Working Photography

Set Up Your Own Home Photo Studio, Complete With Props

If you are a freelance photographer, you may want to set-up your own studio, preferably in the comfort of your own home. While this may be a sensible idea, it does involve extensive planning and a great deal of work. In fact, it may be better for you to rent space for your studio at first, so that you get the chance to see what works for you and what doesn’t. When you set-up your home studio, you wouldn’t have to go through this trial and error period again. You simply have to transfer your existing equipment, photo studio props, and add whatever else you need, and your investment is sure to pay off.

Here are the basics that you need to consider in setting up a photography studio at home: You need to choose a room that is at least 20 feet long and 10 feet wide, with high ceilings and little or no external light. These requirements usually make the basement a perfect candidate. The room you choose should also have a streamlined shape, so be sure to seal off any feature that may be disruptive such as alcoves and fireplaces. More importantly, have the walls painted with a non-reflective paint in plain white since this works best with studio lighting.

Of course, you will have take into consideration all of the equipment that you will be using. Lights, battery chargers, photo studio props, and even the camera itself may have to be plugged into an electrical outlet, so be prepared to have a lot of power outlets installed. The best way to set-up these outlets is to install them at regular intervals on all sides of the room. This allows for more flexibility in case your needs suddenly change. The most important thing to remember about installing power sources is to ask the electrician how much electricity you can run without risking an overload.

Now all you need to complete your home studio are the backdrops. It is advisable to get one or two professional backdrops. For more variety, you can purchase less expensive alternatives like simple colored fabrics. You may also buy plain white sheets and dye them to serve as creative backdrops. Remember as well that you will be taking photos of people, and these people will need a place where they can change or freshen up. So be sure to reserve a little space in your studio where they can do exactly that. A simple curtained-off corner should serve the purpose.

Additionally, you will have to bring in a small chest or cabinet where you can store any photo studio props you already have or plan to acquire somehow. You may designate an obscure corner for your storage cabinet. As soon as all these are set-up properly, you should be ready to click away.