How to build my photography studio at home??? PLEASE HELP ME!!?
Hey Guys, Thankie you a lot for clicking on my question :]
First of all if you only have rude comments to make don’t say them at all it’s my life and I will choose what I want to do with it. Of course, CAREER WISE! lol so please understand that this is my choice not yours and simply answer the question don’t go all smart on me, telling me this is not a good career or why am I even thinking of this at age 13. I am sure about it :] Thankies!
So here is what is happening, I am 13 years old and I have my career picked out I am choosing photography, And I want to be experienced now at this age so when I am older and can actually have the education I need in photography to be/or almost be an expert in photography! I just bought the book "Digital Portrait Photography" by Steve Sint and I absolutely love it! I also already picked out my camera but I am not sure check it out tell me if it’s good recommend others if you’d like http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665980741
My house has 4 bedrooms and three living rooms but they are all in use is there a way where I can still have my photography studio?? ( I cant make another room I don’t own the house I rent)
So how can I build my photography studio at home?
How do I make it look nice and professional for customers?
What do I need for my studio to be complete? (as in equipment)
How do I stay organized with all of this? (Money,Customers,Appointment, etc.,etc.,etc.)
What are good prices for portraits?
What makes a photographer more money Landscape photography or Portrait photography?
If you sticked with me for the entire time thanks so much I really appreciate it, please take your time to answer my question bellow.
Thankies,
Vanessa<3
Does your house have a garage? If so, that’s where a lot of studio photographer’s start out – by converting a garage into studio space. If it doesn’t then consider doing mobile or location portraits using lightweight kit.
The camera model you’ve chosen is not the best for studio work because you WILL need external lighting. Sony is the only camera manufacturer that doesn’t use an industry standard hotshoe, so for starters you’d have to get an adapter and the model doesn’t have a PC sync cord for flash. I’d check out the entry level Nikon/Canon cameras before you jump in with this choice.
You need good lenses for portrait work – fast primes usually.
Lighting gear is essential – if you go as a ‘mobile’ studio, as I suggested, then getting a few cheap manual flashes (speedlights) some radio triggers, and light modifiers (softboxes, umbrellas) will give you the portability you need as they are battery, not mains based.
I shoot models both in the studio & on location with speedlight based lighting and it will be fine for what you are doing.
Before you start any of this though you need to learn how to use a DLSR properly. Portrait shots are rarely done in Auto modes – you need to be comfortable shooting manual and know the relationship between shutter speed, ISO, aperture & flash power inside out.
A good starting point for off camera lighting is the Strobist group;
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html
At the risk of ‘going all smart on you’ as you put it, please listen to good advice. You are putting the cart waaay before the horse here discussing how your studio will look & what to charge customers before you’ve even learnt the basics. Slow down! Knowledge & skill in photography won’t happen overnight but you’ve got plenty of time to learn.
Posted in digital photography studio
July 3rd, 2010 at 1:45 pm
While I admire your "jump right in" attitude, I have a few concerns.
First of all, and the biggest issue…I’m sorry, but you’re terribly young. I know that age isn’t everything, and I was much like you at that age, but you are simply not old enough to run a "real business." Once you own a business, you get into REAL business issues — from budget forms to income tax to insurance, not to mention all of the documents involved in portraiture, such as model releases, etc.
And I’m sorry to say this as well, but no one will take you seriously. That’s just how it is in this world. I know it’s not always a "fair" world, and you may have genuine talents that would be worth paying for if people would give it a shot. However, when people are looking for someone to fulfill a service, they generally seek an adult who is credible, prepared, and knowledgeable about both photography and business.
The second primary issue is that you clearly don’t have much photography or business experience. I don’t recommend adults opening their own studio until they’ve taken business classes and gotten a few years of experience behind the lens…and these are people who are adults able to finance the start of their venture. You would have even greater problems without any business experience.
Third comes the matter of equipment. While you have picked out a nice camera for beginning photographers, it is not a very high-end camera body. A good photographer can make due with virtually any camera, but you are already without any photography experience, so you’re starting off on the wrong foot as it stands. A real portrait/studio photographer generally has more than one camera body (more advanced than yours in most cases) not to mention other lenses, off-camera flash units, soft boxes, grids, umbrellas, backdrops…the costs add up fast. Add in the requirement of a good computer and processing software such as Adobe Lightroom, Elements, etc., and the start-up fees keep climbing.
