If all this time at home has you bouncing off the walls, try channeling your energy into a profitable project and finally get that home studio underway! Whether you’re shooting products, food, pets or your kids, at pictureline we have everything you need to get set up for success.
Find Some Space
In an ideal world, we’d have all the space we need to create several areas to shoot. But in reality, you’re probably going to have to be flexible. If you don’t have a dedicated spot for setting up your studio, try using a room that lends itself to easy set-up and tears down. Try setting up in a dining room that’s rarely used, or a home office where the desk can easily be relocated temporarily. When staking out your space, remember to consider ceiling height—ideally, you’ll have enough room for backgrounds and lighting.
Keep Lighting Simple
When it comes to lighting, there’s no need to get too fancy—the main source of indirect light, and a fill light should suffice, and any accessories you need to soften shadows or light quality are all you really need. But do consider investing in some good quality stands for those lights that are sturdy but can easily be adjusted. Two lights we’d recommend are the Westcott Bi-color (1x1) Flex Mat and the Westcott Solix Bi-color Compact Kit. For stands, we’d recommend the Manfrotto 366B (6ft) or the 367B (9ft) stand.
Step Away from the Bedsheet
Although you can get pretty creative with repurposing things from around home as backdrops and floordrops, consider investing in a high-quality painted backdrop, especially if you’ll be shooting portraits. A professionally produced backdrop really helps keep the focus on your subject, but can also be switched out to easily alter the look and feel of a shoot. Similar to lighting, you’ll want to think about investing in some high-quality stands so your investment is protected. Some backdrops we’d recommend are the Westcott X-Drop kit or seamless paper backdrops which come in various colors. For a backdrop support kit, there’s the Phottix Saldo.
Think Outside the Studio
Don’t be afraid to experiment with using your own furniture or other items as props in your shoots, especially when photographing people. Sometimes having a portrait taken can be intimidating, and something as simple as a comfortable chair to sit in can put a subject at ease—and get better results for you both!
Special Effects
Finally, there are options to enhance your shoot without breaking the bank. There are countless creative ways to get wind, fog or other effects. Blow dryers, small box fans—you can even buy “atmosphere” in a can! Just be sure to follow all the manufacturer’s guidelines and other safety precautions. You don’t want your new home studio going up in smoke.