Photography Studio Layout Ideas / Suggestions

[JakeWarrin]

Hello! I know there is a lot of experience on here and I figured this group would be the best to bounce ideas off of. I'm currently in remodel of the space above our garage. Below is the most recent diagram. Are there any power ideas that you see or any that could make the space more functional? I was thinking about adding outlets in the ceiling near the end of the backdrop, but I don't know. The Dream Box is my wife's craft storage, but lt can be moved. I thought about putting a changing curtain there.

I appreciate any thoughts or ideas. Btw, the room is framed in, so anything can still be done inside.

 

[Sue Anne Rush]

Hello...

Hello! I know there is a lot of experience on here and I figured this group would be the best to bounce ideas off of. I'm currently in remodel of the space above our garage. Below is the most recent diagram. Are there any power ideas that you see or any that could make the space more functional? I was thinking about adding outlets in the ceiling near the end of the backdrop, but I don't know. The Dream Box is my wife's craft storage, but lt can be moved. I thought about putting a changing curtain there.

I appreciate any thoughts or ideas. Btw, the room is framed in, so anything can still be done inside.

Looks good to me. IMHO.

--
Sue Anne Rush

 

[JakeWarrin]

Thanks Sue! I appreciate it. When you're doing a project like this, you try to think through everything.

 

[Klaus dk]

I'd be happy for that studio. Quite a while ago, Joe Edelman shared some tips about the studio he's built in his basement. There are some good ideas and tips you might find useful.

A full ceiling rail system may take too much off your ceiling height to be practical, but some sort of ceiling mounted bracket or rail for a hair light could save you from having to use a boom arm.

My Godox AD series battery driven strobes keeps cable clutter off the studio floor.

Good luck and good light.

 

[BAK]

It would be helpful for portraits if you had a dressing and makeup area with a sink.

BAK

 

[Gato Amarillo]

Looks like a great space.

Probably need a dressing room/area -- even if just curtained off. And possibly a makeup table and sink.

Is there access to a toilet or bathroom?

On power, I find outlets at waist level to be very handy. Saves a lot of stooping.

And as suggested, battery lights with remote power control are great for hair light and background lighting (if you're using flash). If I ever have a studio again I'll look into something like a remote control powered gimbal for my hair lights

Gato

 

[JakeWarrin]

Great suggestion! We have our upper deck that will connect the studio to our main bathroom. We could have available for clients. In addition, I'll work a mirror into wall space. Thanks!

 

[JakeWarrin]

I'd be happy for that studio. Quite a while ago, Joe Edelman shared some tips about the studio he's built in his basement. There are some good ideas and tips you might find useful.

A full ceiling rail system may take too much off your ceiling height to be practical, but some sort of ceiling mounted bracket or rail for a hair light could save you from having to use a boom arm.

My Godox AD series battery driven strobes keeps cable clutter off the studio floor.

Good luck and good light.

Thanks Klaus! I'll check out the link that you sent for Joe Edelman's studio. I was thinking about the rail system, but I was concerned about my 10'6" ceiling height. I thought that one of Manfrotto autopoles might work as well. I have three of GoDox AD200Pro lights, as well as an AD600Pro. I might buy a couple plugged lights as I start getting the studio set up. I like the hair light suggestion as well! Thank you!

 

[JakeWarrin]

Looks like a great space.

Probably need a dressing room/area -- even if just curtained off. And possibly a makeup table and sink.

Is there access to a toilet or bathroom?

On power, I find outlets at waist level to be very handy. Saves a lot of stooping.

And as suggested, battery lights with remote power control are great for hair light and background lighting (if you're using flash). If I ever have a studio again I'll look into something like a remote control powered gimbal for my hair lights

Gato

 

[JakeWarrin]

Thanks for the feedback so far! I've updated the layout. Here is how it looks. I put a wall mounted hair light up. I need to see what a motorized gimbal looks like.

