Looking to shoot at a professional photo studio without paying full rental rates? Photo Mixer events at FD Photo Studio give photographers and models access to up to three studios for a minimum of three hours, starting at just $20 for photographers and $15 for models.
Sound too good to be true? It’s not. But Photo Mixers aren’t just about the price. They’re about building your portfolio across multiple setups in one session, meeting local creatives who might become your next collaborator, and exploring different studio interiors and features without committing to separate rentals.
A Photo Mixer is FD Photo Studio’s event for creative communities in LA and NY. Multiple studios open at the same time for everyone to shoot together. Photographers, models, videographers, makeup artists, stylists, and other creatives gather in professional studio spaces. You buy one ticket and get three hours in multiple studios.
We run Photo Mixers monthly in both Los Angeles and New York. Each event uses different studio setups. You might shoot in blackout spaces with RGB lights, daylight studios with white cyc wall and piano, or themed rooms like famous rain room.
You get to shoot and meet other creatives at the same time. Everyone’s creating content, experimenting, and getting way more variety than they’d get in a single studio rental.
Photo Mixer at studios Yukon 3 and Yukon 4 Los Angeles in October
October Photo Mixer: Rain Room and Neon Cube in Los Angeles featured 2 studios:
Yukon 3 is a photo studio for rent with pool and rain located just 10 minutes from LAX. The studio features a 14×12 ft pool filled with water at 7 inches depth, perfect for walk-on-water effects. A custom rain system offers four modes: tropical rain, regular rain, mist, and halo-style downpour.
Yukon 4 is a large production photo studio with vintage RV and 6×6 ft neon cube in Los Angeles. Inside this 1,860 square foot blackout space sits an authentic 1960s Shasta Airflyte camper with working interior lights and original vintage details. The studio includes 16-foot ceilings, car access through a gated entrance, and a separate makeup and changing room.
All these studios come pre-lit and pre-styled. The FD event team handles setup. You walk in, adjust what you need, and start shooting.
The whole thing feels more like a creative gathering than a formal shoot. Which is exactly the point.
Let’s talk money first, because that’s probably what got your attention.
Photo Mixer tickets cost $20 for photographers and $15 for models. A fraction of the regular studio cost.
You’re getting multiple studios, not just one, for less than the cost of a single hour at regular rates. And if you bring a photography or model friend, bundle discounts drop the price even further. The Creative Duo Bundle takes 30% off. Creative Trio is 40% off.
Christmas Photo Mixer at studios Astoria 3, Astoria 5 and Astoria 10 New York
Christmas Photography Mixer Event in Astoria NY featured 3 studios decorated for a holiday season:
Astoria 3 is a daylight photo studio with pink walls and flower arch in Astoria, Queens, New York. The studio features hardwood floors, a grand piano, a pink telephone booth decorated with flowers, and a big north-facing window providing natural light.
Astoria 5 is a loft photo studio with kitchen and white brick in Astoria, Queens, New York. The space includes hardwood floors, west-facing windows with beautiful evening light patterns, and a full kitchen setup perfect for lifestyle shoots.
Astoria 10 is a daylight photo studio with hardwood floors and tons of natural light in Astoria, Queens, New York. The south-facing studio features a custom-built French door, faux window, and beautiful natural illumination throughout the space.
Variety is what makes mixers actually valuable beyond just the price.
When you rent one studio privately, you control the entire space for your specific vision. It’s perfect when you know exactly what you need. But at a Photo Mixer, you get something different: options. You might shoot in a blackout studio with RGB walls, then move to a daylight loft with French windows, then finish in an industrial space with concrete walls. All in one event.
You can also expand your portfolio. Your Instagram feed doesn’t look repetitive. Your creative brain gets to play with different moods and lighting setups without committing serious money to each one.
Model @bat13sjx photographed by theanghellicone at Olympic 5 (Cosplay Photo Mixer in Los Angeles)
Photo Mixer Event at Metal Hangar in Los Angeles featured studio Olympic 5. It’s a metal hangar studio with boxing ring and car access in Los Angeles. This huge standalone space measures over 3,500 square feet with high ceilings, roll-up doors for vehicle access, and includes a boxing ring, boxing bag, and industrial props.
