How To Set Up Your Own Home Photo Studio
As a busy photographer, you probably spend most of your days in the studio shooting new creative projects. While utilizing the local studios in your area helps strengthen and grow the production industry, you may not have the ability to shoot in a professional studio. This could be because:
- There are no photo studios in your area
- The cost of rentals are too expensive for your personal project or unpaid shoot.
- You are learning studio photography and want to gain confidence before renting a space.
In these three occasions, most photographers look for a better alternative to professional studio shooting. What would be a good solution? Creating your own home photo studio.
In fact, creating a home photo studio is an exciting endeavor and new creative project for you to start. If you have the available space, you can easily create a designated area for photography that appeals to your inner artist. Plus, you don’t need a lot of room to create top-notch imagery. Have we caught your attention yet?
Let’s say you were toying with the idea of creating your own home photo studio. You may be wondering,
“Where do I start? What do I need for a home photo studio?”
So, to help you start to design and create your own photo studio, we have created a checklist of the essential items you need for your own home photo studio. Here are the top 3 items you need to start building your own photography studio.
The Home Photo Studio Checklist
Backdrop Stands
The first thing you will need for your home photo studio are backdrop stands. Once you have chosen where you will be shooting your images and how much available space you have, you can choose the proper sized backdrop stands.
Most backdrop stands are flexible and have multiple parts. You can add center bars to extend or shorten the horizontal measurement of your stands. Additionally, the stands can be adjusted up or down to change the vertical height.
Your first backdrop stand can be simple. There is no need to invest in crazy quality gear at the beginning. In fact, a simple and affordable stand is a great starting point to start shooting your studio images.
Here are a few examples of backdrop stands you can use for your home photo studio.
Background Paper / Sheet
So, once you have secured your backdrop stand – it’s time to grab a background for your subjects.
In fact, there are two standard options that photographers use for studio backdrops – paper or sheet.
Paper backdrops are often known by the name Seamless and come in a large variety of colors, textures and sizes. You can use something simple or add a splash of creativity with a vibrant color.
Also, there is the option to use a sheet for your backdrop. These come in several color options. Plus, you can also create your own sheet backdrop by sourcing fabrics of your choosing. Check out your local thrift shop or market to find fabrics that make for a compelling background.
Here are a few examples of backgrounds you can choose for your home photo studio.
Lighting Kit
Finally, the last aspect to setting up your own home photo studio is the lighting kit. In fact, the lighting fixture chosen is dependent on the photographer’s preference and the way that they want to illuminate their images.
Some photographers prefer constant light while others lean toward diffused lighting. So, whichever lighting set up and technique you use, you can find a lighting kit that fits your needs.
Therefore, as an example of some umbrella and continuous lighting kits, check out the products available right now for your studio.
So, as you can see, setting up your own home photo studio can be a new creative project. All you need to get started is a backdrop stand, background and lighting kit – and you will be on your way to creating fresh and fun studio images.
