Los Angeles Studios Without an Equipment Corkage Fee
- Interwoven Studios Admin
- Dec 9, 2025
- 4 min read
Why Interwoven Studios — and Others — Welcome Outside Gear
If you’re searching for a Los Angeles studio that allows outside equipment without a corkage fee, you’re not alone.
Many photographers, filmmakers, and production teams run into surprise charges when booking studio space in LA — fees for bringing their own cameras, lighting, grip, or audio gear. These are often labeled as outside equipment fees, gear fees, or studio corkage fees, and they can quietly inflate a production budget.
At Interwoven Studios, we don’t charge equipment corkage fees. And we’re proud to stand alongside a growing community of equipment-friendly studios in Los Angeles that are prioritizing transparency, trust, and creator-first policies.
What Is a Studio Corkage Fee in Los Angeles?
A studio corkage fee is an extra charge imposed when a production brings in outside equipment instead of renting gear directly from the studio.
In Los Angeles, these fees commonly apply to:
Cameras
Lighting equipment
Grip gear
Audio equipment
Specialty rigs or props
They’re often introduced late in the booking process and framed as covering overhead, power usage, or wear and tear. In reality, they frequently create confusion, restrict flexibility, and penalize productions for owning their own tools.
Why Interwoven Studios Does Not Charge a Corkage Fee
At Interwoven Studios, we believe renting a studio should be straightforward and predictable.
When you book our space:
You’re free to bring your own cameras and equipment
You won’t be penalized for using the gear you already own
There are no hidden “outside equipment” or corkage fees
We believe studios should empower productions — not control how they work.
Milk & Smashbox Aren’t the Only Places in Town — And We Challenge Big Studios to Do Better
In Los Angeles, two names often dominate the conversation around studio rentals: Milk Studios and Smashbox Studios. They’re iconic, established, and have played a huge role in shaping the creative landscape of our city. We respect their history and the caliber of work that has happened within their walls.
But here’s the truth:they are not the only places in town to shoot and get gear.
LA is home to an incredible range of studios — large, mid-sized, boutique, creator-led, and community-focused — many of which offer more flexible policies, clearer pricing, and equipment-friendly approaches that better support modern productions.
We don’t believe in speaking poorly of any studio. Instead, we believe in challenging the industry to evolve.
Our hope is that even the biggest players — Milk, Smashbox, and others — take note of how many Los Angeles studios are moving away from equipment corkage fees and toward more transparent, creator-first policies.
The future of studio rental in LA should empower productions, not restrict them. And we welcome the day when all studios, regardless of size or legacy, embrace that shift.
Our In-House Gear Is Fully Production-Ready — And Outside Gear Is Always Welcome
It’s important to be clear: Interwoven’s in-house equipment inventory is good enough for any professional shoot.
Our gear is not an afterthought or a limited add-on — it’s production-grade, maintained at a high standard, and capable of supporting everything from commercial work to brand campaigns, editorial shoots, and full video productions.
At the same time, we don’t believe productions should ever be forced to rent gear or penalized for choosing not to.
Whether a production:
Uses our gear entirely
Brings in their own trusted setup
Or combines both
They’re welcomed with open arms.
We often see the best results through collaboration:
Productions work with gear they know best
We provide high-quality in-house equipment when needed
We collaborate with local Los Angeles lighting and grip professionals
This approach:
Creates more opportunities for crew members to earn a living
Supports local vendors and specialists
Avoids exploiting clients or crews through mandatory fees
Our goal isn’t to extract value — it’s to share it.
Equipment-Friendly Studios in Los Angeles (No Corkage Fees)
Interwoven Studios is not alone in this approach.
Many Los Angeles studios allow outside equipment without charging corkage fees, and they deserve recognition for setting a higher standard.
Huge thanks to Brian Chism of Chism Grip for compiling and sharing a comprehensive list of equipment-friendly studios and making this information accessible to the production community.
Some of these studios include:
Interwoven Studios
Studio Stropa
Helms Daylight Studio
Ingredient Studio
Edge
Mission Road Studios
Mica Studios
Historic Hudson Studios
Stage This
Sireel
Hudson Loft
Projkt LA
Forge LA
Optimist Studios
Terraform LA
Dream Factory LA
Big Door Studios
Elysium DTLA
Big Hue Studio
Margaret Jones Studio
Studio Super
Barcode Studio
True Beauty Studio
These studios span Downtown LA, Culver City, Silver Lake, Hollywood, Glendale, and the San Fernando Valley, showing that equipment-friendly studio rentals are becoming the norm in Los Angeles.
Why Choosing an Equipment-Friendly Studio Matters
Studios that allow outside equipment without extra fees typically prioritize:
Clear pricing and upfront policies
Respect for professional crews
Flexible production workflows
Long-term relationships over short-term add-ons
For productions, the right studio isn’t just about the walls — it’s about the experience.
The Interwoven Studios Philosophy
Interwoven Studios was built to support productions at every level.
Bring your cameras. Bring your lights. Bring your sound gear. Bring your crew.
If you want to use our gear, it’s ready for any shoot.If you prefer your own, we’re happy to host you.
We’re proud to be part of a community of Los Angeles studios without corkage fees and grateful to industry members like Brian Chism who help push the industry toward fairness and transparency.
We encourage you to support studios that treat creatives and crews with respect.
Los Angeles works best when studios work with creators — not against them.
Comments