Portrait Studio Design Help!!

[Phil Wood]

I am turning a garage 9ft wide 18ft long into a studio, sales office to do single, small group and childrens portraits , also wedding preshoots. The only natural light is by an east facing window 8ftx4ft at the office end of the studio.Being so restricted for width I am concerned about reflected light so my question is simple what colour should I paint the walls, also taking ino consideration that I intend to hang spotlight photographs on the walls at the office end. I use a lastolite Hilite Background or various assorted backgrounds, and light using 2 softboxes and a snoot. Any ideas please with regard to colour or general comments would be much appreciated.

 

[ivortripod]

White for the walls, no question

The softboxes need to be big enough, but not too big [or you'll be stuffed on taller people and or larger groups]
Cheers and Good Luck.

 

[dazzajl]

That's going to be very very tight for space. White walls are probably a good idea but perhaps with black curtains that you cal pull across to get some control over the light. Otherwise you'll get more or less as much light from the wall as you will from a flash on the subjects other side.

 

[DiddyDave]

White for the walls, no question

Great advice... NOT :thumbsdown:

Soz Ivor !

In a space so small white walls (and presumably ceiling too?) will remove any chance of modelling light as it'll all bounce everywhere - the results will be flat and boring

Black walls will give you much more lighting control, but make it hard to vary the light

So white walls and black curtains are the most versatile for a small studio



DD

 

[..MD..]

all my portrait shots that i do are in a space smaller than yours..

8'x 18'


i painted all the walls white and the ceiling..:bang:

must admit its not necessary as your lights will do all the work ..

check out any shots in my gallery...:shrug:


anything else you might want to know pm me if i can help i will..


md

 

[Steep]

Originally Posted by ivortripod
White for the walls, no question

Great advice... NOT :thumbsdown:

snip

So white walls and black curtains are the most versatile for a small studio

Make your mind up dave

 

[1sassy23]

Any puppies for sale

 

[Garry Edwards]

White for the walls, no question

The softboxes need to be big enough, but not too big [or you'll be stuffed on taller people and or larger groups]
Cheers and Good Luck.

That just won't work in a space this size, and if you're planning to use softboxes the light bounce will be totally uncontrolled.

Black ceiling, grey floor, no point in considering anything else.

For best control, paint the walls black too - but you'll end up with a dark, depressing hole - so white walls with black drapes that can be deployed as needed is probably the best way to go.

 

[DiddyDave]

Make your mind up dave

Mind was made up - thought it was obvious :shrug:

There are times when 'flat' may be desirable, but having a black curtain on one side and white wall the other can be more creative still, or a partially white with the curtain pulled across a bit, etc. see variations

Agreeing with Garry all the way too

MD - that's probably why many of your shots have too much spill light, and I'm pretty sure I said black curtains to you at some point you boy !!!



DD

 

[..MD..]

there you go phil..

avoid white walls..

i will be painting mine again soon so " fingers crossed" i could see a slight improvement in my work..


yes dave you did .. but i had already painted them...

ill sort it out soon..

md

 

[Phil Wood]

Thanks all for your very helpfull coments it looks like I will paint the walls a matt white with black curtains, just at the studio end, and a grey ceiling. SORRY Still looking for ideas for the floor, maybe I will buy carpet pieces in several colours so that I can ring the changes. I will post some photos when we are finished.

 

[AliB]

For the floor you could try having some laminate that you can lay down too, give you some more variation.

 

[Steep]

Floor = plain with rugs?

 

[Phil Wood]

Thanks again all. Will post me decision and some photos in about 4 weeks when we finish the studio.