When planning a shoot, one of the first questions on the table is what location to use? Do we go out into the world and film somewhere “real”, or would studio shoots be better?
On paper, location shoots can sound more authentic and genuine. But in practice, the story is often quite different. If you want total control, creative flexibility, faster turnaround and cleaner results, there is a strong case for keeping everything in one place.
At Broadley Studios, we’ve hosted thousands of productions. We’ve worked on commercial, branded, corporate, live-streamed and broadcast content. The advantages of shooting in a studio environment are clear.
If you want total control, creative flexibility, faster turnaround and cleaner results, there is a strong case for keeping everything in one place.
Lighting on location shoots is unpredictable. One minute it’s cloudy, the next you’ve lost your shadows. For multi-camera shoots or complex setups, even a slight shift in natural light can disrupt continuity and create problems that only show up in the edit.
Studio lighting, by contrast, is consistent and controllable. You can replicate the same look every time, adjust for skin tones, isolate subjects or create dramatic effects, all without battling the elements.
Whether it’s an interview, panel discussion or scene-based performance, studio lighting gives you results you can rely on.
No matter how experienced the sound recordist, shooting on location nearly always means compromise. From traffic and sirens to overhead aircraft and wind distortion, real-world environments are full of ambient interruptions. In a studio, sound is clean and contained. You don’t need to re-record (ADR) half the dialogue or run noise reduction filters on every clip. You capture what you need the first time.
This is especially critical for branded content, interviews or educational pieces where clarity is non-negotiable.
Location shoots often mean moving gear, chasing light, applying for permits, rerouting traffic and hoping the neighbours stay quiet. Studio shoots, by contrast, are calm and contained. Everything is on hand: power, WiFi, makeup space, toilets, green rooms and catering. All ready and in place. It means more time creating, and less time problem-solving.
Clients often remark on how much smoother the day runs when they film in our space. It’s not just about convenience. It’s about making better use of time, budget and energy.
One of the biggest shifts in recent years has been the growth of Virtual Production. At Broadley, we specialise in green screen-based Virtual Production using Brainstorm InfinitySet, real-time camera tracking and flexible set design. This allows productions to create almost any visual environment. A rooftop, a boardroom, a news studio, a sci-fi set. All without ever leaving the building.
Rather than flying a crew to multiple locations, productions can film a morning segment in a virtual New York office and finish the day on a virtual beach, all from one of our Studios. This keeps the production lean, cuts travel emissions and opens up far more visual possibilities without inflating the budget.
And because our green screen system supports reflections, shadows and live compositing, the results are natural and believable. No post-heavy nightmare. No lighting mismatches. Just smooth integration and instant previews.
At Broadley, we specialise in green screen-based Virtual Production using Brainstorm InfinitySet, real-time camera tracking and flexible set design. This allows productions to create almost any visual environment.
With the Blackmagic Ultimatte 12G keyers, we’ve taken real-time keying to a new level. Their improved flare algorithms eliminate green spill and edge artefacts, even on transparent or reflective objects. Shadows and reflections are auto-mapped onto the digital scene, giving you instant composites that look finished from the moment they are captured.
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Together, this integrated system unlocks speed, creativity and realism on a scale that used to require multiple locations and complex kit. Now it all happens in our studios.
At the heart of our setup are Sony 4K cameras with interchangeable lenses and motion tracked camera movements. For smooth, repeatable camera movement, we use MRMC robotic systems including a 2m QRS slider and 4m RLS lift. These allow us to choreograph horizontal and vertical moves that sync perfectly with virtual sets. The result is dynamic, immersive visuals that maintain compositional integrity from every angle.
Studio shoots are more efficient than location shoots. With everything in one place, you avoid the time lost on loading, travel and weather delays. The team is focused. The edit can begin faster.
We often work with brands that need content turned around in days, not weeks. That only works when the production pipeline is clean and the assets are captured in a controlled space.
Virtual Production also removes the need for lengthy set builds or location dressing. Changes to environment, framing or layout can be handled instantly and tested live on the shoot day.
Virtual Production removes the need for lengthy set builds or location dressing. Changes can be handled instantly and tested live on the shoot day.
Behind the scenes, we’ve upgraded our edit suites to match the pace of production. We now offer five dedicated suites connected via 10Gb networking, capable of handling high-resolution 4K multicam projects with ease. Whether you are reviewing cuts remotely or working with us on site, our pipeline is built for speed, comfort and creative flow.
The combination of instant data transfer, real-time previews and rock-solid infrastructure means faster edits and better collaboration. For time-sensitive campaigns or high-volume output, that level of post support makes a measurable difference.
In a studio, you control everything. Light, sound, temperature, background, framing, environment. You don’t have to work around a noisy air conditioning unit or avoid certain shots because of an exit sign. If you need to match an earlier scene, reshoot something quickly or pivot midway through the day, it’s all achievable. There is no resetting an entire house or trying to find that one room again with the perfect light.
Need a second version for vertical platforms? Want a quick reshoot next week? You can do that easily when your shoot is based in a studio with a permanent, familiar setup.
Some assume location shoots automatically make a scene more believable. But realism isn’t about geography. It’s about consistency. If the lighting matches, the sound is clean, and the background feels coherent with the story, the audience accepts the world you’ve built.
With green screen and virtual environments, realism is created through thoughtful design and precision execution. You gain the benefits of realism without losing hours to location headaches or spending thousands on travel and logistics.
If you need to match an earlier scene, reshoot something quickly or pivot midway through the day, it’s all achievable.
There is no resetting an entire house or trying to find that one room again with the perfect light.
We’re not against location shoots. Some stories need them. But for the majority of branded content, interviews, presentations, explainer videos or narrative-style pieces, a well-equipped studio offers more control, fewer unknowns and a better end result.
And with the right green screen and Virtual Production tools, your “one place” can be anywhere you need it to be.
Location shoots can sometimes be necessary. But if you want creative flexibility, faster turnaround and control without compromising the end result, then keeping everything in one place is the answer: the studio.
The advantages of studio shoots include:
Ultimately studio shoots, as opposed to location shoots, are all about full creative control. With Broadley Studios and our state-of-the-art facilities and highly experienced crew, we are here to help you every step of the way.
Please call us on 0207 725 5858 or drop us a line at [email protected] to find out how we can help you build the perfect shoot environment without leaving the studio.
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