Why London Fashion and Beauty Brands Are Looking North
For many years, a fashion or beauty brand in London would book a studio in Shoreditch, Hackney or Soho without a second thought. The city has a deep pool of photographers, stylists and make-up artists, and it feels natural to keep production close to the head office. The problem is that central London studio space has become expensive, and most brands now need far more content than they did even a few years ago. A single product launch can call for website images, short vertical videos, paid social ads, marketplace listings and live shopping streams, all produced in the same week.
This is the main reason more London-based brands are taking a closer look at studio hire in the North West of England. Manchester, Salford, Oldham and Liverpool all have a growing number of content studios, and many of them are built for exactly this kind of high-volume work. Hourly rates listed by studios in the region often start at around £45 to £80, which gives a brand room to shoot for longer, try more setups and still stay within budget. The area is also well connected, with direct trains from London Euston to both Manchester Piccadilly and Liverpool Lime Street, so a team can travel up, shoot and return without much disruption.
If you have been searching for a way to produce more content without a matching rise in cost, this guide explains what the North West offers, what different types of studios provide, and how to plan a shoot that runs smoothly from a distance.
What Counts as a Content Studio?
A content studio is not exactly the same thing as a traditional photography studio. A classic photo studio is usually a clean, controlled space with a backdrop and lights, and it is often hired for portraits or single campaign shoots. A content studio is designed to produce a steady flow of photos and videos for social media, websites and online shops, so it tends to include several styled corners, natural light, a make-up area, clothing rails, a steamer and fast Wi-Fi.
For fashion and beauty brands this difference matters. A beauty team may want a sink or basin for tutorials, a mirror with soft lighting for make-up demonstrations and a comfortable bed or chair for treatment content. A fashion team may need a large white cyclorama, which is a curved wall that removes the corner between wall and floor, so that garments and models appear to float against a clean background. Knowing which features you need before you start searching will save a great deal of time.
Studio Options in Greater Manchester
Manchester is the largest content production hub in the North West, and its studios range from small creator spaces to large commercial sites.
At the larger end, THG Studios in Manchester is a high-volume production facility that serves fashion, beauty, fitness and food brands. According to the studio’s own description, it offers ten dedicated video studios as well as daylight studio space, full photography and video production, and kit and prop hire. It is located next to Manchester Airport, which can be useful for teams arriving by air, and it also runs a dedicated TikTok Shop live studio with beauty-ready basins and professional hair and make-up stations for live tutorials and product demonstrations. This kind of setup suits brands that want a full production partner rather than only an empty room.
For brands that prefer a more flexible, self-directed shoot, there are several independent options. TO A T Studios in Oldham offers a 1,000 square foot natural light content studio with multiple styled zones, interchangeable backdrops, lighting equipment, mirrors, clothing rails, hair tools and a handheld steamer, with listed prices starting from £50 per hour. MastaCrafta Studio in Cheetham Hill, within the Cheetham Hill and Salford wholesale area, focuses on product photography, TikTok Shop content and fashion influencer videos, with listed rates of roughly £45 to £55 per hour and from £500 per day. Because many fashion wholesalers operate in that part of the city, it can be a practical choice for brands that want to source stock and shoot in the same area.
Smaller, design-led spaces also exist. Content Aura in Eccles offers a bright, minimalist loft with natural light that suits photoshoots and social content, with a two-hour minimum booking. Halo Haus describes itself as a luxury content and photography studio about five minutes from Manchester Piccadilly station, which makes it easy to reach for visiting teams who arrive by train.
Studio Options in Liverpool
Liverpool has become a strong second option, and in many cases it is slightly more affordable than Manchester. Studio listings in the city commonly show hourly prices from around £30 to £50, although premium spaces with more equipment can cost more.
The Content Cove, in Hunts Cross in South Liverpool, is a ground-floor studio with a white cyclorama, several backdrops and flooring options, a beauty bed, props, furniture and professional lighting, and its listed rate starts from £80 per hour. The beauty bed makes it a sensible choice for skincare, lash, brow and treatment content. Elixir Studios, near Seel Street in the city centre, lists an infinity cove, a make-up room, a green room and a range of colour backdrops, with one-hour hire starting at £59. It also sells content packages that include edited photos and short vertical videos, which can help a small team that has no in-house editor.
For larger productions, Liverpool Studios advertises a 2,800 square foot space near the city centre with an infinity cove, a green screen and blackout facilities, and it states that it is open at all hours, with a standard rate of £50 per hour and discounts for longer bookings. Mad Saint Studio, which is close to the city centre, offers a 1,000 square foot space with a six-metre cyclorama, studio strobes and continuous lighting at £50 per hour for full studio hire, and it lists fashion, commercial and product work among its specialities.
Comparing London and North West Studio Hire
The biggest difference is value for money. Prices vary a lot by studio and by day, so you should always request a current quote, but the listed rates in the North West generally sit well within the range that many brands find comfortable for a full day of shooting. A brand that would normally book a four-hour slot in London to control costs might comfortably book a full day in Manchester or Liverpool and use the extra time for additional outfits, more video clips or a second model.
