Thinking of setting up a photography studio? Don’t know where to start? In this article I am going to tell you what you need to create your studio, what aspects you should take into account, what options you have and how to start.
INSIDE THIS ARTICLE… đŸ“–
What is a photo studio
A Photo studio It is a work space where you can carry out the entire photographic process, from taking pictures to developing and/or printing.
This studio can be individual, shared, private, open to clients, larger, smaller, at street level, in a flat, a warehouse… Any option is possible as long as it meets your needs.
When to set up a photography studio
The most common situations in which a person considers setting up their own photography studio are:
- You lack space to unleash your creativity and shoot with all the concentration you need.
- Are you thinking of turning your photography hobby into a profession?
- You already work professionally but you go to clients’ homes or do sessions outside and you think it’s time to take the plunge / you think your clients are asking for it.
- You have just finished your photography studies and are looking to make the leap into the world of work.
- Orders come to you by word of mouth but you can’t deal with them because you don’t have the right place.
- You sell or manufacture a product and want to take your own photos.
Do you identify with any of them? Then keep reading because you are interested.
Photo studio rental
Sometimes it is not necessary to set up a photography studio, if it is for very specific moments you have the option of renting one. Do the math because if you are not going to amortize it, it will be more profitable to rent it than to invest in having your own.
You just have to type in Google “Rent photo studio + your city » and the different options will appear. Then there are pages, like Spathios, which function as search engines. This specifically is in Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Valencia and London.
The good thing about this page is that you have not only studios, but incredible shooting locations. You may find something similar in your city or country.
Another option to amortize the investment, if you decide to set up your studio, is to rent it to other photographers who need a studio by the hour, although for that you have to contemplate it in your rental contract and take it into account as a fiscal activity when declare your income.
How to make a photo studio at home
The other economic option is to set up your photography studio at home. If you have the space, the tranquility to work without distractions and a place to store your equipment without it being in serious danger of falling into the (tiny) hands of the elves of the house, consider the option.
Let’s see what are the advantages and disadvantages of setting up a photography studio at home:
AdvantagedrawbacksCost savingsThe space is usually smallerYou don’t have to moveIf you live with more people
you can have distractions,
space problems, etc. You can take advantage of more
moments to photographYou have to open the doors
to potential customers
If you decide to set up your studio at home, I recommend that you find a fixed space, assembling and disassembling the entire shed every time you have to photograph is not the most comfortable or the most efficient. Unless another option is impossible, the ideal is to have a room (painted white) in which you can set the backgrounds, have the lighting installed and all the accessories you need.
If you have much better natural light, take this light source into account to arrange the rest of the elements (wardrobe, desk or work table, etc.).
Place a cabinet to store the equipment and assess whether it is convenient for you to have a table, both to edit your photos and to take product photography, macro, etc.
If your budget is very low and you only want to take photos for yourself for pleasure or work on your product photos on your own, nothing from external clients or the like, you can always use homemade accessories or those you already have at home. Here you can throw more of the improvisation and mount and dismount as you please.
How to make a mini photo studio
For very small objects or products you hardly need space, it is worth it with:
- A table or stand
- a couple of lamps
- Continuous paper or cardstock
- Tweezers and/or tape
- Reflector (tetrabrick, white cardboard…)
- Some container or support to place / lift your objects
- A computer screen to vary the backgrounds (optional)
And then there is the super option mini portable photo studio It is a light box. It is for small objects, easy to transport and has background and lighting, an all in one.
I’ll talk to you about light boxes again soon, but here’s an example of a very portable.
How to set up a photo studio
It is one thing to set up an improvised studio at home with what you have and quite another to set up a studio from scratch with the intention of dedicating yourself to photography professionally. Therefore, the most important thing to not fail is to plan.
Let’s see what you should keep in mind when planning your study.
Space
It is important that you start from an idea that is as clear as possible. What kind of photographs are you going to take? Are you going to dedicate yourself to product photography, portraits, pets, etc.? The needs for space, access, light, services, etc., can vary quite a bit from one discipline to another.
