New Studio....yippeeeeeee! ( I think)

Sprogkeeper

Sprogkeeper

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Tina
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Hi, I'm new to all this so scuse me if I mess up or my etiquette isn't what it should be. I'm currently having my garage extended and converted into a studio....very exciting! It will measure approx 4.5 mtrs x 7.5mtrs and Mr Planning man has even agreed to a small cloakroom. Just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on a layout for backdrops, floorings etc. I have bought a Hi Glide System so the lights should be sorted but hoping to avoid an pitfalls that others may have experienced....Ta
 
Hello young Tina ;)
First thought would be your colour scheme. I have white in all four of my studios, but in all honesty, I need to switch the product studio to black, as I sometimes get too much reflection when wanting to really drop the level of light.
I have two studios the same size as yours, and they are manageable with white walls when doing low key shots, and can be managed even better with some black painted poly boards.
The biggest studio is larger than the other three put together, so the wall colour isn't an issue.
 
Three studios eh......the cost of this one any more would send me broke! Anyway, I am thinking that I might have a cyclorama built along the back wall but run vinyl on the floor to it so I can keep it clean. I had thought about hanging a paper backdrop holder along the other wall but i dont think it will give me enough room for full length shots but might be handy for half length or little people. I had thought about painting the side wall black on one side to double up as a backdrop. I was also thinking that the main walls not used in this way might be a neutral grey to save any colour casts bouncing around. Should I bother with the side wall backdrop or just add one on the top of the main cyclorama wall?

Nice to see you are a man with discering camera taste ;)
 
Hi Tina, that's a similar size to my studio. At one end I have the rack with the cloth and paper backdrops. The side walls I am splitting and wallpapering one with damask style paper and looking for something to do on the other maybe graffiti or something similar. I have also on the side walls put rails to hang backdrops as well. I have thought about an infinity curve but haven't had time to look at it.
Bet you can't wait for it to be finished .
 
Hi David......now theres a plan! I quite like the idea of having a wallpaper section but maybe wallpapering on hardboard which could be screwed to the wall might be an idea.....could change it then without wrecking the walls. Most of my clients are families or little people but I'm really looking forward to being able to offer something more than the bog standard white background stuff....I'm just trying to find ways to maximise versatility of the space.....I will then be posting questions about setups lol cause I am pretty new to studio work. And yes I am REALLY looking forward to getting it up n running.....the poor builders are freezing out there and I need my drive back lol
 

Hopefully if I have done it right this is a snap of where we are today with the build.....VERY early stages.

Guess that didnt work......might need a little asistance on how to post an image with the insert pic thing.....it doesnt ask me where the pic is
 
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Hi Tina and welcome to TP:wave:

I think the highglide/track systems are great, but do get some stands (wheeled) as well - track systems do have limitations and do make sure you have safety wires for the heads on the track system. My tiny studio area is white/magnolia and I pick up colour casts from from everything else in the room - the studio I was in last night was matt-black and this made setting-up, judging the end results easy and provided much cleaner images than I get.

Paul
 
Hi Paul....I do have some stands....no wheels though :(. I am now definately thinking grey of black walls and will think carfully about what else I put in it storage wise. Colour casts can be a real pain....I am forever having to process the Raw files to get rid of colour casts even when I have used a grey card grrrrr. I do a lot of nursery photography and they have very bright walls!
 
I think I have sussed the picture thing. This is where I am today on the studio. Day 3 and as I type the drains are being put in. It has a VERY long way to go but im sure it will be worth it in the end ( if not it will be a very glamorous place to park my car

WebResize.jpg
 
Dont use black, black has the opposite effect to white in a studio, i.e. it'll suck light out of your subject making shadows deeper. Try it by holding a black card near the shadow side of a subject, effect is quite dramatic!

Any wall (including the ceiling) should be a mid(ish) grey. This should help control light but not actually draw light out of your images.

We have just went through a similar process, good luck....ours was very stressful (and still not finished)
 
Matt989 said:
Dont use black, black has the opposite effect to white in a studio, i.e. it'll suck light out of your subject making shadows deeper. Try it by holding a black card near the shadow side of a subject, effect is quite dramatic!

Any wall (including the ceiling) should be a mid(ish) grey. This should help control light but not actually draw light out of your images.

We have just went through a similar process, good luck....ours was very stressful (and still not finished)
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I do nit want to offend, but: There is no such thing as drawing light out of your subject. Black walls or a large room just allow you work with a "blank canvas". I think that is favourable to having light bounce all over the place, however, black curtains might be the ecstatically better and more flexible solution.
 
Cistron said:
I do nit want to offend, but: There is no such thing as drawing light out of your subject. Black walls or a large room just allow you work with a "blank canvas". I think that is favourable to having light bounce all over the place, however, black curtains might be the ecstatically better and more flexible solution.
Click to expand...

:thumbs:
Black is the choice for people who want to control their light, white is the choice for people who just want to avoid shadows, rather than use them creatively.

Even if you don't want black walls (which can make the place look dark and depressing) then at least paint the ceiling black.
 
Firstly, well done Tina for taking the plunge to convert the garage... I just love progress pics of builds so PLEASE keep a detailed running storyboard of the build either in this or another thread. Blokes love this sort of thing, well and cars, and bikes, and boats and...

As Garry says, especially when not the largest space you need to control light spill. You can also do wonders with a simple curtain track around the room and black curtains to give you the option of creating a black room. It can be Velcro'd to the ceiling too for easy fitting and removal and for washing.
 
Hi
My studio is now virtually finished .....I'm very excited to get in and play. I'm gonna need to seek out a couple of courses as embarrassingly, I have spent a fortune and know very little about good lighting.....I've mostly done white...which I will continue to offer. I will try and put some pics up....when I work out how again, of the projects progression. I might even think of renting it out...who knows!
 
With regards to the paint, I have opted for a black wall, a white partial cyc and the rest is white. I am now looking at black curtains to cover the white cyc and min white wall if I need to. I have installed a high glide so am thinking the bowens curtain runners might be a solution but they are horribly priced
 
Cistron said:
I do nit want to offend, but: There is no such thing as drawing light out of your subject. Black walls or a large room just allow you work with a "blank canvas". I think that is favourable to having light bounce all over the place, however, black curtains might be the ecstatically better and more flexible solution.
Click to expand...

Its called subtractive lighting, and yes your right, your not literally removing light but the effect is similar. Yes it gives you ultimate control but as you say on the whole its not required.

The same effect can be produced by using large flags or black reflectors made from polystyrene board painted black.

:thumbs:
 
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