CS

Looking to book a content studio in Birmingham? Swipe through to explore our space, pricing, and what’s included in your booking. Toneset Studios is a creative hire space for photographers, filmmakers, and brand owners who want to tell visual stories with clarity and intention. Whether you’re shooting portraits, fashion, interviews, or branded content the space is built to help you set the tone and bring your vision to life. Hit the link in bio to book now.

Yesterday marked eight years since the air Yeezy 2 was released. For me that trainer represents a monumental moment in my filmmaking journey. ⠀ I had the opportunity to purchase them based off the work relationships that I was making at the time. Since then my outlook on life has slightly changed and my energy is now heading in a new direction. ⠀ ⠀ @allwhitenohype is a content base brand that focuses on creating photographic and video content based around white trainers. Our objective is to celebrate the classics, pay no attention to the hype and save our money while doing so. #stapleneverdie

Introducing our new editorial backdrop Yellow Rust. Hand dyed and painted in the studio, experimenting with different layers, textures, and tones to create something rugged, atmospheric, and editorial. Most of these photos were taken on my phone, so they don’t fully capture the texture and depth in person, but I’m genuinely happy with how it turned out. I caught most of the process on my phone, so if you’d be interested in seeing a longer YouTube breakdown showing how this backdrop was created, along with how it actually looks properly lit and shot on camera with a subject in front of it, drop a comment and let me know. Now added to our Premium Materials Library.

Took the yutes away

At Toneset, everything is built around giving people the freedom to create without overthinking the environment. But that only works when what’s in the space is designed with intention and quality. That’s exactly what we look for in the brands and pieces we bring into the studio. Working with @cozmosofa on this was a an easy fit because their pieces naturally set the tone. Studio: @tonesetstudios Directed: @cs_visuals Creative Direction: @cs_visuals & @dre_ninetyone Brand Strategy Lead: @dre_ninetyone DOP & Lighting: @kylexay Edit: @cs_visuals Music: @znakuxx BTS Photography: @treysm1 BTS Film: @aj.vlf

I didn’t get any photos or anything of myself at the MOBOs, but luckily I found this clip of me filming Slick Rick with Pharrell. I was so locked into the responsibility of the job that I left my phone in the dressing room. But this clip is more than enough. It shows exactly how I like to move, being a fly on the wall and documenting the moment. What I’ve taken from this job is that I don’t enjoy pressure, but I understand how necessary it is to your personal progression.

During the half term holidays and weekends I take my son to Clarendon Art Gallery in Birmingham. What’s stood out to me is how much he actually understands. He’s able to recognise references within the work and pick up on things I didn’t realise he was clocking. We were invited down for the Mr. Brainwash exhibition, and although it turned out to be an 18+ event, we still had the chance to take in the space and ended up meeting him outside, which made the whole experience worthwhile. For me, it’s about exposure. Seeing how these spaces operate, how people engage with art, and how it can also be viewed as investment. It’s a different perspective and I’m glad we got to experience that together.

Since getting the studio I’ve always had the idea that Toneset shouldn’t just be a space people rent. I’ve wanted it to also be a place where we create campaigns, films, photos and editorials directly for brands. One category I’ve been especially interested in working with is furniture brands. As a set design studio, strong furniture pieces naturally become part of the environment creatives build their scenes around. Last summer I went on a bit of a run reaching out to brands. From June through to the end of summer we were sending out around one to three emails a day. I’d find the brands and my intern at the time, @zaynspringer , would put together tailored decks for each one. Last weekend we finally got the opportunity to shoot. The funny thing is the week leading up to it felt like pure friction. I came down with a cold, my head was banging, and at the same time the studio had multiple full day bookings I could’ve taken instead. But without the support of my guys @kylexay and @dre_ninetyone I would have folded. They held me accountable and made the project what it is. Shout out to @treysm1 on the BTS photography and @aj.vlf on the BTS video, which will be out soon. Can’t wait to share the full project with you all.

Effective set design only really needs three things, a backdrop, a floor and a prop. In this situation the backdrop wasn’t serving the image because of the limited space, so instead of forcing it I encouraged @kasimk_vii to reposition @shantsisabella_model and @serica.model and use the floor as the backdrop instead. Sometimes the environment isn’t perfect, but if you apply the framework properly, it still works.

Very rarely do the three things I love align. My city, trainers and filmmaking. Technically this is the second ever 0121 Air Max to ever be released, so getting the opportunity to film this moment meant something personal to me. Big shout out to my guy @_kingkuza_ for making it happen, because genuinely we don’t get moments like this in Brum. He put a lot of people in position to be part of something special. Massive respect to @_sandrocruz for the care package and just being a solid brother. Big love to Undefeated for giving Birmingham another air max 95 @Nike x @undefeatedinc x @bcfc 🔥

We had the @crwn.uk team in the building and they let us know how they set the tone.

🎂 thank you !