If you are going to do product photography, it can be enough with a small space. Although there are products that require much larger studies, such as furniture, for example, but it is not necessary to start the house from the roof, right?
On the other hand, if you are going to photograph a newborn, you need a space with a changing table, an armchair to feed him comfortably, etc.
Each discipline requires needs so it is important to be as clear as possible what kind of photographs you are going to take in it. These are some examples of what may be needed in a study, keep what you think you may need yes or yes:
- sinks. Access to a bathroom is essential if you have clients.
- Makeup area. For fashion or portrait shoots, an area with good lighting and mirrors.
- Changing room / changing room. Essential if you are going to work with models who have to change clothes. It can be the bathroom as long as it is spacious, bright, clean and has hangers and a stool.
- Rest area / Waiting area. For companions who wait at the end of the session as well as for the clients themselves who have to wait their turn.
- Baby area. If you set up a photo studio for a baby you need an area with a changing table and a comfortable chair to feed him.
- Desk area. An area in which to carry out your management and editing work, sit down with clients to show the photos or negotiate the contract, etc.
- reveal area. If you plan to do analog photography, keep a small dark room in mind.
- Air conditioning. Especially if you work with children, you should keep in mind that the studio has to have a suitable temperature, both in winter and in summer.
If you are going to look for a place specifically to set up your photography studio, another recommended aspect is that it has high ceilings and that it is painted white.
A plus would be that the joint between the wall and the floor was curved to have an infinite depth. I know, it’s hard to find unless it’s been a photo studio before đŸ˜….
Light
Not all photo studios have natural light but having it is a plus. Think about your needs and the type of photography you are going to do and look for the right space.
If you find a place with natural light, analyze the orientation to see the hours of direct light you will have.
Also keep in mind, if there is natural light, that you can darken the space if you need it, blinds, curtains, etc. Sometimes you will need to control any external light input.
Decor
It may seem superfluous but if you are going to bring clients to your studio, it is important that the decoration is taken care of. Order, cleanliness and some details that make your clients feel comfortable and in a cozy place.
It’s about wanting to come back. You don’t need big things (less is more) but some coherence in the style of the furniture, some pictures of you or your favorite authors on the wall, a little plant…
Obviously, if the studio is just for you, to work alone, all this is completely expendable. The important thing is that you feel comfortable.
Accessories
With accessories it is the same as with spaces or equipment. They will depend on the type of photographs you are going to take in your studio. The ideal is to invest little by little, depending on your needs and the money you earn with your work.
Now let’s see in detail what are the accessories that a photo studio may require, so you can decide which ones you should write down on your list.
What is needed to set up a photo studio
Before starting, I insist, you do not need to have all the materials at once. Make a list of the essentials for you and go little by little depending on your needs, budget and new income that you generate.
Tripod
A tripod will serve you both to place the lights and the camera when doing macro or product photography, photographing with slow speeds, when there is not enough light or when you do not have an assistant and/or model with whom to practice portraits, for give some examples.
There are many types of tripods and depending on what needs, there are cheap ones, for less than 100 euros, but if you really want a good tripod, that lasts you and to do professional work, take a look at this guide with tips to buy a tripod
Here A good value tripod to get you started on a tight budget.
Lightning
Lighting is perhaps the most important part of a studio. Controlling the space is important, but when setting up a studio, a powerful reason is to be able to control the lighting.
The accessories related to lighting are quite varied, we are going to see them.
external flash
The portable flash is light and you can take it everywhere. Here is the definitive guide to buying your next flash, where we explain everything you need to take into account when buying yours.
However, here I leave you a recommendation for Canon (Unavailable product) (Unavailable product) and Nikon.
On the other hand, you also have the studio flash, it is not as portable or cheap but the quality and power is greater. Here is a studio flash kit quite complete, as an example, although you can buy them individually.
light window
The light windows are a continuous light source that allows you to see directly how the result can look, since it is not a flash that goes simultaneously with the shot like the external flash….