So, you’ve been toying with the idea and now you want to take the plunge and start your own portrait studio. You might have been thinking that it is something that is out of your reach. “I can’t afford the overhead on a studio or lighting equipment is too expensive.” Well, good news, fabulous photographs are possible to create from your home and you may not need as much equipment as you think you do.
A studio can easily be set up in your home or other small space. The first thing to remember when you are setting up your studio space is KEEP IT SIMPLE. When you are in a photo session you want to be able to have your mind on the customer 90% of the time rather than fussing with your equipment.
Let’s start with the camera. There are so many options when it comes to cameras. I would recommend deciding what your budget is and then read reviews by other photographers to chose the best one for you. Really, you don’t need the best or top of the line camera to do the job. There are plenty of cameras that are plenty sufficient and will do the job you need, without burning a hole in your pocket.
Really when it comes to a camera your money should really be put into the lens. Your camera is only as good as the lens that you attach to it. Again, I would recommend reading reviews on the lenses that you are looking at. There are many forums and websites that list reviews on photography equipment. Some that have been found to be very helpful are fredmiranda.com, dpreview.com, the digital picture.com (this website reviews are specifically for canon cameras and lenses).
When you are buying a lens the length is a very important criteria for portrait photographers. You want to be sure to have a lens that will flatter your subject. As a general rule for head and shoulder portraits the length of your lens should be double the diagonal of the film plane or in the case these days the digital sensor. For example, the diagonal measurement of a full size senor is 45mm therefore your lens should be 90mm or even longer for flattering portraits. You would probably also want a wider lens for full length or group portraits. However, if you are on a tight budget you could probably get away with buying one lens that will fit all your immediate needs. Something around the range of 28-135mm or there about, which will give you the wide angle for larger groups and also the telephoto for close-ups on individuals.
When buying any lens be sure to purchase at least a UV filter to protect the lens. There are all kinds of filters that each serves different purposes. If on a budget, other than the UV filter you don’t necessarily need any filters. You may possibly want a soft focus filter, as they are flattering in portraiture, however, you can add the effect afterwards in Photoshop if you don’t have the filter.
Next we come to the actual studio set up. You will need at least 2 lights: a main light and a background light. It is best to use a soft box on the main light, as it will create a much softer light than an umbrella. A background light or a hair light is needed to create separation between the background and the subject. Otherwise you photograph will look flat. If you can afford it having a background and a hair light is optimal, and then adding another light as a fill light would be nice to fill in some shadows, however, a reflector will do the job. You can purchase a reflector or you can make your own using a large piece of Styrofoam or white cardboard. You don’t have to spend a fortune on lights either. You can find lighting kits reasonably priced at many photography supply stores.
In addition to lights you will also need some posing stools, or at least something that you can sit your clients on for their portraits, a light meter, and backgrounds with a stand or other means of hanging it. There are all kinds of props out there, but none are immediately necessary if you are limited. They can be acquired over time.
Since proper exposure is an obvious must for good portraits you will need to purchase a light meter. There are all kinds of light meters out there and they can get pretty expensive. For studio portraits you will just need an incident meter (which measure the light that is falling on the subject. This will run you any where from $150-$800.
Next, we come to backgrounds. This is an important piece to every portrait. The background is what sets the stage and helps create the overall feeling of each portrait.
One quick tip to choosing a backdrop during a session is to choose a backdrop that is similar to the clothing of your client. This way the clothing will blend with the backdrop and the focal point will be your clients face, rather than their sweater or the backdrop. The backdrop is there to enhance your subject, not to distract from it.
There are many different kinds of backdrops. Dyed, painted, computer printed, on paper, muslin, duck, and canvas. The most economic is probably paper. However, you are very limited by paper and you have to replace it often. Dyed muslin is a great way to go when you are just starting up your studio. It is affordable, durable, portable, easily stored, and even washable. If you have the funds it is definitely worth having a few hand painted backdrops in your collection. Hand painted backgrounds on both muslin and canvas tend to have more dimension and are quite beautiful. However, they are more expensive and usually are not washable. To determine what backdrop is best for you, ask your self a few questions first. What kind of portraits will you be taking? If you photograph children more often you may want to lean towards dyed backdrops because they are washable. If you are photographing formal portraits, such as business headshots or bridals, you may want to go with hand painted for a richer look. Will you be traveling with your backdrops? The dyed travel well and also photograph well even if they are a little wrinkly. However, if you have a truck you can travel with the painted backdrops rolled.
Some basic backdrop that every studio should have: black, white for high key portraits, blue for general use, a deep brown is always good to have for formal portraits, such as a business head shot, and possibly a pastel for children and bridals. Once again, you don’t have to buy a ton all at once. Just have a solid base selection and your collection will grow over time.
Please note that there is no such thing as a bad background, just different ones for different purposes.
You will also need a background stand or some kind of system for hanging your backdrop. The most versatile choice is probably to get your self a portable background stand. They very inexpensive, are easy to set up, easy to travel with if need be, and are compact when stored if you have a temporary studio space. You could also purchase a roller system or a hanger system. It really all depends on the space and budget that you have.
In addition to your studio space you will also want a place for dealing with customers. This could be a home office or even your kitchen table.
Remember, keep it simple and take plenty of time to practice and get comfortable with your equipment and working space so that each client session can go as smoothly as possible.
Good luck and enjoy your new studio!!
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