The networking happens naturally too. You’re not standing around with a name tag trying to make small talk. You’re shooting alongside other photographers. Working with local models or photographers who are there to build their portfolios.
Teams form naturally when creating side by side. A lot of future shoots start at mixers. Photographers meet models whose style matches their vision. Connections happen organically when everyone’s focused on the work.
It’s perfect for beginners. If you’ve never shot in a professional studio before, dropping $100+ on a private rental is intimidating. What if you can’t figure out the lighting? What if you waste the whole session?
A $20 mixer removes that fear. Try it out. See how studio photography works. Learn from other photographers in the room. If it doesn’t go perfectly, you did not spend too much.
Cosplay Photo Mixer at studios Hill 2, Hill 4, Hill 8 Los Angeles
Cosplay and Connect: Downtown LA Photography Mixer Event featured 3 studios:
Hill 2 is a blackout photo studio with RGB wall and spotlights in Los Angeles. The 1,720 square foot space features black walls, black ceiling, and dimmable LED light walls that provide complete control over lighting and background color.
Hill 4 is a daylight photo studio with jungle wall and neon room in Los Angeles. The space includes west and north-facing windows, artificial tropical leaf walls, a neon room section, and sand setup with Moroccan flooring.
Hill 8 is an industrial photo studio with concrete walls and British phone booth in Los Angeles. The studio features a real red British telephone booth, dark wood barn doors, wooden barrels, rustic textures, and LED lights that can be set to specific colors or gradual color changes.
Studios are provided but models and photographers are not provided by FD Photo Studio.
Photographers can bring their own models or connect with other attendees who are looking to shoot together. Models are also welcome to bring their own photographer or team up with photographers at the event. It’s a great way to build your portfolio and meet creative people. Remember to check in with each other before shooting and make sure everyone’s comfortable. If you’re working together, chat about how you’ll use the photos, whether it’s just for portfolios, social media, or something else.
Bring your camera, lenses, extra memory cards, and charged batteries. You’ll shoot more than you expect because you’re moving between multiple studios.
Buy tickets early on Eventbrite. You can see upcoming events on Events Website Page, and Instagram pages @fdphotostudio for LA and @fdphotostudio_ny for NY.
Photographer otolaphoto at Photo Mixer in Los Angeles
Photo Mixers work best for building your portfolio, meeting people, and trying new ideas without spending much money. They fit photographers who want variety and community. Regular rentals work better for paid work, client shoots, and projects that need privacy.
The studio does not provide models. All models in attendance will have purchased a ticket to the event.
Yes. FD Photo Studio provides basic lighting and grip equipment at Photo Mixers. But you can bring your own lighting equipment if you are looking for a specific look. The studios have basic furniture and props.
Check the FD Photo Studio events page for upcoming Photo Mixers in Los Angeles and New York. Each listing shows the date, time, location, studios, and ticket price. All events need advance signup through Eventbrite.
FD Photo Studio also runs workshops about specific photo techniques. Expert photographers teach hands-on classes in special studio spaces. These workshops include professional models, some lighting equipment, and personal teaching in small groups.
Group shooting events offer planned sessions. Photographers work together with hired models and specific themes. These give more structure than Photo Mixers but still feel collaborative.
Affordable ticket price gets you three hours across multiple professional studios that would cost hundreds to rent privately.
For photographers building portfolios, testing techniques, or creating content consistently, mixers provide repeatable access to quality spaces without the financial barrier. For models and creators, it’s portfolio update and networking without the usual costs.
Check the events page, follow our Instagram accounts and grab you tickets today!
1. Browse Available Studios: Visit our studio rental page to explore all 62+ locations
2. Check Equipment Lists: Review our completed equipment list
3. Rent Your Studio: Use our 24/7 online booking system to secure your preferred date and time
4. Receive Your Check-In Code: Get your self-check-in code to access your studio seamlessly
Call us at +1 (323) 454-2323, or email us at info@fdphotostudio.com. We also have a live support chat on our website where you can get directions, request help, or ask questions.