WE ARE STILL OPEN! SORT OF:

Firstly we would like to sincerely wish you the best while we all deal with this curved ball that the world has been thrown. As a company we are taking every effort to ensure that we operate to the strictest Hygiene Standards and maintain Social Distancing or better still where possible; no contact at all to protect you and us.

ALL RENTALS & SALES ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. WE ARE NOT OPEN FOR WALK-INS, TO ENSURE SAFE DISTANCING AND ENSURED HYGENE STANDARDS FOR ALL.

WE NOW OPERATE “CONTACTLESS” EQUIPMENT / STUDIO RENTAL & SALES.

If you should need to Rent or Buy Photographic Gear we can help with “Contactless” delivery or ”Contactless” Self-Service Collections.

All communications will be made here on Live Chat, Via Telephone or Email. Rentals & Sales will be quoted via Email with payment made by payment links provided or Bank Transfer.

Prior to Delivery or Collection all items will be wiped down with a 70% Alcohol Solution - there will be no “Hot Rental turnarounds’ - this means that all returned equipment will be Sanitized and rested for 72 hours before being released to rental stock.

CONTACTLESS DELIVERY PROCEDURE

All Rentals or Sales over AED500 will be delivered Free of Charge (Dubai)
(If below AED500 charged as AED50 / each way).
Other Emirates by arrangement.

Choose a delivery Slot and our Driver will call you once he arrives at your location and will await you outside your building. Once you have identified yourself our driver will step away from your Sanitized delivery to ensure Safe Distancing and leave you with your lovely bundle. For rental returns we just do it in reverse!


CONTACTLESS PICK-UP PROCEDURE

You advise your preferred collection time +/- 15 minutes. When you arrive at our premises call us and will place your Sanitized Gear / Package 3 Meters from your Vehichle so you can take delivery with Safe Distancing observed.

Out of hours pick-ups and returns are possible by arrangement.


CONTACTLESS STUDIO RENTALS

Studios cannot be rented presently - however when restrictions are lifted we will continue as follows:

Ensure that you keep a minimum distance between shoot crew of 2 meteres. Crew should be made up of essential members only - not people from the office that wanted a day out, REALLY we need for all our sakes to keep the numbers down.

Entrance and exit to Studio rented will be by main Studio door - there will be strictly no access to reception or any other areas of HotCold Studio. Any lighting ordered will be prepared and in your Studio awaiting you. All payments for Studio Rental will be in advance and paid by Bank Transfer or Payment Link.

Studios will be Sanitized thoroughly before and after rentals. There are no "Hot Studio Rentals'- each studio will be rested for 48 Hours after each rental to ensure the highest possible hygene standards.


CONTACTLESS STAFFING INFO

We are available on Live Chat, Email and Telephone but not physically - no walk-ins. We are keeping a physical staff availble to prep gear in both Rental, Sales and Studios. We are operating a "Tag-Team" approach where small teams do not have any contact with each other - So if in the unfortunate event that anyone in that team develops symptoms the whole team can self isolate or receive treatment until all are clear for duty. We take your, and our staff safety very seriously.


We like you pray that this will be over soon and we can return to normal but for now this is the new-normal and we will do our best to continue serving you and safely - The HotCold Team

HotCold Studio was built by Photographers to really provide the kind of service, people, gear & spaces that make a genuine difference to Photographers and their workflow (while taking good care of clients, suppliers & talent). This is a tough industry and we know your path, your job and and pressures. Everyone from Newbie to Seasoned Pro gets the same friendly professional treatment all served up with great Coffee.

To talk to us right now - during normal working hours use the chat bubble on the bottom right or email us for a quick reply.

*Please read this… it could change your future….seriously..

Are we the cheapest? We think so when you add a little time into the equation. To explain let’s ask you a question - Are you the cheapest photographer in your town or speciality? Do you aspire to be the cheapest? Do you aim to market yourself as the cheapest? - if so you need to surround yourself with the cheapest suppliers and that will surely attract the cheapest customers - you will work with the cheapest Models, the cheapest Assistants, the cheapest Retoucher, the cheapest Production Company, the cheapest Hair & Make-Up and the cheapest Rental House.
—
As a Photographer you are relied upon to come up with the goods every day - the complexity and load always varies but however big or small your team, when things go wrong there is nobody else to blame as you are at the top of that creative pyramid. However much fun is being had by the myriad of people on a shoot, there is always an end client with a goal and you are charged with delivery of a great result. You need quality people, gear, facilities and people around you to ensure you come up with the goods and attract and retain the quality clients. If lowest cost is your priority then you are likely to stay in the lowest fee part of the industry.
—

So in the short term, sometimes we may be a little more expensive than someone else (not always) - but running a real Rental House and Studio is not just about taking a Warehouse as a Studio, buying a little gear, cross renting a lot, staffing it with the cheapest people and undercutting your rivals. A real rental house has breadth and volume of stock, the ability to roll with changes as you or your client make creative changes, people who have real product knowledge, and can give advice and opinion when asked for and answer their phones in an emergency - when it hits the fan we can usually help:) We help people build their careers, build and retain their client base and grow their fee structure. In short we add value to you, which makes us a great investment for you as we have invested in the facilities, gear and people that support people who aspire to be great or stay great. We can’t do that on the cheap - so if you aspire to be cheap then we probably don’t work for you, because we can’t afford too and keep our standards high. You are not buying sneakers online here - you are looking after a career. We are pride ourselves on building real long term relationships - our clients are not just business - we need to support you; as we like to work with those who have high standards and recommend us.
—
So to summarise for a marginal difference (not always) we really believe you are investing in your future and putting yourself in good company in a great environment that sets the tone for your career path. Don’t be the cheapest because we can’t; because we are good:)