Launching your own home music studio doesn’t need to cost an arm and leg; all it requires is some white backdrop material, daylight bulbs and basic equipment.
Lighting can be one of the best investments you make for your home photography studio, enabling you to showcase subjects while shaping shadows and highlights.
Lighting
Lighting is key when taking studio photos at home, as you’ll require a lighting setup that illuminates your subject as well as reflectors or modifiers to shape and direct light. There are two kinds of lights you can use – strobes or continuous lighting.
Strobes offer photographers an effective means of controlling the amount of light that reaches their subjects, making them perfect for portrait photography. Furthermore, their versatility allows you to adjust power output, color temperature and speed of flash; but be warned – strobes can be costly and require a large footprint in order to work efficiently.
Continuous studio lighting offers an inexpensive and more versatile alternative to strobes; it works like any conventional house lamp but with greater control. Continuous studio lighting is cheaper than strobes, while its instant effects allow you to move it around your room for instantaneous effects. However, continuous studio lighting may overheat over extended use – if this is your plan consider using a fan as cooling down can occur in this situation.
If you want to shoot headshots or product shots in a studio environment, larger studio spaces and stronger lights are necessary. A backdrop which can be removed when not in use should also be implemented. If multiple projects will use your studio regularly then investing in storage options could be beneficial – Visual Education member Vera Change uses her living room as her studio and stores her equipment under sofas as well as in stacks in her closet.
Other studio essentials include a camera, tripod, surface and prop variety and editing software. Although your requirements will depend on what kind of studio you intend to build, it’s always advisable to start off with just the minimum set of tools necessary for getting going – once your basic skills have been mastered you can expand into more advanced gear as needed.
Backdrops
No matter if it’s for selfies or portraits of people, a backdrop makes all the difference in creating stunning photographs. Achieve maximum results by opting for light, smooth backgrounds that eliminate shadows; match the mood of your shoot; complement colors used throughout studio/facility/props in order to complete this effect; etc.
As a home photographer starting out, collapsible studio backdrops are an ideal way to start. They fold down easily for storage in your car and come in either black and white or color options for low-key or high-key photos. As your photography progresses, consider investing in more professional photo studio backdrops with support structures made of lightweight but wrinkle-resistant muslin cloth; most come with options of colors and patterns!
Start small and grow as needed; seamless paper is an affordable, simple option that’s ideal for beginning photographers. Easy to store, most backdrop supports can accommodate multiple rolls at the same time; start out with white and gray, adding other hues if your assignments require it.
Create a rustic setting by using a wooden backdrop. Perfect for product shots and vlogs, planks of wood from lumberyards or construction sites can easily be transformed into this backdrop. To increase drama further, try using a thicker vinyl backdrop with texture to eliminate reflections – these thicker vinyl backdrops feature thicker vinyl layers which also eliminate reflections.
Lighting and other equipment will also help make the most out of your home studio setup, such as at least one light and tripod (though two are recommended by pros). A tripod is essential for stable images, plus allows tethering your camera directly to a laptop for viewing the results on a larger screen before selecting which images should be edited.
Your computer must be capable of managing high-resolution images, and considering getting a graphics card could enhance its performance further. A graphics card allows you to open and edit photos more quickly in Photoshop or other image-editing programs like GIMP.
Subjects
Home studio photography requires various subjects. When shooting portraits, use a tripod to stabilize and reduce blur, while a mirror ball helps bouncing natural light onto your subject. If budget permits, consider investing in tethering cables that capture images directly to your computer for instantaneous editing – modern laptops also make ideal options when working with Photoshop and similar apps that require processing power.
If you’re shooting products, a tabletop setup is an effective solution. By pairing a simple lighting kit with white backdrop, a professional look can be achieved in limited space. Thrift stores, antique shops, and hardware stores are great places to find interesting DIY surfaces for use as backgrounds for still life photography; alternatively you could try using tablecloth or sheet materials instead to achieve unique effects.
Product shoots require you to ensure your subject is adequately illuminated. A soft light will create an inviting glow and make your product shine, while you could also use a reflector (white cardboard or paper will do just as well) or an umbrella as an effective light-reflective surface.
When shooting with props, make sure they complement your brand’s aesthetic. Household items, flowers, small planters and glitter accessories can add fun touches to your shots. As an Instagram content creator or not, it is also essential to consider how new photos will fit in with the rest of your feed – visual planning tools such as Later can help show how new images will appear on it.
Locations
Home studios can be an incredible boon to photographers. Being able to shoot professional-quality images without incurring rental costs and having to manage schedules and locations can open doors and increase portfolio. But working from home also presents unique challenges; social distancing laws such as COVID-19 have added another layer of complexity. You must find ways to protect yourself, your clients and equipment without jeopardizing creativity or productivity.
Start building your home studio by evaluating your space and considering which kinds of projects you wish to shoot. If portraiture is on your mind, make sure that your studio can easily accommodate one or more models and enables easy posing of them; while for product photography look for rooms with seamless white backgrounds and plenty of natural light.
Once your location is chosen, it’s time to decide on your photography gear. Assuming you’re a beginner, a basic camera kit with DSLR or mirrorless camera, tripod, remote shutter release and memory card should suffice; additionally you may require photo editing software as well as memory card storage capacity and computer processing power for editing photos. When using flash photography add light modifiers like beauty dishes or softboxes which can control its strength and direction for optimal results.
Finally, your equipment requires storage. A good option would be a large plastic storage bin with lid or a camera bag as you don’t want your expensive gear lying around unprotected where it could be stolen or damaged.
Finally, don’t forget to stock up on studio essentials such as gaffer tape and clamps and clips – these items will come in handy both inside the studio as well as out! They’re great for emergency repairs or moving heavy equipment across town if something breaks. If you need any new studio accessories for sale in your budget range visit your local camera store.