Frequently Asked Questions

ABOUT CENTRA STUDIOS

  • Young Studios has transitioned to new ownership and management under the Centra Studios name. Same location and same professional experience, with an agenda of improvements we’re rolling out over time. Rest assured, we’re here with the goal of building one of the best rental studio experiences in NYC.

    Our booking system remains the same for now, and Aly continues to be your key point of contact.

  • Aside from the identity, we’ve fully changed management and established a team that is experienced, professional and thoughtful. Simply put, we know the business — and we’re here to help ensure your shoot runs as smooth as possible. We’ve already been busy making several improvements to both the experience and the physical spaces.

    So far what we have done:

    • New corner CYCLORAMA (12’x14’) in Studio E

    • Several quality of life updates in Studio E (Automatic blackout-blinds, proper equipment storage spaces, overhead lighting support truss, etc.)

    • New floor-to-ceiling CYCLORAMA (9’x9’) in Studio B

    • Complete aesthetic overhaul of Studio B

    • Updated props, furniture and lighting equipment

    • NEW member storage lockers

    • Overall facility upgrades & improvements

  • We have a robust agenda of exciting plans ahead to develop the spaces and what we offer.

    Currently in the works or planned:

    • Full website overhaul.

    • New sophisticated booking system with easy-to-use catalog of equipment and add-ons.

    • Membership options.

    • Workshops & lighting classes.

    • Continue overhaul of studios (Studios A, C, D)

    • Expand selection of amenities & comforts.

STUDIO ACCESS & LOCATION

  • We are located at 580 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10018 - right in the heart of Midtown, Manhattan.

    On weekdays 8am-6pm your team can freely enter the building and use the elevator to access our studios on Floor 20 (A, B, C) & Floor 21 (D, E).

    No entry codes here. You can walk right in to your scheduled studio. This is a staffed facility; we always have a studio manager on-site to welcome you and be available for assistance.

    On weekends & after 6pm on weekdays, the building is locked, so you will need to text or call our studio number upon arrival to be let in. You will be responsible for letting in the rest of your team or guests; plan accordingly.

  • We open with the first reservation and close with the last one.

    We take bookings starting at 8am and as late as till 8pm every day.

    Bookings outside these hours are still possible by special request, but is subject to an additional 50% off-hours fee.

  • Be advised, this is central Manhattan; traffic can be brutal, and the parking situation is challenging at best. Please plan accordingly. When possible, public transit is the best option.

    Street parking near the building is for commercial vehicles only and is not advised. You will get a ticket or get towed. There are parking lots around the area ranging from $35-60/day. Street parking is available for all vehicles after 7pm, and Sunday is FREE parking in New York City.

  • No loading dock, but we do have a secondary maintenance entrance that is on street level.

    The freight elevator is available on weekdays 8am — 6pm only. Please let us know in advance if you need access to the freight.

  • Unfortunately, no.

    We are hoping this may change in the future, but at this time it’s strictly forbidden.
    No exceptions.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Yes, all studios have full privacy.

    Each studio is a separate room with a lockable door that is exclusively for your team. We may occasionally check in with clients, but if requested, our on-site team can leave you undisturbed. We don’t want to interupt the creative flow.

    Please note that the individual bathrooms on each floor are shared between the studios, and are found in the common area hallway.

  • Our team members are always present on-site during rental sessions to ensure a safe, respectful environment for everyone. We maintain strict professional standards and have a zero-tolerance policy for inappropriate behavior. If at any point during your session, if anyone feels uncomfortable or needs assistance, our staff is immediately available to step in. We are committed to creating a space where models, photographers, and all creative professionals can work with confidence and peace of mind. We take this stuff seriously.

  • Naturally. But please be respectful of the space — spills can very quickly dirty up floors, and larger teams can overflow garbage bins. If you need additional garbage bags, or if there’s a spill and you need assistance, please let our team know.

    Please note, we do not provide any plates, napkins or cutlery, so prepare accordingly.

  • Most studios have at least 2 available circuits which run on 20 amps.

    You should be able to run up to 4,000 Watts of continuous power draw. For most productions, this is plenty adequate. If you need more than this, we’ll accommodate the best we can, but be advised that this may be a limitation.

    Only studio staff are permitted to open the circuit breaker boxes. If you need assistance, ask us for help.

  • Our studios get an abundant amount of light throughout the day, which shifts through the seasons. Due to being higher up, we get a fair amount of direct sunlight.

    We have curtains and blackout blinds to help diffuse or block out light as well as white/silver V-flats available which work great to bounce and balance the light for the perfect shot.

  • We pride ourselves in keeping a clean space. We do a full reset & sanitary wipe-down of all studios at the end of each day, and bathrooms are cleaned daily.

    The facility is deep cleaned twice a month, including paint touch-ups and general maintenance.

    We do our best to reset and tidy up between sessions, but please be advised that if there’s another client before your session, we can’t guarantee a spotless space; this is simply the reality of a shared rental studio.

    Cycloramas are cleaned regularly, but be aware some light staining & scuff marks may be visible. We can provide a fresh repaint for an additional fee to be done the day before your shoot.

  • Absolutely. Our studios can be a perfect venue for things such as workshops, castings, auditions, meet-ups and other types of gatherings or events.

    Such use-cases may, however, be subject to a different pricing structure. Please inquire with us directly if you are planning anything that falls outside a normal shoot.

  • Absolutely. Just shoot us a message and let us know when you want to stop by, we’ll gladly give you a tour!

BOOKING PROCEDURE & POLICIES

  • All bookings are made directly though our site using our booking portal, with all rates clearly outlined for each studio.

