Terminus Is Now Part of Cinder: What’s Changing and What’s Staying the Same
Is Terminus going away? Is it moving?
The photography rental offering is not going away. It’s being folded into Cinder’s larger operation as its own department.
Equipment rentals have moved to Cinder’s warehouse, where our existing support systems and larger logistics network can quickly start benefiting photo orders:
295 Margaret St SE Unit 1 Atlanta, GA 30315
With the operation moving out of the Allene Ave location, The Terminus Studio will close on May 23.
Will Jamaal still be involved?
Yes.
Jamaal McKnight will continue leading the photo department at Cinder. With more than 10 years of experience working first for Morel Studio Support and then Terminus Production Support, he’ll still be focused on making sure photo rentals are done right in Atlanta.
Can I still call and email the same way I always have?
Yes.
You can still call the same phone number and email the same address you’re used to.
What’s happening?
Terminus Production Support is now under new ownership and joining Cinder Lighting & Grip.
Their existing photography inventory will now be available alongside Cinder’s extensive selection of motion lighting and grip equipment. The goal is to keep the specialized photography support Terminus is known for, while giving the customers renting photo gear access to more resources, a bigger team, and a stronger operational system.
Who is Cinder?
We are not some giant conglomerate or private equity firm trying to turn Terminus into something unrecognizable. Cinder is an Atlanta-based rental company started in 2015 by two working gaffers.
After years of dissatisfaction with the rental experience available at the time, we built Cinder around the idea that rental houses should be accurate, responsive, and easy to work with. That means strong customer service, well-maintained gear, and systems that make mistakes harder to make.
What is changing about business hours?
We’re separating office hours from warehousing / delivery hours.
Office Hours
Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
This is the best time to reach Jamaal and the rental agents to build orders, make changes, ask questions, and get things lined up.
Warehousing / Delivery Hours
Monday – Friday, 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Weekend pickups / drop-offs by appointment only
So even if the planning happens during office hours, the actual execution can still happen earlier, later, or over the weekend when needed.
What if I need help after hours?
There is now a 24/7 after-hours / emergency line.
If you have an emergency, someone can be reached any time by calling the main phone number and following the prompts. If you are placing a brand new order through the emergency line, additional charges may apply. But if the issue is with our gear on an active rental, emergency support is provided at no cost.
What’s changing on pricing?
Specialized photo gear pricing is remaining the same.
Some other categories are actually getting cheaper. Prices on most expendables are going down because Cinder can buy in larger volume than Terminus used to. Grip gear should also become more competitive on average because the combined inventory gives us more availability to work with.
Are Schmidli backdrops still available?
Yes. Schmidli backdrops are still part of the offering, same as usual.
What gets better as a result of this change?
First, Cinder has more trucks and more personnel available. That means more capacity for concurrent deliveries and pickups, faster turnarounds on preps, and a better chance that someone can help even if your usual point of contact is unavailable.
Second, in a larger company there is more capital behind the inventory. That means more investment in new gear, better support for expanding the package over time, and a dedicated repairs team to keep older gear maintained properly.
Third, Cinder brings a more high-tech process to the operation. Cinder is known for accuracy, and a lot of that comes from systems that reduce common mistakes and require every order to be double checked before it leaves the building.
Are there changes to Terminus’s delivery policy?
Yes, but free delivery is still possible. Photography gear orders totaling over $1,000 qualify for free curbside delivery and pickup within the perimeter, as long as it happens during normal warehousing hours.
Additional charges would apply for longer distances, off-hours service, or jobs that require more time from our driver than a standard curbside drop-off or pick up. When building your order, feel free to share details about your logistics needs and we’ll get that priced out.
We’re Excited for What’s Next
Our goal with this transition is to maintain a dedicated photo department led by someone who knows the work, while making the operation stronger behind the scenes. More support. More capacity. Better systems. More room to grow the inventory.
At Cinder, we’re excited to meet more of Atlanta’s photo community, support the people already trusting Terminus with their rentals, and keep building a photo department that is responsive, well-stocked, and easy to work with.
