New Layout for the Studio...

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

New Layout for the Studio...


Yesterday we tried out a few different ideas for a new look and layout for our studio. Next Tuesday we're shooting 13 "Off the shelf" product features for Meguiar's and on Wednesday we're shooting 2 episodes for "What's in the Garage" with Big Daddy Don Garlits.

I took these yesterday using my camera phone with Jeff's Mustang parked on the polishing deck for perspective.

What do you think?


:dblthumb2:

 

[RTexasF]

It looks neater and more purposeful, less clutter. What an honor to meet Big Daddy!

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

It looks neater and more purposeful, less clutter. What an honor to meet Big Daddy!

He's also bringing one of his personal cars from his collection to be on the show...

We'll post some pictures on Wednesday...


:xyxthumbs:

 

[Laura]

It looks neater and more purposeful, less clutter.

I agree; looks more professional. Good to be able to have the "Autogeek wall" as a backdrop for the beauty shots. And I still love the new(ish) floor. :xyxthumbs:

 

[SkateForGirl]

Looks awesome. Like the other guys said, more professional is the first words that come to mind.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Been doing some more work and rearranging, have moved the tool shelves up front and between the microfiber pad and buffing pad cabinets.

More work to do tomorrow...


:xyxthumbs:

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

Looks much nicer than before! Does raise some potential concerns though:

1) Do those wall wash lights mess with the white balance of the cameras and make getting good clear shots of the cars more difficult?

If you look at the pictures you took with the Mustang parked on there it would seem that the car looks very "dark" compared to the background -- not just because it's a dark blue, but because in order for the wall to not appear washed out, the exposure on the camera had to be reduced which makes the car too dark. If you optimize the camera to show the car in the best light, the wall will look washed out.

2) Positioning cars in that layout is probably a bigger challenge and more time consuming -- unless you have a set of Go-Jacks to roll cars around with.

3) When you're teaching classes in there, the amount of depth the polishing deck takes up reduces the number of tables and chairs you can set up. If you're going to be moving cars in and out you still need a clear path from the garage door at the back to the deck up front. This means you can't take advantage of the width of the room and set tables/chairs up farther across than before.

So yeah, looks better but I can see some definite drawbacks worth consideration.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

If you look at the pictures you took with the Mustang parked on there it would seem that the car looks very "dark" compared to the background --

Those pictures were taken with my iPhone 4, thus the low picture quality, that's why I included this...

I took these yesterday using my camera phone with Jeff's Mustang parked on the polishing deck for perspective.

If you look at the first two pictures above the pics with the blue Mustang the overall quality and look is much better as the were taken with my trusty, dusty Canon T1i


Keep in mind we have a full camera crew to light up the set if and when needed, that's their job. Moving the cars in and out of position is a cinch.


It's already a done deal, and in person it really looks nice.


:dblthumb2:

 

[Shane731]

Not sure I like it but if it is more functional for you guys then that's the main thing. :xyxthumbs:

 

[Jomax]

What tile brand is that?? And what brand cabinets?? And last but not least how can I get all the banners and that Awesome autogeek floor picture?? Redoing a Garage and would love to make it close to your set up.


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2012 pearl white Focus

 

[Dr Oldz]

I don't like it. Kinda looks like a closet in a hospital janitorial room. It also looks more natural when the length of a vehicle is running parallel with the longer section of a room(as it would when you pull the vehicle into the room.) The man door also kills it. Sorry but just being honest.

 

[FUNX650]

Some of the walls look naked without any of the "Swirl-Girls" photos.
Or do I have that bass-ackwards!



Bob

 

[Bunky]

I would suggest add more tiles and then have a layout option where a square section can be removed and replaced with the AG logo as needed. This gives you more space to place the car away from the walls and allow more angled views rather than parallel to back wall.

 

[Bunky]

Some of the walls look naked without any of the "Swirl-Girls" photos.
Or do I have that bass-ackwards!



Bob

Are you still waiting for the calendar?

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

One of the main reasons for changing things around was so that we don't always film the garage door in the background.

Another reason is so that when we're shooting we show or brand Ivan, our Autogeek character as well as the Autogeek name and name of the TV show.

We're going to try this new arrangement, the good news is if we decide it isn't working it only takes a couple of people and about a half hour to move things around.


:xyxthumbs:

 

[Bunky]

Have you considered getting a moveable wall for the garage door side or at least make the door look different (not the galvanized look) with some large placards?

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

If you look through any of my car project threads, you'll notice I try to always get both process shots and beauty shots with the Autogeek "What's in the Garage" logos and the Ivan logos in the background. It's part of branding...


On my articles list page, under the heading Business Promotion, I even wrote an article about branding...

Brand Yourself, Brand your Forum Nickname and Brand your Business Name



When I'm doing these project cars out in the studio there's a cost of doing business, we have the lights on, the air conditioning on we're using all premium quality products and it only makes sense to use our time effectively. By this I mean if I'm going to take pictures anyways... might as well get the best bang for our buck and that includes taking intelligent pictures.

If you look at the thousands of pictures I took while working for Meguiar's and running MeguiarsOnline, teaching their

• Detailing 101
• Detailing 102
• Thursday Night Open Garage Classes
• Extreme Makeover Classes

You'll also see a majority of all the pictures have the Meguiar's logos in the background. It just makes good business sense. This isn't my first rodeo.


Free advice
I'd even recommend this type of practice for any of you that detail for fame or fortune, if you have a shop or a Mobile Detail rig, when you take your pictures get your signage in the background.


Here's some examples of my photography from some of the project cars we've worked on here at Autogeek.

Like "Larry the Cable Guy" says...


I could do this all day


But I think you get the point... It's both work and fun, hard to find in life so I count my blessings every day and every night...


Anyway... yeah... we're going to try this new arrangement, if the producers decide it isn't working then we'll try something else.

Like I always tell my son,

"You don't know what you can do until you try"

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Have you considered getting a moveable wall for the garage door side or at least make the door look different (not the galvanized look) with some large placards?

The idea has been floated but instead we want to shoot towards the back wall. This is also the wall where the big screen TV is located and when we hold classes here all the students face the back wall with the TV and signage.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

What tile brand is that??

And what brand cabinets??

And last but not least how can I get all the banners and that Awesome autogeek floor picture??

Here's the brand of tiles, we carry them at Autogeek. My strong recommendation is to get the type we're using because they don't stain and clean up easy.

RACEDECK Garage Floors


Heck, you can even wax them...

Tile Wax

I hand waxed each tile using Pinnacle XMT 360 Spray Wax.

The cabinets, shelves and workbench are Craftsman.

My good friend Jorgen Moller, who owns Racedeck can custom make any logo you want on his brand of tiles.

 

[Porsche Pilot]

One factor, besides quality, for me choosing Race Deck over the competitors is that Race Deck is manufactured in the United States. I cant stress enough how important that is to me.


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