Home Photography Studio - Work With What You’ve Got
Portrait photographers long to have their own studio. For some, it means going out and renting space. Others can use the space in their homes. Turning empty spaces into a studio can be relatively inexpensive. Especially with today’s prices on lighting (Flashpoint or Godox) and backdrops/stands.
I have an unfinished basement and decided one day to turn it into a small studio. Sure, it’s not pretty but it works for me. And that’s what matters: what works for you. My studio consists of the following set up:
Backdrop stand
Savage Seamless backdrop (white and grey)
(3) Flashpoint Xplor 600s with extension heads
(3) Flashpoint C Stands
Glow EZ Lock Strip boxes and Octaboxes
Almost all of this stuff was purchased on sales from Adorama. Their Flashpoint lighting and Glow softboxes go on sale often, especially around the holidays. The Xplor 600s aren’t necessary and you can get away with Speedlights in a studio setting.
The results speak for themselves. I’ve been happy with the way my studio has helped me work on my lighting skills. Many times I will want to try to a different technique and having a studio helps me practice.
My studio also helps me adapt. It’s small and cramped. The ceiling is only 7ft and restrictions me with lighting options. The longest focal length I can work with is 85mm, and that is what I use most of the times. I can still get a full body shot with the 85mm but it can be challenging.
So, work with what you’ve got. That’s a way to improve your photography. I have never shot in any other studio but my own so without it I would not have any studio experience. You need to think outside the box and experiment with lighting. Photography is light!