Headshot Studio NYC
Turnkey packages available
Update the headshots your self-tape gets compared against, in the same studio.
1 hr from $110 ·$82/hr from 2 hours
Self-tape Studio NYC
Tape your audition in a quiet 750 sq ft Midtown studio at 545 8th Ave instead of a cramped corner of your apartment. Book by the hour from $82/hr (a single hour is $110), pull a neutral backdrop, switch on continuous lighting, and walk out with a clean take before your casting deadline.
Overview
A quiet, bookable taping room two blocks from Penn Station.
Match Studios is a self-tape studio at 545 8th Ave in Midtown Manhattan, offering a private 750 sq ft taping room (Studio 2110) from $110 for one hour or $82/hr from two hours. Bookings include south-facing window light, Wi-Fi, room for a reader, and optional backdrop pulls and continuous LED lighting.
Who it's for
Actors with a deadline, not a production budget.
Most self-tapes fail on the basics: bad light, echoing rooms, a wall that isn't neutral, a roommate in the background. This room solves those four problems for the cost of a coaching session. It's built for working actors who need a theatrical tape by Friday, a commercial read before lunch, or a callback take that looks intentional — without renting a full production studio or negotiating favors for apartment quiet time.
Theatrical and commercial self-tapes with clean framing
Callback, chemistry-read, and redirect tapes on short notice
Slates, profiles, and casting-site updates that match your headshots
On-camera hosting, comedy, and voiceover-with-picture reels
Coached sessions — bring your coach or reader into the room
The room
What you walk into.
Studio 2110 is a boutique 750 sq ft studio on the 21st floor with an L-shaped layout, 12 ft ceilings, and south-facing windows. That's dramatically more floor than a taping booth, which matters when a scene needs movement, when your reader has to sit off-axis, or when you want the camera far enough back for a proper medium shot. Daylight does most of the work before sunset; after dark, continuous LED add-ons keep skin tones honest.
Backdrop pull in white, gray tones, blue, and more — $25
Nanlite 500W bicolor continuous light — $50
Nanlite Forza 200 daylight LED — $40
Central AC with a thermostat you control
Wi-Fi fast enough to upload takes before you leave
Pricing
Hourly pricing that respects audition economics.
A single production hour is $110 — enough for a prepared two-scene tape. Two hours cost $165, which is the $82/hr rate most actors book: time to warm up, run the scene with your reader, shoot coverage, and review takes without watching the clock. If a session grows into a headshot day or a full shoot, longer blocks scale down in hourly cost, and makeup or lighting support can be added from $440 per production booking.
Related pages
Pair your tape with the rest of your casting kit.
Actor Headshots Use Case
How actors structure a session: looks, makeup, and casting-platform crops.
Studio 2110
From $82/hr
The boutique studio where self-tape sessions happen — full specs and gallery.
Studio 1720
From $99/hr
Step up to 1,850 sq ft when a tape becomes a scene with blocking or a crew.
Service details
Built for audition tapes, not just photo shoots.
Best for
- Self-tape auditions with a casting deadline
- Callback and chemistry-read tapes
- Theatrical and commercial audition scenes
- Voiceover and hosting reels shot on camera
- Actor slates, profiles, and casting updates
- Coaching sessions with a reader in the room
Available
- Private use of Studio 2110 during your booked time
- South-facing window light on the 21st floor
- Wi-Fi for uploads before you leave
- Room for a reader, coach, or taping partner
- Optional backdrop pulls in ten colors ($25)
- Optional continuous LED lighting add-ons ($40–50)
Add-ons
Add support around your taping session
Add crew, styling, or digital workflow support to your studio rental.
Lighting Assistant / Gaffer
Add lighting support for photo, video, podcast, workshop, commercial, and corporate production bookings.
From $440 per production booking
- Lighting setup and adjustment support
- Grip and modifier handling during the shoot
- Support for photo, video, interviews, and workshops
Makeup Artist
Add a professional makeup artist to a Match Studios production booking for headshots, portraits, beauty, editorial, commercial, and brand content sessions.
From $440 per production booking
- Natural, polished, beauty, or editorial makeup looks
- On-set touch-ups during the booked session window
- Product-ready skin and grooming support for camera
Booking flow
How to book a self-tape session.
Step 1
Pick your slot online
Choose Studio 2110 and a Production block — 1 hour for a quick tape, 2 hours for scenes with a reader.
Step 2
Add what the tape needs
Select a backdrop color and continuous lighting during checkout if window light won't cover your call time.
Step 3
Tape, review, upload
Shoot your takes, check them on the spot, and upload over studio Wi-Fi before your deadline.
FAQ
Self-tape studio NYC FAQ
How much does a self-tape studio cost in NYC?
Dedicated taping rooms in Manhattan commonly charge $30–80 per hour for small booth-style spaces. At Match Studios a single production hour is $110 and two hours are $165 — effectively $82/hr — and you get a private 750 sq ft studio with window light rather than a booth.
Can I book just one hour for a self-tape?
Yes. Studio 2110 offers a 1-hour production block at $110 for quick single-scene tapes. If you have multiple scenes, wardrobe changes, or want rehearsal time with a reader, the 2-hour block at $165 is usually the safer choice.
Is the studio quiet enough for clean dialogue audio?
The studio regularly hosts interviews and podcast recordings, and a 21st-floor position keeps street noise well below ground-level spaces. It is not marketed as a fully soundproof soundstage, so if your tape needs absolutely critical audio, tell us when booking and we can advise on timing and setup.
Do you have backdrops and lighting for self-tapes?
Yes. A backdrop pull is $25 with ten color options including white, gray tones, and blue. Continuous lighting add-ons include a Nanlite 500W bicolor light for $50 and a Nanlite Forza 200 daylight LED for $40, and the south-facing windows give you soft natural light during the day.
Can I bring a reader, coach, or taping partner?
Yes. The room comfortably fits you, a reader off camera, and a coach or taping partner. Many actors book with a coach for callback prep and use the extra floor space to run blocking before recording.
Do I need to bring my own camera and tripod?
Bring the rig you tape with — a phone setup or a mirrorless camera and tripod both work well. The studio provides the space, power, Wi-Fi, and lighting options; if your session grows into a bigger shoot, DIT and digikit support can be added to production bookings.
How fast can I get in before a casting deadline?
Booking is online with real-time availability, and same-week slots are often open — including the 1-hour $110 block for urgent tapes. Book the time, get your confirmation, and show up ready to shoot; setup and breakdown happen inside your booked window.
Ready to book?
Reserve the studio or build the crew around your shoot.
Choose your date, select your booking type, add production support, and confirm online.