StudioShare.org was reviewed on Small Aperture today.

If you're also interested in the world of audio, check this out. audio.StudioShare.org will be attending the Boston Audio Engineering Society’s Networking Night at Kissy Pig Recording Studios in Allston, MA on Tue, June 29 at 7PM. audio.StudioShare.org will be offering coupon codes good for a free year of membership on our new web platform, audio.studioshare.org, to all event attendees. Hope to see you there!

(Are you a member of the Boston AES but can’t make it to the event? E-mail beta@studioshare.org to receive your free coupon code.)

If the work of describing and photographing your equipment has kept you from listing it for rent with StudioShare.org, the GearFinder tool is your answer. GearFinder is a huge database of equipment that allows you to list equipment in a click or two.

The GearFinder option appears automatically when you're listing equipment for rent. Simply browse and select your equipment make and model, and GearFinder will automatically provide a photo, a description, and even a suggested price for hourly and daily rentals.

You can edit anything you want after GearFinder has filled it in, but this tool cuts down on the legwork you need to do to list equipment and make listing anything you have as simple as selecting it from a list.

StudioShare.org has always allowed you to manage both your own events and requests for rentals on the StudioShare.org calendar. But now, you can subscribe to your calendar feed via other calendar programs like Outlook, iCal or MobileMe.

When you make a booking in StudioShare.org, the information is automatically pushed out to your other calendars. This tool makes keeping on top of your bookings and requests even easier than before, since they'll automatically show up in the calendar you check most frequently.
To activate your Calendar Feed subscription, simply visit your Schedule and scroll to the bottom, clicking on the link that says "Subscribe to your calendar feed."

In the past, members couldn't book a gig, studio or equipment rental less than 48 hours in advance due to cancellation policies. Now, booking for same-day or next-day gigs is allowed. If you book less than 48 hours in advance, you waive the right to cancel, but otherwise StudioShare.org's policies remain the same.

For photographers with a confirmed photo shoot and a last-minute problem in the form of a MUA canceling at the last minute or a crucial piece of equipment breaking, this allows the shoot to go on thanks to rentals through StudioShare.org.

To make booking services easier, we've changed the way services are listed. You can now check off the exact type of service you're looking for in the Search for Services function. From Fashion Stylist to Prop Builder to Publicist, every service imaginable is listed, and the search will narrow the results to the exact service you're looking for.

And StudioShare.org continues to offer you three different types of equipment rental: "My Equipment," which is portable and available to take with you off-site, "Included Equipment," which is provided as part of a studio rental, and "Additional Equipment," which is available to rent while you are renting out a studio, often at a reduced rate as compared to if you were taking it off-site.

Rentals are available to all StudioShare.org members.

We're bringing our community of shared resources together yet again with the StudioShare.org Forum. This members-only, non-public forum is a way to start dialogue amongst the members of the site.

On the boards, you can buy and sell props and equipment, list events, talk about tips and tricks, and post suggestions and ideas for the StudioShare.org team.

Beginning June 1, StudioShare.org will be launching its audio edition. StudioShare.org Audio Edition provides the same community platform for the audio industry that we've been bringing to the photo industry. It's a customized solution to rent audio equipment and studios and to hire professional services. If you're interested in joining the beta, send an email to beta@studioshare.org

Did you know that as a StudioShare.org member, you're eligible for benefits at other businesses as well? We're dedicated to bringing you services that continue our principles of sharing, community and eco-consciousness.

Click here to get the full details on your StudioShare.org benefits.

After every rental, you'll receive an email from StudioShare.org with a survey. Please don't forget to rate your experience. We are currently collecting data on our rentals. When we have enough ratings, we will begin publishing them on the member profiles to give members a better sense of what their rental experience will be like.

Pros and Amateurs Debate: Is Photography in Trouble?
By STEPHANIE CLIFFORD

Read the article in the NYT Blog.

Cambridge, MA (PRWEB) March 26, 2010 — StudioShare.org™, a new online collaboration platform for the photography and creative communities, announces a 300 percent increase in members since January 2010, plus the release of version 2.0. StudioShare.org photographers, studio owners, creative associates and photography students located in more than 40 U.S. states can take advantage of even more connectivity and more benefits. New version 2.0 enhancements include increased studio planning tools, and integrated financial dashboard, improved keyword search functionality and comprehensive project tracking/project management calendaring.

StudioShare.org was created with two key objectives: to connect industry talent and to help put idle or underused studio space and equipment to use. Shares Andreas Randow, founder and president of StudioShare.org, “The community-based platform enables subscribers to connect with the people, products and services they need via a sleek and fast Web application. Whether subscribed as a Member or Studio Owner, we’re making it even easier to find, and do business with, others in the network. There is so much underutilized space, equipment and talent in this community. Why not connect these resources using the power of the Internet?”

The latest version of StudioShare.org features significant platform upgrades that offer powerful integration, budgeting tools and a more global view of studio operations. An integrated suite of task and financial management tools makes scheduling, tracking and project operations simple and easy. Highlights include:

- Global-view online calendaring permits users to manage booking requests, invoicing, payment processing, budgets and bookkeeping in one place - Integrated planning tools help track projects, gigs and overall schedule - Improved keyword search functionality allows precise search by price range, location, specific services and equipment - Customization capabilities allow members to add extra fees or give discounts on rentals per a case-by-case basis

StudioShare.org currently offers two subscription categories:

- The Member category is suitable for photographers who need to rent space, equipment or hire professional services, and for industry service providers such as assistants, stylists, models, makeup artists, prop builders, photo editors and production staff. $49 annual subscription - The Studio Owner category is suitable for businesses or individuals offering space or property for rent to the photography community. A subscription to the Studio Owner category also allows members to rent out studio equipment, plus receive all benefits of the Member category. $79 annual subscription.