    Start by selecting the studio you wish to book to see availability, and proceed to filling out the form and submitting payment.

    Alternatively, you can also shoot us an email, text or phone call and our team can help get you scheduled in.

  • The minimum booking time for our Essential Studios (A, B, C) is 2 hours.
    For our Signature Studios (D, E) it’s 4 hours.

    All studios are available to rent by the hour, with 10-hour full day options and multi-day packages for longer shoots.

  • Your reservation window should include your setup & teardown time.
    Please plan accordingly, as we do not put gaps between clients. There may be another reservation happening right before yours, or immediately after.

    Be advised that we do not have a waiting area, so early arrival is discouraged; there are plenty of cafes nearby if you’d like to be in the vicinity.

    Overtime is only permissible if there are no other sessions booked following yours, and will be billed at the standard hourly rate. Reservations that go past 8pm will be billed at an additional 50% rate.

    We understand that schedules can fluctuate and crew or talent may run late; we will do our best to accommodate you, but the sooner you can let us know about any scheduling changes the better.

  • We ask all clients to reset the studio back to how you found it the best you can so it’s just as nice for the next client.

    All trash should be tossed into the provided garbage bins, and any spills or messes should be cleaned up.

    If you rented any additional equipment or seamless, please wrap up cables and remove any tape from the floor, but otherwise our team will pack things back up.

    We don’t expect it to be perfect, but for any larger messes, overabundance of trash or just general negligence of the space is subject to an additional cleaning fee (up to $100).

    • More than 7 days before reservation: Full refund, minus 3% processing fees.

    • Less than 7 days, more than 48 hours before: You may reschedule to a new date with a 20% rescheduling fee. If you choose to fully cancel, any deposits paid towards studio time are non-refundable, however, any add-ons or equipment rentals will be refunded.

    • Less than 48 hours before: All amounts paid are non-refundable and non-transferable. Any concessions that may be offered are solely at Studio’s discretion.

  • For most rentals, we don’t require a COI, but it is recommended. Depending on the nature of your shoot we may ask for it.

    Any damages to the space, furniture or equipment due to accidental drops, spills or negligence will be evaluated on-site, and you will be responsible for any repair or replacement costs which must be paid upon evaluation.

    Be advised that when you reserve studio time with us, you must agree to our liability waiver and terms & conditions — this protects us from liability in the event of bodily harm, but it does not protect you. You and your guests are using the space at your own risk.

EQUIPMENT, AMENITIES & SERVICES

  • We have an essentials grip & lighting package that is included with each studio, and also more professional and specialized equipment available for rent, including Profoto & Aputure lighting solutions. Anything we do not have on-site, we can arrange a rental for you through our partnered rental house (K&M).

    Each studio always comes with:

    • Professional lighting (Flashpoint strobes and continuous lights)

    • Basic modifiers & light control (V-flats, bounce cards & scrims)

    • C-stands & various grip

    • Professional Jiffy steamer

    • One clothing rack (additional racks available for extra cost)

    • Professional Hollywood stainless steel makeup station with built-in vanity lights

    • Speaker (w Bluetooth/Aux)

    Please see equipment section for an updated, itemized list.

  • Yes.

    While the studios come equipped for plug-and-play shooting, we encourage you to bring lighting solutions that you’re familiar and comfortable with.

    You are also welcome to bring whatever additional props, tools or other larger items you may need for your shoot. If you have a lot to bring, just please let us know in advance so we can plan accordingly.

    We try to discourage bringing additional c-stands, mainly because we already have plenty to offer here on-site; it puts unnecessary wear on the space.

  • Yes — we offer 9’ seamless rolls from Savage in a plethora of colors, however, specific colors are not promised.

    Our guaranteed options are:

    • Super White

    • Bone

    • Fashion Grey (Lighter)

    • Thunder Grey (Darker)

    • Black

    Any color variations vary over time.

    You may request a specific Savage color, and we will have it ordered for you and ready for your shoot for $100.

    For available stock, each full-length pull is $30.
    We do not charge for partial pulls, so long as the seamless remains clean & undamaged.

    *A full-length pull means the seamless is rolled out on the floor for model(s) to stand on.
    Partial pull does not fully touch the floor and is best-suited for headshots and close-ups.

    We also offer hand-painted Muslin backdrops and a green screen, which are also available for $30.

  • Each studio does come furnished — please refer to each specific studio listing to get an idea of what’s provided. Be aware that items may come and go, so offerings may be different than what’s pictured. You are welcome to inquire about any specific furniture piece if you need it for your shoot.

    Additionally, we have about 25 chairs and several folding tables that are available upon request, or can be reserved for an additional fee.

  • Of course.

    Both floors have powerful AC systems that keep the studios cool in the summer. Our staff can adjust for you as needed.

    During winter months, the building is heated by an internal radiator system, like most older buildings in NYC. We don’t have control over this.

    It typically gets very toasty in the winter, but this fluctuates — we can provide space heaters if it’s a little too cold, or you can open the windows if it’s a little too warm.

  • Available and ready, super fast (over 500mbps) & no password required.

    If you need an ethernet connection, this can be arranged; please let us know in advance.

  • Our on-site team is available to welcome you to the studios and get you acquainted with what’s provided. We’ll bring you any additional add-ons upon request, and set up any rented equipment.

    If you need assistance beyond this, we offer a full-setup service for an additional fee; we’ll set up your backdrops and your lighting so you can just focus on what you do best — shooting.

    We’re also available for hire.

    Our on-site team is made up of highly seasoned industry professionals. Whether you need a gaffer, grip, PA, digitech, DP or photographer, we got you covered. Please inquire directly to get rates and discuss your project needs.