From the Ground Up: How We Built Hertford Studios

We didn’t set out to build a studio.
We set out to solve a problem.

Every time we had a big shoot to plan, whether it was for a brand campaign, product launch, or client content, we found ourselves in the same situation:
Driving miles to find the right creative space.

London was the obvious choice. But let’s be honest, nobody wants to haul lighting gear, products, props, and people across the city when you’ve already got a full production day ahead of you. The logistics were a nightmare, the cost was even worse, and the spaces we found were often... underwhelming. Expensive, limited, and rarely flexible.

So we thought, why not build what we needed ourselves?

Finding “The One” (Eventually)

After months of searching, we finally found the space.

It wasn’t perfect, in fact, it was a bit of a mess, but we saw past the grime and the cracked walls. What it did have was potential. Massive potential.

The space was huge, giving us the freedom to create multiple sets, areas, and backdrops for our clients to shoot exactly how they want. One of the best features? The giant shutters that open straight onto the infinity cove — meaning even cars and larger props can roll right in. Total flexibility.

It wasn’t polished. It wasn’t camera-ready. But we knew it could be transformed into something amazing. So we got to work.

The Refurb: AKA, The Wild Ride 

We had big ideas, and not the biggest budget.

There were late nights, weekend work, and long hours away from our family. We dug up the floor, laid it again... and then damp came through, meaning we had to rip it up and start over. (Yes, tears were shed — mainly by me.)

We spent hours debating designs, making trade-offs, and fixing things that broke the minute we thought we were finished.

Our First Shoot (Before We’d Even Finished)

In August, before the studio was even finished, we welcomed our first shoot, it Luggage, a client we already worked with, who used the white box. The walls had only been plastered the day before, so I worked until 1am to make sure that one area was ready to use. Luckily, it was the hottest day of the year, and every coat of paint dried in no time.

Opening Day (Finally)

We’d planned to open at the beginning of September. The damp and the rebuild pushed us back by over two months, but we kept going, because we believed in what we were building. After five months of work, we finally opened on 22 November.

Our first new client was Feallha Dha, a clothing company who still use the space today. Seeing their team working and the space being used was like a dream come true. The feedback we’ve had since has reminded us it was all worth it.

Katie McCabe Pepsi photoshoot

Always a Work in Progress

It’s a space built by creatives, for creatives.

We wanted to create something flexible, stylish, professional, but also relaxed and welcoming. Whether you're shooting a campaign, a podcast, a promo video, or some fresh LinkedIn headshots, this space is yours to use in a way that works for you.

And the truth is, we’re still building. The space will always be evolving. Listening to what our clients need and adapting as we grow.

The Bottom Line?

We poured our sweat, tears, and a lot of coffee into this place. And we’re ridiculously proud of what it’s become.

Thank you to everyone who’s supported us so far — and if you haven’t visited yet, we’d love to show you around.

finished infinity cove

The finished infinity cove, white box and drive-in access.

If you want the full story of why we built it, read Why We Built a Creative Studio Outside London.

Come and see what we built. We think you will love it too.

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5 Types of Shoots You Can Do at Hertford Studios

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