The studio is conveniently located in the historic Nicholas Building, Level 7, Suite 16, 37 Swanston Street, Melbourne. Public transport is the easiest way to travel to the studio, as the building is directly opposite Flinders Street Station. If you're driving, make sure to allow extra time for traffic and roadwork. For parking, your best bet is the car park at Fed Square. Book online for a discount.

When you get to the Nicholas Building, take the lift up to level 7, turn right as you exit the lift, then turn right again and head through that door, then turn right again and the studio is the second door along (number 16).

FYI the studio is wheelchair accessible but unfortunately the toilets are not (they’re down a set of stairs). The closest wheelchair-accessible public toilets can be found inside the City Library, 253 Flinders Lane.

The studio is equipped with two continuous video lights, numerous light modifiers, light stands, a tripod, a background stand, large reflectors, clamps, and so on. There are a number of good-looking chairs and stools, a white table, a desk, a wardrobe for clients to hang clothes, a mirror, and other furniture. Feel free to move the furniture around to suit your shoot.

The door has a keyless touchscreen lock with a pin code. First, wake up the lock by pressing a fingertip on the screen. The keypad will light up, and then you key in the pin code followed by the hash key (I will supply the pin when you book). This will unlock the lock, so you turn the handle, but you also have to turn the silver knob above the lock (you’ll need two hands!). You might need to really push the door to open it, it’s very old and gets stuck sometimes. Same process to open the door from the inside, turn the lock handle and the silver knob. When you close the door, it will lock automatically.

Please note: The Nicholas Building is open to the public on weekdays from 8am to 8:30pm, and on weekends from 8am to 5pm. You can not access the building or use the lifts outside of these hours.

The studio is 33 square metres, about 7.3 metres on the long edge and 4.3 metres on the short edge. It’s the perfect size for headshots, portraits, small groups, and products.

The studio has south-facing windows and soft, diffused light all day. I usually bump up the natural light with strobes, although you don’t have to. If you’d like to block out the light, there are two large pop-up backgrounds inside the pink wardrobe, just put them in front of the windows. Otherwise, there is also black fabric in the wardrobe, and clamps and gaffer tape in the wooden chest of drawers.Getting professional hair and makeup done before a photo shoot can be a great idea, here are a couple of ladies I trust:

• Julz Mayberry

• Kat Bardsley

• Justine O

• Tayla Alexander

• Dana Leviston

• Tiarna Robertson

• Killer Queen

• Aida Woldu

• Making Pretty

• Toilet Access

  • Keys are in the pink ceramic cup on the wooden desk.

  • Dark blue key = Men’s toilet

  • Light blue key = Women’s toilet

  • Toilets are in the outer stairwell (not the one near the lifts, but the stairwell on the building’s perimeter).

  • The stairwell door locks behind you, either key will reopen it.

  • Please return the keys to the pink cup after use.

  Accessibility
  The studio is wheelchair accessible, but the toilets are not (they’re down stairs). The nearest wheelchair-accessible toilets are at City Library, 253 Flinders Lane.

• On mild days, the temperature in the studio is usually good, but if you need, there is a portable heater and a portable air con in the studio that you are welcome to use, just make sure you turn them off before leaving.