Cost effective way of operating a studio?

[thefashionproject]

Hey guys!

So basically I'm a noob, and I signed up here to suck up information and learn new things.

It always seems to me that everyone has all the gear and studio space in the world . The problem I have is that I take my photographic journey seriously and I want others to as well, or at least those kind enough to participate.

I enjoy shooting outside, but that's just not always convenient (especially in British weather!), I quite like the flexibility and privacy a studio can offer.

So at the moment I just set up in my lounge, which seems really amateurish and my fear is that, should I have subjects over they will find it all a bit odd and maybe unsettling.

What perspectives do you guys have on this matter? Have you found a really clever way to develop a studio that looks a little more professional (self storage unit anyone?)? Maybe I shouldn't worry about how it appears and just focus on the art?

Of course eventually I would love to build my own studio, but I would need to move house for this.

Here is some of my work:

 

[connersz]

You can rent studios. Have you considered that?

 

[thefashionproject]

I have, but I don't see it as that viable should I want to have a spontaneous testshoot, or if I want to practice daily. Additionally, there is really only one studio in my local area, and therefore access is limited to usual business hours etc...

 

[juggler]

For the sort of stuff you're doing I imagine you'll be sourcing models from places like PurplePort? They tend to be quite used to shooting in folk's homes, village halls, car parks, underpasses, studios, beaches, parks, woods or anywhere really. I don't see a problem so long as you explain in advance; let your work speak for itself.

A chap I know of has a space in an office building of sorts - one of those shared use multi-use business places you find on industrial estates.

The majority of those studios who rent to amateurs are listed on PP, too, and they're very often available in the evenings. If you haven't already looked at PP you may find there are a lot more studios near you than you previously knew about. In fact PP lists 4 within 20 miles of Crowborough, and lots more if you expand that to 30 miles.

I've built a relationship with a few local studio owners by renting over a couple of years. I now share a space and get so many days a month for a flat fee. Such arrangements seem to be very rare and I still don't shoot daily. If I did I'd never have time to process the results - and the sort of fashiony stuff you seem to be aiming takes considerably longer to process than shoot.

As for a cost effective way of operating one.. a significant proportion of studios seem to be vanity projects and barely cover their costs, if that.

 

[thefashionproject]

Thank you for such an interesting response. I am on purpleport as it happens, and I did a shoot with a model outside. I guess building up a relationship with someone local who has space could be the way to go. Thanks again.