StudioShare.org Members and Studio Owners set their own rates for rentals and services.

StudioShare.org is dedicated to helping photography professionals flourish by enabling resource sharing and collaboration through a robust Web application that facilitates communication and provides advanced transaction management and booking functionalities. The platform enables members to make the most of photo resources already in use and owned by others in the StudioShare.org community, allowing all to book services and rent resources. Members may earn money by renting out their own idle equipment and space, or renting another’s resources for assignment. Members may also share their skills, locate and hire creative team talent, and other service providers.

Company Founders

Andreas Randow, president and CEO, is a photographer, software architect, programmer, and entrepreneur. Randow has been involved in the start-up of 12 companies and served as vice president of technology for Data Translation, Inc. for six years.

Paul Friedman manages operations and sales for StudioShare.org. He is also founder of LensProToGo.com and a professional photographer. Friedman has an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University, and a background in financial and sales analysis, having worked with Fortune 500 companies including Monster.com and Bose.

To everyone who found us through this morning's JPG Magazine newsletter, welcome to StudioShare.org!
Take a look around. If you're curious about the resources in your area, check out the StudioShare.org Membership Map
If you have specific questions about our services, try visiting the Learning Center or our FAQ.

Cambridge, MA, February 23, 2010 --- StudioShare.org™, a new online collaboration platform for photography professionals, is now launching version 2.0 of its online platform for community-owned photo rentals. The new version contains many improvements and additional features that truly create a new revenue stream for photo studio owners and all other photo industry professionals.

StudioShare.org™ is not a mere listing agent. In addition to its advanced search technology, StudioShare.org™ manages your booking requests, scheduling, invoicing, payment processing, bookkeeping, project management, and more. Powerful planning tools help you keep track of your own photo projects, budgets, gigs, and overall schedule.

StudioShare.org™ is dedicated to helping photography professionals flourish by enabling rental of community-owned resources through a sleek and fast web application that provides advanced transaction management and booking functions.

Photographic resources include everything from studio space and photo-related services, to photographic equipment such as cameras, lenses, camera stands, light meters, and studio accessories owned by StudioShare.org™ members.

"There is so much equipment and talent in this community, why not take advantage of resources that are already available and in use by your peers?" says Andreas Randow, founder and president of StudioShare.org™. "Shrinking marketing budgets make it vital for professionals to make the most out of limited resources, and our platform provides the perfect vehicle to accomplish this."

StudioShare.org™ version 2.0 incorporates detailed feedback from hundreds of members, making it even more custom-tailored to radically improve the way the photo industry does business.

Version 2.0 is over 10 times faster than the first version of the platform, with many additional features to give members more flexibility and to better fit the way the photo industry does business. Advanced search options give members the freedom to search within a desired price range, or for specific services, in addition to keyword and location-based search options. New customization features enable members to add extra fees or give discounts on their rentals on a case-by-case basis.

StudioShare.org™ is a new kind of business platform, efficiently uniting photo professionals with diverse skill sets for community-owned rentals and professional collaboration.

After months of testing we have decided this morning to release StudioShare.org™ 2.0 to the public. Basically StudioShare.org™ 2.0 is a complete rework of the StudioShare.org™ platform with hundreds of new features, a completely reworked user interface, and a much improved workflow. If you were a StudioShare.org™ user from the beginning, make sure to read the FAQ regarding the transition.

Now you can show your pride and drive traffic to your StudioShare.org™ profile with a StudioShare.org™ web badge for your website or blog. You can find the badges in our download section.

StudioShare.org™ announces today "Collaboration for the world of audio".
COMING SOON!
An innovative online collaboration platform for sharing recording studio space, audio equipment, and services. Its advanced search technology enables its members to share services and rent community-owned audio recording resources quickly and securely.
So keep watching this space if you're a producer, recording engineer, editor (pitch correction), mixing engineer, studio assistant, musician, songwriter/arranger, audio for video specialist, foley, post production specialist, mastering engineer, or any other kind of audio industry professional.

StudioShare.org™ welcomes Paul Friedman as he joins the team in charge of day-to-day operations and sales. Paul is known for his excellent customer service, as well as his attention to detail in his own work running LensProToGo.com and his own photo studio in Concord, MA. We are thrilled to have Paul's expertise on board.

StudioShare.org™ is partnering with Zipcar®, the world's largest car sharing and car club service, to grant special benefits and discounts to all StudioShare.org™ members.
Getting to your photo shoot or your job was never easier. The world's largest car sharing and car club service, Zipcar® is the easiest way to get all your gear to a shoot. With Zipcars in over 50 cities in the US, Canada, and UK, as well as on campus at universities across North America, there's a Zipcar® conveniently located in all major photo industry destinations.
As a StudioShare.org™ Member or Studio Owner, you can join Zipcar® for just $25 a year and enjoy much better deals on hourly and daily rates.

StudioShare.org™ made its first big public splash at the PDN Photo Plus Expo 2009 in New York City. Sharing a booth with LensProToGo.com, the StudioShare.org™ team was on site every day of the expo to answer questions and introduce photo industry pros to the revolutionary new concept of community-based photo rental.
Contortionists from the Hybrid Movement Company performed at the StudioShare.org™ booth, helping to spread the message that StudioShare.org™ helps you be a little more flexible with your photography.