day bed, cast iron fireplace, rack containing negligee items, standard lamp.

Models' dressing room 2:  large mirror, and costume cupboard containing dresses, underwear in red, white or black, wigs and various accoutrements.

Vintage Hallway: Grandfather clock, antique checkerboard quarry-tile floor and red velvet love-seat as well as hat stand with numerous hats, Victorian oval walnut table, gold overmantle mirror with 18th century carvings, and very large large fireplace.

Gentleman's living room: Antique panelled walls, blue leather settees and chairs, rustic stone fireplace and regency style curtains.

Bathroom: Large bathroom with oak floor, windows on two walls, white roll-top bath, large walk in shower and plenty of natural light. traditional style fixtures and fittings. You can use the bath and shower with water in them- they are fully working! We ask that you bring your own towels.

Middle hallway: Contains various old photographs, antique cabinet with old cameras. The glass doors are also good to shoot through and up against.

Two attic rooms (natural light from above), one with various moveable props and a single bed, and another with a Victorian mahogany silk screen, adorned with a lady's discarded undies, and a single bed placed under the window for maximum light. 

The floor to the attic rooms consist of ancient planking in oak and pine. 

Cellar: Large, dry cellar full of cobwebs, with original pub wine/beer stone storage racks, original 1580 stone work, medieval, dark and dingy.

Staircases/Halls: There are three staircases, wide hallways, and some ceilings are twelve feet six inches high.

Garden: The garden is 1.5 acres and completely private. It has a wide variety of trees - one in a fallen, horizontal position, and lots of different levels. There are two sets of stone steps, and stone ''throne' . old walls, a pond, garden swings, and zip wire, a trampoline, a medieval stone sarcophagus, a walk-through wooded area, a wildflower meadow, and extensive lawns.

Hiring Charges:

The hire charges are as follows:

For two/three people (usually one photographer and one/two models): £25 an hour, £90 half day, £150 full day (extended day (9.5 hours): £170.

For four people: £45 an hour, £150 half day, £250 full day

For five people: £50 an hour, £180 half day, £320 full day

For six - thirty people: £70 an hour, £260 half day, £430 full day. 

Groups of six or more will have full and exclusive use of the whole site. 

Please note that this is a HUGE venue, so it is capable of hosting several photoshoots simultaneously without any need for sharing. Only those paying £430 get exclusive use of the whole site for the day.

We welcome hire requests from models or photographers for adult shoots, and have several 'boudoirs' plus a very private garden where nude/adult shoots can take place. Overnight accommodation is available for models.

Terms and Conditions:

PLEASE NOTE: We are having problems with people who leave rooms and areas in a mess. Please leave the place you shoot in EXACTLY as you found it. Persistent offenders will be banned from future use of the studio. If you break something please tell us. Accidents happen, and it doesn't necessarily mean we will ask you to pay for breakages. We would rather know about a breakage straight away than have to find it after you have gone. Thank you.

Payment: Payment should be by bank transfer at the time of booking, or by cash on arrival.

Cancellations: There is no penalty for the cancellation of studio bookings (except for 'no-shows' without notice), but any event organised by us where we have hired models, e.g. a 'studio day', requires a two week cancellation notice. Unless we can fill the cancelled slot(s), full payment is required because we have to pay the models. Where the cancellation is within 48 hours of the event, or there is a 'no-show' on the day, the cancellation fee is 100% of the booking fee.

Studio time: The normal studio day is 9.00am-5.00pm

Arrival/Departure time: If you haven't been before it's fine to arrive 15 minutes early for a walk around, otherwise, please don't arrive more than a few minutes earlier than the time you've booked. Remember this is our home and we may be eating or doing other things prior to your booking. If you need extra time to set up and pack away then it is better to book extra time. The time you book should include time for setting up and clearing up!

Parking: Please park at the rear of the house, taking care not to obstruct others, then enter the house through the front door.

Chaperones: We don't allow chaperones except with models under 18, or to support models who have medical needs. Chaperones, MUST remain with the shoot at all times, or wait in their car in the parking area. Chaperones must not be left alone to wander around the site unsupervised.

Shoes: In wet weather, please leave outdoor shoes in the front hall, and change into indoor shoes. Models are asked not to stand on furniture or beds in high heels.

Furniture: Please take care not to place hot/wet cups on French-polished furniture. Please replace any furniture or other items you move during your shoot.

Towels and use of the bath: We provide towels for models whom we invite to take part in our residential weekends. All other models are expected to bring their own towels. If a model wishes to hire a towel from us, this can be arranged at a cost of £5.00. Models making unauthorised use of our towels will incur a charge and will be banned from future use of the studio. If oil is used in the bath or shower, it MUST be cleaned off afterwards so the the area is safe for the next user.

Catering: As described above, the kitchenette is fully-equipped for all your catering needs. Please wash up when you have finished. There is an excellent pub – The Dog and Doublet – only 100 yards from the house which serves first-class food. There is also a village shop close by which sells hot snacks.

Nudes outside: If shooting nudes outside, please be careful not to shoot on the part of the back driveway which is visible from the road. This is our home and we have to live here after you've gone, so we don't want to cause offence to our neighbours. It is best to shoot outdoor nudes in the rear garden, which is completely private, or in any part of the buildings. Bookings from those shooting 'adult' work are also welcome.

The Coach House

The coach house is now fully-restored and available for hire. Dating back to 1580, the building retains many historic features, including old beams and stone walls, but it also has 21st century comfort – underfloor heating, luxury bathrooms, and a farmhouse-style kitchen. Many items of furniture are antique, and make beautiful backdrops for photography.

The coach house has three bedrooms, two offering EITHER twin beds OR a king-size bed, and the third offers a trundle bed with a pull-out option for a second single bed, so there is sleeping room for up to SIX people. There is a good WIFI signal throughout the building, and a TV and DVD player.

We envisage that it will particularly appeal to models and photographers who may wish to use it as a base or shooting location, or groups of models who also want to use the main house for studio days, or it may also appeal to photographers who bring their own model(s) and want to stay over. The advantage of staying over is that evening use of the main house is also available.

The cost of hiring the coach house is currently £225 per night. Search for 'Beautiful Historic Country Coach House in Staffs' on Airbnb

Enquiries are welcome from individuals and groups who would like to discuss the options. Please get back to us. Sandon Studio is a dream location for photographers and models.