Allen of Pro Exposure photography found the garden studio to be the optimal solution. By having his studio within his own home, he was able to find balance in both work and life while saving money by forgoing renting other photoshoot spaces.
Garden rooms typically fall within the permitted development regulations and can be easily constructed – though always consult local authorities first to be certain. Garden rooms come in various sizes to fit every need and come complete with partition walls for storage options as well.
Size
How you set up your home photography studio depends on the types of shoots you plan to undertake. If taking family portraits, a spare room may suffice; but for larger shoots involving props or models, more space may be needed. Make sure there is adequate storage for equipment as well as comfortable working conditions for yourself and any models involved in the photoshoots. Also invest in an adjustable backdrop stand that can support various sizes and colours of backgrounds which you can find online or locally fabric stores.
At your studio, in addition to basic necessities, furniture that suits its purpose is essential. Hardwearing flooring is preferred because it can withstand equipment weight and traffic from your subjects. Lighting considerations also need to be addressed; while many photographers utilize natural lighting sources for photography sessions, some prefer investing in high-quality fluorescent lamps for greater control over brightness.
Considerations should also be given to any permits and licences necessary for operating your photography studio at home, which vary depending on your municipality – it’s best to check before beginning to ensure compliance.
Establishing your own photography studio at home is an excellent way to explore your creativity and hone your craft. By planning ahead and selecting an area tailored specifically to you, a home studio allows you to realize results you desire with less money spent renting studio spaces or travelling between photoshoots. Allen found working from his garden photography studio incredibly beneficial as it allowed him to save both money and increase productivity by finding better work-life balance while increasing productivity levels. Working from Allen’s garden photography studio was particularly effective as his costs have decreased considerably since he no longer rents studio spaces or travels between photoshoots – saving both costs as he no longer rents studio spaces or spends time travelling between photoshoots!
Lighting
Lighting in a home studio is essential to producing stunning photos and videos; yet novice photographers may struggle with knowing when and what type of equipment such as strobes, softboxes, umbrellas and grids they require to do this effectively.
Before setting out on your photography adventure, it’s essential to determine what kind of photography you wish to shoot. This will allow you to determine your space requirements and equipment needs; product photography typically requires less space than portrait photography but may need additional pieces of equipment.
Next, choose the room in your house you will use as your studio. Ideally, this should be large enough to house all your equipment while providing space for various shooting positions and poses. A spare bedroom or garage are usually suitable, while even living rooms may suffice – white walls help reduce colour casts while high ceilings enable top-down lighting on subjects’ faces.
Once you’ve arrived at your location and assembled all necessary equipment, take some test shots to assess the quality of lighting. Adjust intensity, direction, and modifiers accordingly until you achieve your desired result.
Finally, you’ll need to determine how best to store all of your equipment and backdrops. Visual Education member Vera Change saves space by keeping her lights under couches and her backgrounds in wardrobes for easy storage. Organising everything into storage boxes or cupboards will keep it neat and orderly – something which is particularly essential when starting a new studio as it will be easy to misplace equipment and forget where things have been stored.
Space
One of the key challenges photographers face when setting up and using their studio is finding enough space. This is particularly difficult if the studio is situated within their home where other family members must share it. By creating an independent area dedicated solely for photography work, photographers have more freedom and productivity when shooting; furthermore it helps avoid time lost when not shooting.
Based on your photography style and goals for your studio, it will be necessary to select appropriate equipment. This will allow you to determine both space needs as well as lighting requirements; typically you won’t require all the same types of lights used by professional studios; at least having at least some diversity is key!
Storage areas will also be necessary, given your camera equipment may be plentiful. Organization of equipment and preventing it from being damaged or becoming tripping hazards for clients are both key aspects of success in photography. You will also require somewhere to store backdrops as well as tools, lighting and other supplies.
Your shed photo studio must also feature hardwearing flooring such as wood or laminate, which will provide more durable results in photos than carpet does. If you will be hosting clients, chairs and stools may also be necessary, while having access to laptops and tablets would allow them to view portfolios and discuss projects easily.
Style
Your home photography studio design depends on the type of photography you want to do. For instance, taking product images may only require a bench and backdrop – in which case, a spare room or garage may suffice – while for photographing families and children more space might be needed.
Additionally to a bench, photography requires lighting, backdrops, and accessories such as tripods and remote shutter releases for steady images. Furthermore, lenses and memory cards should also be included to store all your images safely – conveniently all these items can be found at local electronics stores and online!
If you’re on a tight budget, why not explore DIY photography hacks? For instance, making reflectors yourself from inexpensive materials such as foam boards or aluminum foil-covered cardboard is easy with DIY solutions available online tutorials on how to build light stands, backdrop supports, softboxes – these DIY solutions will save money and help create professional-looking studio environments!
At home studio creation, professionalism and consistency should be the number one priorities. Treat it like any commercial studio would and communicate clearly with clients, while effectively marketing your studio to attract prospective clients.
Budget
Home photography studios can save both time and money over the long-run by eliminating the need to hire space elsewhere, saving both time and energy while clearing out your house every time for shoots, not having to rent space, reducing overall cost, as well as helping expand your business by having everything at your fingertips without paying costly studio rental.
Custom designed garden room photo studios can be built to your individual specifications, including multiple window & door options, ceiling height and internal storage areas for props. Plus, insulation and sound proofing technology means you won’t disturb neighbours or family while working!
Photographers across the UK have already discovered how owning a garden photography studio has expanded their businesses and allowed them to provide additional services. If you want to take your photography career one step further, contact Cabin Master now for more information on our custom garden studios!
