How to Set Up a Simple Photography Studio
- Linco Lincostore 2000W Photo Studio Lighting Kit
- Fancierstudio 2400W Lighting Kit with Boom Arm
- StudioFX Photo Studio Lighting Kit
(Success Tip #1: Sell your photos of people without a lot of work.)
Setting up a photography studio for the first time can be very exciting and fun. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need to take out a second mortgage and you can do it in your own home if you have a spare room or one with less stuff in it.
The basic needs of photography studio are the room (the bigger the better), a black or white background, two or three studio lights and a obviously a camera.
Let's take each of them separately. The space you're going to use as a studio should be as generous as possible. A larger room with a higher ceiling will ensure a smooth, evenly dispersed light. You should also try to set up your studio in a room with little or no natural light. While it can be useful sometimes, natural light is uncontrollable and the point of a photography studio is to have absolute control over light. If you do have windows in your studio, cover them up with dark curtains.
The background can be a simple paper one that you can buy for little money from your local photography store. Stick to black or white in the beginning, at least until your learn the basics of photographing in the studio.
In terms of lighting gear, don't go spending hundreds or thousands of dollars from day one. Start with a beginner's kit and experiment as much as possible. Only after you've master using a combination of two flashes or more should you think about making a proper investment in enthusiast or pro lighting gear.
(Success Tip #2: This simple deck of cards can help improve your photography.)
This video made by Panasonic UK explains the first steps of putting together your own photography studio.