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Low budget (and small space) home photo studio?
Seeking feedback on those of you who shoot in ultra-low-budget home studios...I'm talking bathrooms, kitchens, closets, etc. I'm 100% outdoors right now because I like working with sunlight...but also because I don't have (what I think is) sufficient space at home. But I wonder if "studio photography" is possible in extremely small spaces? I'm talking portraits. I'd like to see sample photos for those of you who share my space issues at home. Apr 09 11 06:44 pm Link Why confine yourself to outdoors just because you lack studio space and/or equipment? Window light can be a gorgeous way to light portraits. Add a reflector or two (purchased or homemade) and you're good to go. I shot this way for several years before I purchased some studio lighting. Even with access to lighting, I often prefer window light. Apr 09 11 06:51 pm Link Juscott wrote: I already own a ton of lighting equipment so I can help you on that low budget end... Apr 09 11 06:53 pm Link Yes, quite possible... but you don't realize how aggravating it is until you have to do it. I shoot primarily on location because I enjoy it the most. I do have a small setup here that I use for self portraits and dramatic lighting as well as to test lighting and ideas, but minimal heat and no AC - and looks really dirt-poor, that I don't invite people to shoot in it. It is literally a small space inside my storage building. I only have room for one background to hang at a time which is about 8 ft. tall and 15 ft. wide and results in a ground runner that runs to about 12ft. x 23 ft. of USABLE shooting space, which sounds fine until you figure that I like to have around 10 ft. between subject and backdrop, so that rules out the 70-200mm for anything other than 3/4 shots, and I have to rely on another for full body shots. I have a Photogrnec 600 with starfish, and a Strobelite, and an assortment of speedlights, manual slaves, reflectors, umbrellas, and softboxes, stands, and one medium boom. Does it work? Hell yea. The results are much better than the ones I have for public view (done with my portable rig for locations) but certainly ghetto and really limiting on options. KAW. Apr 09 11 06:56 pm Link If you need inexpensive studio options, check out this website http://www.prophotolife.com/ This guy was doing great short DIY videos. I used several of his ideas. The stick-in-a-can works incredibly well for background stands. Better than most expensive stands in fact. Apr 09 11 06:58 pm Link All of my work which aren't clearly on location, have been done at home. I convert the bench space for hair/makeup, the walls and curtain becomes my backdrop for a more studio environment, and I get lovely window light in the bedroom for 'natural' portraits. Apr 09 11 07:01 pm Link One of the things that screams amature or crap photography is not enough space to shoot in. In other words, if the model doesn't fit the space for the type shot. Sure you can do a pretty nice head shot in 10 feet of total depth, but not with the 200mm lens image quality that people expect. If your model fits in the space and can relate to the space and furniture, rather than stand in front of a wrinkly background that shows the wrinkles in the final image, that can work too. So the point behind all this is, get creative and increase the depth as much as possible and if you can't, then find another place to shoot that won't cramp your creative ability. General rules of thumb for photography in portraiture is a subject 6 feet off the back ground and the lens a medium ~ 135mm telephoto to create a head and shoulders image. 200 mm for tight head shot. And enough room on the sides to not see the edges of the background and room for your lights. Apr 09 11 07:09 pm Link About half in the images in my portfolio were taken in my living room. I have three rolls of seamless hanging at one end and move furniture out of the way for shoots. Apr 09 11 07:57 pm Link Garages, hallways, basements, living rooms. The first row of my portfolio is all in the basement living room of my rental. One of the most amazing beauty photographers I know shoots (shot?) in his living room while leaning on the back of his couch. Ric Apr 09 11 08:04 pm Link If you're comfortable shooting at home and inviting people into your personal space, I see no reason not to shoot at a home studio. My good friend Sabrina Elaine does many of her shoots at home. Apr 09 11 08:10 pm Link Juscott wrote: You can set up to do portraits in about any space that you can find (or place!) light and a subject... Apr 09 11 08:31 pm Link From today, done in a spare room in my home: https://photos.modelmayhem.com/photos/1 … 7c2260.jpg 18+ https://photos.modelmayhem.com/photos/1 … f17860.jpg 18+ Apr 09 11 09:18 pm Link One room, 12 x 14 x 8, too damn small!! Apr 09 11 09:22 pm Link Taken in a long-ish, yet narrow bathroom. Shot through doorway (removed door!) in order to avoid mirror reflections of the two strobes used to light the scene...  Apr 09 11 09:35 pm Link . Apr 10 11 09:42 am Link My living room and dining room area, Savage color paper 53" wide.... Have to work with models less than 7 feet tall!!....One or two Canon flash. Frustrating and challenging but manageable. Apr 10 11 12:35 pm Link I have a roll of 9' seamless in my garage with some lights and that's my "studio". I have about 15' X 18' of shooting room there. I've taken shots all over my house as well. Believe me when I say my house is not photogenic. My living room:  My back porch: 18+ https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/17398290 My "excercise room" - a very small (10' X 12' maybe?) spare bedroom which has a universal gym right in the middle of it. I was maybe 2 feet from the model.  My kitchen: http://www.flickr.com/photos/geeman39/3 … /lightbox/ My laundry room: http://www.flickr.com/photos/geeman39/3 … /lightbox/ Apr 10 11 01:09 pm Link  I work out of my backyard whenever I can, but I really don't like it. It's bad enough I do my editing/accounting/planning/meeting from my home. I'm the type of person that likes to keep my worlds separate, and I'm working on moving my business out of my living area -- but for now I must do what I must. Apr 10 11 01:48 pm Link There's a lot to be said for ditching the livingroom in favor of a home studio.  Apr 10 11 02:30 pm Link Thanks all! Even though I see a small home space not ideal, based upon these responses it can clearly still accommodate some basic portrait photography. Of course, I'll never give up the great outdoors, but sometimes an outdoor session is just too difficult logistically or weather-wise. -Justin Apr 10 11 08:03 pm Link
Post hidden on Apr 10, 2011 10:26 pm
Reason: 18+ Images Apr 10 11 09:46 pm Link My avatar was taken in the living room using natural light. I have a tall retaining wall outside which acts as a big beautiful reflector. Can't beat that! Gabby Apr 10 11 09:52 pm Link Since when is a covered implied topless shot 18+? Apr 11 11 12:00 am Link Das Kitchenstudio:   Apr 11 11 12:06 am Link i went and did a check cause i was curious....all my inside shots are done in 3 different apartment livingrooms, one house spare bedroom, one apartment hallway....it kind of shocked me. haha. Apr 11 11 12:12 am Link  Moderator Warning!BlackArts - Jenna Black wrote: When a nipple shows. Apr 11 11 12:13 am Link BlackArts - Jenna Black wrote: (Responding to this post, since the previous one was flagged...) Apr 11 11 06:03 am Link Juscott wrote: All my indoor "studio" shots were done in my lounge... some of them I was standing in the kitchen... Apr 11 11 09:16 am Link I shoot in a pretty small space in my home, and while I wish it was much, much bigger, it works for now. I work full time as a photographer, but it's mostly on location stuff, so really the only time I shoot from home is about 10% of the time. Not enough to justify having my own studio somewhere and paying rent. If you look in the second photo, you can see my knees! That's how cramped it is! But I'm not complaining as I've had some fun shoots in that room!   Apr 11 11 10:10 am Link |
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