Sun House Studio
What you see as you enter the front door
Last year I had the pleasure of shooting at Sun House Studio, located in Burleigh Heads, in an industrial zone that feels a bit outside of the hustle and bustle of Burleigh. It’s also super close to the exit and entrance onto the M1 and less than 15 minutes to the beaches at Miami or Burleigh, depending on traffic of course.
Recently, I have been contemplating hosting an event this year, a workshop to be exact and Sun House was the first place (and if I am being honest, the only place) that came to mind. Why? Because its big! It’s a spacious warehouse, yet it feels cosy at the same time, which is exactly what I want in hosting an event. It has the space for the capacity I want to open the workshop to, yet still feel intimate and welcoming with that coastal boho vibe. What I also love about this natural light studio, is the large roller door that opens up right next to the paper roll rack. One has the option to play with the outdoor light that moves around throughout the day. It’s west facing, so late afternoon, one can really take advantage of those more lateral rays of light.
I met with Marissa, the studio manager, who graciously allowed me to take some photos of the space, so I could use for my marketing when I launch dates for the workshop. She gave me a tour of the space, including its adorable, designer kitchen and lounge space that is tucked under the upstairs co-share office space.
I did not want to intrude, as at the time of being there, one of the solopreneurs was on a phone call at the dining table, but behind, there is also a comfy lounge area to relax.
This isn’t just any studio/ event space, but it also has a beautiful co-working space above the kitchen, perfect for solopreneurs! If I wasn’t such a homebody, I’d probably work in their co-working space, as I could imagine myself taking zoom calls in their cute downstairs lounge area off the kitchen, which has way more of an aesthetic vibe than my home office.
BONUS POINTS: Sun House Studio also hosts a Rack Sale every 6 weeks or so. If you’ve got clothes and shoes you’ve outgrown as a person or just not vibing with anymore, then great opportunity to make some cash at a Rack Sale. In fact, they have one this weekend, on Saturday 1 March, for anyone who wants to get down there and grab some great bargains. I suspect by now, they’ve filled their quota of sellers who have registered for this weekend’s Rack Sale, but you shouldn’t hesitate to get in contact for their next one.
Below you can see the reflection in the standing mirror of some of the coloured paper rolls they have included in the hire.
How would I rate this as a studio space?
✓ Large area offering versatility of different spaces / set designs
✓ Great bathroom and kitchen facilities including lounge nook
✓ Excellent natural light available in the studio space
✓ Parking! There are designated parking spaces available for this warehouse unit
✓ Centrally located, very close to the exit on and off the M1 Highway
✓ Very close to scenic locations like beach and hinterland, lending to the logistics of shooting content both in studio and outdoor location within a day
✓ The staircase offers an option to film from higher perspectives
✓ A few props available like several coloured paper roll options, stools, chairs, and mirrors
X No photographic gear or lighting available to hire, it’s BYO
I’d probably give Sun Studio a 4 out of 5, as the only con is there is no lighting equipment or gear for hire, which doesn’t really affect me (as I have my own lights etc, that I can travel with). Otherwise, this studio offers the space and versatility to shoot different set ups, in different zones and room for both a videographer and a photographer to work simultaneously.
The kitchen is also so well appointed, that I could imagine it being great for shooting content like smoothies, coffee or any food related or lifestyle type of imagery. The decor in the kitchen is beautiful with it’s neutral, earthy tones and clean lines against the playful brown and white checkered backsplash. My mind immediately goes to the kitchen and lounge area as another little nook for content creation.
Above is my little Insta Reel I did on my phone, the day I was scoping out the location for my workshop venue.
Hope this review of this Gold Coast studio space is helpful for you, whether you are a solopreneur looking to hot seat a few days a week or month, or a brand looking to create content somewhere local.
To find out more about Sun House Studio, you can check them out via this linktree or their Instagram @sunhousestudio__
