Arctic Hayes — the plumbing brand that's been freezing the nation's pipes since 1966, now part of DiversiTech UK — has just launched the Smart Freeze Clamp, and we had the best seat in the house: the product photography for the launch was shot here at Dock Street Studio. Packshots, lifestyle scenes, packaging and the images running through the launch brochure all came off our set in central Leeds.
A couple of years back we wrote a guide to their original Pro Pipe Freezing Kit after photographing it. This is the sequel — what's new, how the smart version works step by step, and a look behind the scenes at how a product like this gets photographed.
What's new: the proof is on the app
The old way of freezing a pipe involved an educated guess about whether the ice plug had formed before you cut. The Smart Freeze Clamp removes the guesswork: a sensor in the clamp talks to a free app over Bluetooth, shows the freeze happening in real time, and tells you the moment the pipe is frozen — and later, when it's melted. "Pipe freeze certainty in an uncertain world", as the brochure we shot puts it.
How we shot it
Product launches like this are shot tethered at our studio — camera cabled straight into Capture One so every frame lands on a big screen seconds after the shutter fires. The Arctic Hayes team could see packshots, app screens and lifestyle set-ups as they were made and sign them off on the day, rather than waiting on an edit and hoping. We've written more about how we shoot tethered with the Nikon Z8 in Capture One if you're curious about the workflow.
The deliverables covered everything a launch needs: white-background packshots of every kit variant for merchants and e-commerce, in-situ lifestyle scenes of the clamp on copper pipework, packaging photography, and the imagery for the brochure and point-of-sale. When one shoot has to feed a brochure, a website, merchant listings and trade press, consistency is the whole job — same light, same floor, same blue.
Step-by-step: using the Smart Freeze Clamp
Based on the launch brochure and Arctic Hayes' own guide — and fair warning, we're photographers, not plumbers, so treat their official how-to video (there's a QR code on the box) as the last word.
1. Pick your clamp
The kit comes in 15mm and 22mm versions, singly or as dual packs. In the box: the clamp, ultrasonic freeze gel, two AAA batteries, foam spares, a battery cover screwdriver, a how-to guide and an extended warranty card.
2. Power it up
Two AAA batteries — the screwdriver for the battery cover is included — good for around 60 hours of use. Switch on with the button on the back.
3. Prep the pipe
Clean a section of pipe either side of the repair point and apply the ultrasonic freeze gel. The foam spares keep the contact snug.
4. Clamp on
Clip the clamp onto the pipe — it works on both copper and plastic pipelines, and it's IP65 rated, so dust and splashes on a real job won't bother it.
5. Connect the freeze can
The clamp connects to Arctic Hayes' Pro Pipe Freeze can by hose — the same non-flammable, low global warming potential freeze technology as the original kit.
6. Pair the app
Free on iOS and Android, connecting over Bluetooth 5.1 with about 10 metres of range. Tell it your pipe type and size and it knows what a full freeze looks like.
7. Start the freeze and watch
Open the can and watch the app — real-time freeze data instead of guesswork and glove-testing. It works in extremes too, rated from −50°C to +60°C.
8. Wait for the alert, then work
When the ice plug has formed the app tells you — "Clamp 1 has frozen" — and you can carry out the repair knowing the pipe is sealed. When you're done, live melt alerts tell you when the plug has thawed and the water's back.
The bit we're proud of
Somewhere on a merchant's shelf right now there's a box we photographed, with a QR code linking to a video, wrapped around a product that tells your phone when a pipe is frozen. Not bad for a day's work on a studio floor in Leeds.
If you've got a product launch coming — plumbing kit, packaging, anything that needs to look sharp across a brochure, a website and a shelf — have a look at our product photography and commercial photography pages, or get in touch. The kettle's always on.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Arctic Hayes Smart Freeze Clamp?
A pipe freezing kit with a Bluetooth sensor and companion app. It freezes a section of copper or plastic pipe so a repair can be made without draining the system, and the app confirms in real time when the ice plug has formed and when it has melted.
Watch the video here >>
What sizes does the Smart Freeze Clamp come in?
15mm and 22mm versions, available individually or as dual kits, each including freeze gel, batteries, foam spares, a screwdriver and an extended warranty card.
Who shot the product photography for the Smart Freeze Clamp launch?
Dock Street Studio in Leeds — packshots, lifestyle, packaging and brochure imagery, shot tethered in Capture One so the Arctic Hayes team could approve images on the day.
Can Dock Street Studio shoot our product launch?
Yes — that's exactly what our central Leeds studio is set up for. Packshots, lifestyle sets, packaging and campaign imagery under one roof, with tethered review so you leave knowing you've got the shots.
Shot, written and built by the Dock Street team
Every guide on this blog comes from the team at Dock Street Studio — Mark behind the camera with 18+ years' experience, Nicole on styling and lighting, Beya on video and bookings and Austin keeping the site fast and findable. If you'd rather have us do it than read about it, book a session or explore our photography services in Leeds.