 

[JakeWarrin]

I'd be happy for that studio. Quite a while ago, Joe Edelman shared some tips about the studio he's built in his basement. There are some good ideas and tips you might find useful.

A full ceiling rail system may take too much off your ceiling height to be practical, but some sort of ceiling mounted bracket or rail for a hair light could save you from having to use a boom arm.

My Godox AD series battery driven strobes keeps cable clutter off the studio floor.

Good luck and good light.

Thanks for recommending Joe Edelman's photography studio video! It was very good!

 

[Dspider]

I have a purpose built studio as well and yours looks pretty good to me. for hair lights ect i just use speedlights. i have no light stands on the ground at all and use wall brackets that swivel and can retract against the walls. i also hang my main light off the ceiling with brackets and hava a power point there as well which is connected to a light switch so i can turn it on and off without a ladder.

Ds

 

[JakeWarrin]

I have a purpose built studio as well and yours looks pretty good to me. for hair lights ect i just use speedlights. i have no light stands on the ground at all and use wall brackets that swivel and can retract against the walls. i also hang my main light off the ceiling with brackets and hava a power point there as well which is connected to a light switch so i can turn it on and off without a ladder.

Ds

--
The confusion starts when the scientists can't agree amongst themselves. Henry F

Thanks for sharing! I want to emulate what you're doing by keeping the light stands off the floor and primarily use them for location work. I underestimated the size of the outside deck area, which can now be used as additional photography space. I appreciate the feedback and you sharing how you have your space set up.

 

[JakeWarrin]

It's been three months since I posted about studio layout ideas. The studio is coming along, but my contractors are SLOW. Here are a few updated pics. A lot of my Manfrotto equipment is on backorder, but I do have one boom arms that arrived. Is there a recommended height to install a boom arm on the wall that is 10'?

 

[BAK]

The space looks very nice.

I would not attach a boom arm to a wall. I would want to be able to move it around.

Please give the dog a pat for me.

BAK

 

[JakeWarrin]

The space looks very nice.

I would not attach a boom arm to a wall. I would want to be able to move it around.

Please give the dog a pat for me.

BAK

Thank you! I appreciate the feedback. I was actually looking at the room and the walls look so clean, I almost hate putting any quipment on them. I thought about getting the Denny Manufacturing motorized backdrop rollers, but I don't know how it will look in the space. It would definitely make the sessions more efficient. Consider the dog patted .

 

[Doug Haag]

One feature is really good, based on something I learned just recently with respect to my make-shift basement studio.

I use a strobe bounced out of an umbrella, So in a basement setting with just a few bare-bulb ceiling lights the ambient conditions are pretty dark. Consequently, a subject's eyes tend to be quite dilated before the picture is taken, As a result, the pupils (dark center of the eye) are enlarged and the colored iris is small. Portrait advice is to have more of the iris showing.

Upon learning this, I set up a strong light behind the camera position, aimed at the subject. Initially, I was concerned that is was so bright that it might cause the subject to squint. But this worry turned out to be unfounded and it worked like a champ.

In your case the large sliding door out to the deck should that purpose nicely.

 

[Dspider]

It's been three months since I posted about studio layout ideas. The studio is coming along, but my contractors are SLOW. Here are a few updated pics. A lot of my Manfrotto equipment is on backorder, but I do have one boom arms that arrived. Is there a recommended height to install a boom arm on the wall that is 10'?

I have mine mounted half way up the wall. they are great and much more stable and flexible than floor stands.

Ds

--
The confusion starts when the scientists can't agree amongst themselves. Henry F

 

[Gato Amarillo]

Looks like a very nice space.

I'd mount a wall boom at a little above eye level -- but it depends on how you plan to use it. Think about how you plan to use the light and how you will want to position it.

Gato

 

[JakeWarrin]

Thanks for the feedback! I only have one of the Manfrotto boom arms right now. The other has been on backorder for months. I was thinking about one on each side wall.