Space is the second advantage. Many North West studios occupy converted warehouses, mills and industrial units, which means more floor area, higher ceilings and easier loading for racks of clothing and large equipment. Parking is also often simpler than in central London, and that matters when you are carrying cases of products, lighting and garments.
The third advantage is the local creative workforce. Manchester and Liverpool both have universities with strong art, design and media programmes, and this has produced a healthy supply of freelance photographers, videographers, editors, stylists and make-up artists who often cost less than their London equivalents. This does not mean quality is lower, and many of these professionals work with national and international brands every week.
What to Check Before You Book
Before you confirm a studio, it is wise to go through a short checklist, because small details can affect the whole day. Start with the lighting. If you plan to shoot a lot of natural-light content, ask about the direction of the windows and what time of day gives the best light, and if you need a controlled look, confirm which strobes, continuous lights and modifiers are included in the price.
Next, look at the facilities that matter to your category. Beauty brands should confirm access to a basin or sink, a good mirror, comfortable seating and enough power sockets for hair tools and lights. Fashion brands should check clothing rails, a steamer, a changing area, backdrop sizes and the cyclorama dimensions, since a very small space can make full-length shots difficult.
You should also read the terms carefully. Many studios charge for overtime, ask for a refundable deposit or apply a fee if furniture is damaged, and some require you to finish setting up and packing down within your booked time. Checking whether set-up and pack-down are included will prevent a surprise bill at the end of the day. Finally, confirm access details, such as lift availability, loading times and the nearest parking, because these affect how quickly your team can get started.
How to Run a Remote Shoot From London
Planning is the key to making a North West shoot feel as easy as a local one. Try to travel the evening before if the shoot starts early, since this reduces the risk of delays and gives the team a chance to rest. If you cannot visit in advance, ask the studio for a short video walkthrough or a floor plan so that your creative director can plan where each setup will go.
It is also a good idea to prepare a detailed shot list and a clear schedule, with each look and each video clip listed in order. When a team is working in an unfamiliar space, a written plan keeps everyone focused and helps you finish on time. Bring a small backup kit, including spare batteries, memory cards, clamps, tape and a basic steamer, because a missing item can be hard to replace quickly when you are far from your usual suppliers.
Hiring local talent can also reduce travel costs and bring in knowledge of the area. A local make-up artist, stylist or assistant already knows the studio and the city, and this can save you from having to transport more people from London. If you plan to shoot regularly, building a small trusted team in the region can turn the North West into a reliable production base.
Choosing Between Studio Hire and a Full Production Service
Not every brand needs the same level of support. A studio that simply rents out space is ideal for teams that already have a photographer, a videographer and an editor, because they keep full creative control and pay only for the room and equipment. A full-service production facility is better for brands that need volume, speed and consistency, such as an online retailer launching hundreds of products in a single season.
Packaged content services, which are offered by some studios in Liverpool and elsewhere, sit in between. In this model a brand books a half day or full day and receives a set number of edited photos and short videos, which is helpful when the marketing team is small. Whichever route you choose, ask exactly what is included, how many revisions are allowed and how quickly the files will be delivered.
Final Thoughts
The North West offers London fashion and beauty brands a practical way to produce more content at a more manageable cost, without giving up quality or convenience. Manchester provides everything from large commercial production facilities to flexible creator studios, while Liverpool adds affordable, character-filled spaces with cycloramas, make-up rooms and beauty beds. With good train links to London, clear planning and a careful look at each studio’s facilities and terms, a one-day trip north can deliver a full season of content.
The best approach is to shortlist two or three studios, request current prices and availability, ask for photos or a video tour, and book a test shoot if you can. A small trial will show you whether the space, the team and the logistics suit your brand before you commit to a larger campaign.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does content studio hire cost in the North West?
Listed rates vary widely, but many independent studios in Manchester and Liverpool start at roughly £30 to £80 per hour, with day rates available at some locations. Larger production facilities usually provide custom quotes.
Is it easy to travel from London to Manchester or Liverpool for a shoot?
Yes, direct trains run from London Euston to both Manchester Piccadilly and Liverpool Lime Street, which makes same-day or overnight trips straightforward for most teams.
Which studio features matter most for beauty brands?
Look for a basin or sink, soft-lit mirrors, comfortable seating, a beauty bed for treatment content and enough sockets for tools and lighting.
Which studio features matter most for fashion brands?
A cyclorama or infinity cove, clothing rails, a steamer, a changing area and enough floor space for full-length shots are the most useful features.
Can I hire local crew as well as the studio?
Yes, many brands hire local photographers, videographers, stylists and make-up artists to reduce travel costs, and some studios can recommend trusted freelancers.
Disclaimer
This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute professional, financial or legal advice. Studio names, facilities, locations and prices mentioned are based on publicly available listings at the time of writing and may change without notice. Mentioning a studio does not mean it is endorsed or recommended, and we have no commercial relationship with any business named. Always confirm current prices, availability, equipment, terms and conditions directly with the studio before making a booking.
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I’m Muhammad Ubaid, founder of YBR Magazine. I research and write detailed guides on America’s National Parks — covering entry fees, permits, best times to visit, and planning tips — using official NPS sources and up-to-date information.
