Smashbox Studios
Smashbox Studios is a US photo and video studio rental company operating 11 purpose-built stages across Culver City, Downtown Los Angeles, and Brooklyn, serving photographers, brands, agencies, and event hosts with hourly and daily space rental, equipment rental, digital capture rentals, and event venue hosting.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersCulver City, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Smashbox Studios does
Smashbox Studios is a US-based B2B photo and video studio rental company operating three facilities across the Los Angeles (Culver City and Downtown LA) and New York (Brooklyn/Greenpoint) markets. Founded in 1990 by Davis and Dean Factor, great-grandsons of cosmetics pioneer Max Factor, the business operates 11 purpose-built shooting stages with cyc walls, natural light, overhead grids, and high-amperage 3-phase power, complemented by cafes, event venues, and on-site support. The flagship Culver City campus spans approximately 25,000 square feet and was comprehensively renovated in 2015 through a partnership with Industrial Color Brands (now part of the CoCreativ parent portfolio).
The company generates revenue primarily through hourly and daily studio rental across its 11 stages, with adjacent usage-based streams covering in-studio and on-location camera, lighting, and grip equipment rental; digital capture rentals; production supplies (tents, chairs, walkie-talkies) sold or rented with 24/7 delivery; and event venue hosting. Pricing is quote-based with no self-service online booking; inquiries flow through dedicated email and phone channels per location. Target customers are professional photographers and directors, brands and agencies producing advertising/fashion/editorial content, event hosts staging corporate or private functions, and entertainment industry productions. The business is privately held under CoCreativ (a New York corporation whose portfolio also includes Industrial Color, Impact Digital, Click 3X, Invodo, and FileSociety).
The technology footprint is limited to physical infrastructure and a partnership with globaledit, a third-party cloud platform for photo and video upload, review, approval, markup, and collaboration. There is no proprietary software product, no public API, no mobile app, and no AI/ML capability disclosed. Distribution is relationship-driven: brand heritage, agency referrals, and a professional website drive inquiry origination, which is then converted through direct sales conversations rather than automated booking flows.
Smashbox Studios firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Smashbox Studios
- Legal name
- CoCreativ
- Website
- https://smashboxstudios.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Smashbox Studios is a US photo and video studio rental company operating 11 purpose-built stages across Culver City, Downtown Los Angeles, and Brooklyn, serving photographers, brands, agencies, and event hosts with hourly and daily space rental, equipment rental, digital capture rentals, and event venue hosting.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Smashbox Studios industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Photo and Video Studio Rental
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (512199)
- SIC
- Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Soundstage & Stage Rental (Film/TV) (MPADAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Camera, Grip & Lighting Equipment Rental (MPADAFAB), Production Office Space & Support Facilities (MPADAIAD), Studios, Stages & Location Services (Facilities, Location Scouting/Permits) (MPAAAMAG)
Keywords
Where Smashbox Studios is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Culver City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Smashbox Studios business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Studio Rental: Hourly and daily rental of photo and video studio spaces across three locations (LA/Culver City, DTLA, Brooklyn). Revenue is generated through time-based bookings of studio space, cyc walls, natural light setups, and included amenities.
- Equipment Rental: Rental of professional photography and video equipment including camera systems, lighting, grip gear, and digital capture tools. Available for in-studio and on-location use with 24/7 pickup and delivery options.
- Digital and Capture Rentals: Rental of cameras, hardware, software, and capture technology for in-studio, on-location, or remote use. Offered as ala carte or package pricing.
- Production Supplies: Sale and rental of production supplies including tents, chairs, walkie-talkies, and other essentials with 24/7 delivery options.
- Event Venue Rental: Rental of studio spaces for private events, red carpet galas, and corporate functions. The 25,000 square foot LA facility with world-class cafe, bar, and AV equipment serves as an event destination.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Smashbox Studios product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Smashbox Studios rents physical photo and video production studio space across three locations in Los Angeles, Downtown Los Angeles, and Brooklyn, with on-site production supplies and equipment rentals. The business also supports post-production workflows through a partnership with GlobalEdit for digital asset management.
Product overview
Smashbox Studios is a premier photo and video studio rental company operating three locations: Culver City/LA, DTLA, and Brooklyn (BK). The company offers a portfolio of physical studio spaces including named studios (Lightbox, Softbox, Blackbox, Bigbox in LA; Studios 1-5 in DTLA; Studio 1 in BK), complemented by equipment rental services (in-studio and on-location), digital and capture rentals, production supplies, and event hosting. The company also partners with globaledit, a web-based creative workflow platform, to provide customers with photo and video management and collaboration tools. All offerings are physical services centered around studio rentals rather than a unified software platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Los Angeles Photo and Video Studio Rental Multi-room photo and video studio space available for rent in Los Angeles, used by brand marketers, agencies, photographers, and directors for productions of varied scale.
- Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) Photo and Video Studio Rental Downtown Los Angeles studio space available for rent, providing a second LA-based production environment with on-site supplies and equipment availability.
- Brooklyn Photo and Video Studio Rental Brooklyn-based studio space available for rent, serving brands, agencies, and independent photographers and directors in the New York production market.
- Production Equipment Rental In-house inventory of professional lighting, camera, and grip equipment available for rent, supporting photo and video productions occurring within the company's studios.
- On-site Production Supplies Store On-site supply store at the studios providing production essentials and consumables for photographers, directors, and production crews.
Companies that use Smashbox Studios
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Smashbox Studios technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Smashbox Studios partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Industrial Color BrandscoreIn 2015, Smashbox Studios entered into a partnership with Industrial Color Brands that included a total facility renovation. This partnership combines 25 years of experience in pioneering photo, video, and studio technology, bringing next-level service to the iconic space. Major upgrades included 9,000 amps of 3-phase power, full seismic upgrades, updated STC rated soundstages, Gb internet and wireless networks, custom designed makeup tables, modern AV systems, and interior/exteriors designed by Gensler.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Smashbox Studios competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Industrial Color Studios: Sister company under CoCreativ, operating photo/video studios in NYC (and historically other markets). Directly comparable to Smashbox in offering studio rental, equipment, and production services to commercial and editorial clients.
- Quixote Studios: One of the largest independent provider of stages, production supplies, and equipment for film, television, and advertising in Los Angeles and other U.S. markets. Closest direct competitor to Smashbox in the LA soundstage and equipment-rental category.
- Red Studios: Historic Hollywood (formerly Ren-Mar) full-service studio complex with multiple soundstages and support services. Comparable to Smashbox in offering Hollywood production-ready soundstages for film, TV, and commercial shoots.
- Silvercup Studios: Long Island City/NYC full-service film and television studio with multiple soundstages, production support, and event venues. Closely comparable to Smashbox's Brooklyn facility on the New York side.
- Milk Studios: NYC and LA photo and film studio complex serving fashion, advertising, and editorial clients with soundstages, equipment, and event spaces. A near-direct competitor in the premium photo-studio rental market.
- Pier 59 Studios: Iconic NYC photography and film studio located at Pier 62 on the Hudson. Comparable to Smashbox's Brooklyn studio in serving fashion/advertising photography clients in New York with high-end production infrastructure.
- Broadway Stages: NYC-based operator of multiple soundstages and production-support facilities across Brooklyn and Queens. Comparable to Smashbox in providing stages plus equipment, supplies, and event services to commercial and film producers.
- Chelsea Piers Studios: Multi-use waterfront venue in NYC with photo/video studios and event spaces. Comparable to Smashbox in combining photo/video studio rental with full-service event hosting on the Manhattan waterfront.
- Spring Studios: NYC and LA full-service production and event venue tied to fashion weeks and high-end brand events. Comparable to Smashbox in serving fashion/brand clients with studios plus major event capabilities.
Broad incumbents
- Sunset Studios Hollywood (Hudson Pacific Properties): Large-scale Hollywood studio campus owned by Hudson Pacific; offers soundstages and production offices. Comparable to Smashbox's Hollywood-adjacent footprint but at much larger real-estate scale and broader vertical integration.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Smashbox Studios social profiles
Digital presenceSmashbox Studios financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Smashbox Studios leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Smashbox Studios funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Smashbox Studios M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Smashbox Studios
What does Smashbox Studios do?
Smashbox Studios rents physical photo and video production studio space across three locations in Los Angeles, Downtown Los Angeles, and Brooklyn, with on-site production supplies and equipment rentals. The business also supports post-production workflows through a partnership with GlobalEdit for digital asset management.
Is Smashbox Studios a public or private company?
Smashbox Studios is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Smashbox Studios founded?
Smashbox Studios was founded in 1990. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Smashbox Studios based?
Smashbox Studios is headquartered in Culver City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Smashbox Studios make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Studio Rental is the primary driver. The others are equipment Rental, digital and Capture Rentals, production Supplies and event Venue Rental.
Who are Smashbox Studios's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Industrial Color Studios, Quixote Studios, Red Studios, Silvercup Studios, Milk Studios, Pier 59 Studios, Broadway Stages, Chelsea Piers Studios and Spring Studios. Sunset Studios Hollywood (Hudson Pacific Properties) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Smashbox Studios have an API?
No public API is recorded for Smashbox Studios.
What industry is Smashbox Studios in?
Smashbox Studios's product category is Photo and Video Studio Rental. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAIAA, Soundstage & Stage Rental (Film/TV), with a secondary code of MPADAFAB, Camera, Grip & Lighting Equipment Rental. Its NAICS code is 51211 and its SIC code is 7819.