HUGE Studio in a TINY space.
By Dan Spencer
21 September 2007
As a Beauty & Glamour Photographer I always dream of having the perfect photo studio like the big guys have.
Lights hung from the cieling, huge backdrops, cyclorama, roll up doors, dressing rooms, display/projection room, multiple shooting areas and 15 foot cielings. Aaahh to dream...
Ok, now for MY reality.
I have a 10 by 12 foot area that I got to "claim" as mine in our large family room (the rest is used for floor to cieling storage) speaking of cieling, this one is only 7 feet tall!
Thanks to wide angle lens and Photoshop, I am able to produce amazing portraits within the confines of my tiny studio.
HOW??
I use AC Master/Slave strobes (about 90 watts). I cover the face of them with white styrofoam cups to reduce the flash output then bounce them from a 32" and 45" silver umbrellas. These simple strobes have no modelling lights, no variable power but they are slaved. They cost about $26.00 each. They simply screw into a standard light socket and are actually designed for copystand work or table top photography.
I use a small drafting table (from Walmart) as a modelling table and I cover it with a silver/gold foil car winsdhield sun deflector as a reflector.
I use a small desk chair as a modelling stool.
I bought a few different color Mylar table cloths from our local party store (they are large and thick - much better quality and cheap) that I use as backdrops.
I have a small, wheeled clothes rack, where I hang all the Glamour Wraps, feather boas, pearls, etc.
I then place a pedastel fan at camera right (just below and in fron of the main light) this moves the models hair and keeps it a bit cooler in here.
I then place a tv below the fill flash umbrella on camera left and I have this hooked up to my camera so when I take a shot, my subject immediately sees the amazing photo we just took in this tiny space.
It instantly puts them at ease and they soon forget we're shooting in a closet sized studio.
I have a couple of beautiful 20" x 30" Glamour Portaits that were shot in here, hanging on the wall to further instill confidence in my subjects.
I also have a CD/Stereo system to play their favorite music during their session.
The look on peoples face when they first see this tiny studio is usually one of disbelief then instant hesitence. My friendly personality along with my professional attitude and, them seeing the large photos on the wall, will usually allow them to relax a bit so I can get the first few shots off.
When they see the photos instantly pop up on the color monitor (even though they are raw, unedited & right out of the camera) they are amazed at the results! They instantly see that I am not a perv shooting their boobies and that I truely am taking beautiful photos of them. They completely relax and really get into the session.
After the session, I go over the photos with them and the ones they really like, I will edit those further in the computer.
In editing, I Sharpen the pics, remove blemishes, fix teelth, remove wrinkles, etc. then soften the skin and add a glamorous glow.
In a few days they return to see a slideshow of the edited 12 or so images. They don't believe their eyes! They are so thrilled with the photos that they have become my best form of advertizing.
So there ya go, it really is'nt the size that matters ...it's how you use it that counts.
Happy Shooting.
-Dan
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