(On a side note, you asked for other recommendations. Please be sure to look at all brands and models of cameras and decide what’s right for you. Other models out there include the "younger brother" of the camera you have chosen, the Sony A230, the Nikon D3000 and D5000, and the Canon Rebel series to name a few. Don’t buy anything without picking it up and feeling it in your hands. That’s the true test of whether a camera is right for you.)
While you may have all the dedication and desire in the world to make this happen right away, I honestly have very little confidence in the chance that this will happen for you. Adults with years of photography experience, higher-end equipment and business experience still struggle in this field. I know many photographers that have had to quit photography as their main job because they couldn’t make ends meet, despite that they are brilliant with a camera, because they couldn’t get business. At your age, you will have infinitely more struggles.
Instead of pursuing a standard business at this time, I recommend you start slow. Learn to use your camera’s manual settings, slowly invest in more equipment, and learn more about the art of photography. Study the work of others, and if you can, take some local photography classes. One may be available through your school or through a local library or museum. Read up on business as well.
As you gain a better understanding of photography and photography equipment, you’ll learn more about what you’ll require for a studio, from equipment to the space itself. An understanding of professionalism will come with time, and your questions about money and appointments will be answered by some good books on business or better yet, business classes.
In addition, a business class will help you to price your time and work effectively. Every photographer has different experience levels, works in different areas, and lives a different economic reality. As you learn the "ins and outs" of business, you’ll find yourself more prepared to assess your own situation and price accordingly.
Don’t let my words discourage you from learning as much as you can. Just proceed with caution. Over time here, I have advised many adults to take it slow, just as I have for you…and I think that in the long run, it is best that you start out by learning what you can, and thinking about a business and money later.
Remember that "experience" and "business" are not always the same thing. Start your learning experience with photography as one of curiosity and pleasure, and don’t fret about it as a business venture just yet. Decide whether you have a true passion for photography, and explore it. Get the "experience" you’re eager for by shooting friends and family. Explore the world out there, try to look at everything from a new perspective. A few things to start out learning are manual settings on a DSLR, including things like shutter speed and aperture, different types of lenses and how they affect the final image, and how to respond to different lighting situations. Learn the "rules" of composition, and with time and practice, you’ll learn not only the "rules" themselves but when to break those rules. Explore everything you can point a lens at, and then some.
Then, a few years down the road when you are more able (but hopefully still just as willing!) revisit the idea of opening a studio and see where it takes you.
The last thing I’d like to say is that although it may seem rough that you’re essentially "forced" to take your time because of your age, it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Many photographers open their business and forget about the passion behind it…they work only to please someone else, forget about what makes them happy, and become a slave to their customers rather than an artist painting their customers’ dreams. Relax, take your time, and most importantly of all, good luck.
References :
July 3rd, 2010 at 2:01 pm
Does your house have a garage? If so, that’s where a lot of studio photographer’s start out – by converting a garage into studio space. If it doesn’t then consider doing mobile or location portraits using lightweight kit.
The camera model you’ve chosen is not the best for studio work because you WILL need external lighting. Sony is the only camera manufacturer that doesn’t use an industry standard hotshoe, so for starters you’d have to get an adapter and the model doesn’t have a PC sync cord for flash. I’d check out the entry level Nikon/Canon cameras before you jump in with this choice.
You need good lenses for portrait work – fast primes usually.
Lighting gear is essential – if you go as a ‘mobile’ studio, as I suggested, then getting a few cheap manual flashes (speedlights) some radio triggers, and light modifiers (softboxes, umbrellas) will give you the portability you need as they are battery, not mains based.
I shoot models both in the studio & on location with speedlight based lighting and it will be fine for what you are doing.
Before you start any of this though you need to learn how to use a DLSR properly. Portrait shots are rarely done in Auto modes – you need to be comfortable shooting manual and know the relationship between shutter speed, ISO, aperture & flash power inside out.
A good starting point for off camera lighting is the Strobist group;
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html
At the risk of ‘going all smart on you’ as you put it, please listen to good advice. You are putting the cart waaay before the horse here discussing how your studio will look & what to charge customers before you’ve even learnt the basics. Slow down! Knowledge & skill in photography won’t happen overnight but you’ve got plenty of time to learn.
References :