Small room for a studio.

EdinburghGary

EdinburghGary

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Hypothetically, if I had a room which was say....14ft Square, 8ft to the ceiling...small bedroom, with one standard sized small bedroom window...ignoring lighting and other bits and bobs, what would be the best PAINT / FLOORING / OTHER DECOR etc for a tiny studio - product shots, maybe some closer portraits etc...

Is it simply bog standard white paint everywhere? Gloss / Matt / Something else?

A black wall a good idea too?

Confused!

Gary.
 
White everywhere is not your best option - sometimes

White ceilings can be useful, and of course are common and 'normal', but too much white causes too much reflection in smaller studios so your modelling lighting can become too flat - and yes, sometimes that's a good thing too

If you can, I'd suggest black curtains along the walls so you can gain more lighting control without making the place miserable to be in (like a 'black' studio would be). You can always roll out a dark carpet/blanket to cut floor reflections if needed

I know some who've painted ceilings black too - but that's going a bit too far. 8ft high is useful though, as a portrait of someone sitting down would mean the light bouncing off the ceiling would be relatively dull and have a muted effect anyway unless you were bouncing the light deliberately off the ceiling

HTH

DD
 
Hi DD, thanks for the input. For the record, the room is not important, I have two rooms upstairs used as storage cupboards. One used to be an indoor aviary, and is now in need of redecorating, and I thought, photo fun, why not?

So if the room was 100% destructable, what would you advise? :D In short, I care not for this room!

Gary.
 
You can have it any way you want Gary!

Seriously, I use our spare room and I just bring in the materials that I want for a shoot. Flooring? Easy! A spare sheet of laminate effect and off you go. I keep sheets of plastic in the shed for firing lights at and through (Has nice corrugated finish) If I want black? I have a sheet of black material that I simply attach to a shelf using clamps. White? See above! I also have all sorts of reds and coppers and in different translucency. Great for covering bits up as well as general props. It all goes in a box in the loft when I'm done.

Corrugated metal for something a bit edgier? Spray paint it? Go on you know you want to!

Don't use gloss! Too many reflections. I have heard of black ceilings (I think it was Garry who said about it)

As for the window. That's a light source, get some muslin and you can use it like a big softbox get some blackout material and you have a completely dark room to do low key in.

Is that enough for your creative mind?
 
oh, I thought it was an offer of a swap. :(

I have a small room I don't need. ;)

Good advice so far. Why not start with a white room and then adapt it as the creative process takes you? :)
 
AliB said:
You can have it any way you want Gary!

Seriously, I use our spare room and I just bring in the materials that I want for a shoot. Flooring? Easy! A spare sheet of laminate effect and off you go. I keep sheets of plastic in the shed for firing lights at and through (Has nice corrugated finish) If I want black? I have a sheet of black material that I simply attach to a shelf using clamps. White? See above! I also have all sorts of reds and coppers and in different translucency. Great for covering bits up as well as general props. It all goes in a box in the loft when I'm done.

Corrugated metal for something a bit edgier? Spray paint it? Go on you know you want to!

Don't use gloss! Too many reflections. I have heard of black ceilings (I think it was Garry who said about it)

As for the window. That's a light source, get some muslin and you can use it like a big softbox get some blackout material and you have a completely dark room to do low key in.

Is that enough for your creative mind?
Click to expand...




Thanks for the detailed post!!! I guess my problem is, not knowing how light really works in photos, and what effect having a white wall versus a black wall, on the window wall for example, would have.

Clearly as you have said, using materials is easy - maybe thats the way to go!!

Solid Hardwood is already on the floor, its very shiny too.

I will give this some more thought, but any other replies appreciated!!

Gary.
 
I'd still go for flexibility

A totally black room gives 100% lighting control, but you'd end up using more lights, needing more powerful lights and reflectors etc. to put back what the black takes away

Totally white means reduced lighting control as it'd bounce everywhere, okay for nippers running around (Venture style) but otherwise not flattering to have little modelling options

Easiest is white (matt) but being able to cover it up on one/both sides as you see fit - hence big black curtains along the walls can work well, and saves space on building huge flags (even polystyrene sheets painted black work, but are fragile, and any kiddies would kick holes in them!)

DD

DD
 
I've got shiny hardwood flooring in one room and it works really nicely with a model lying on it. Converted to black and white it looks great!

Shooting a model lying down also provides an instant facelift (they will love you for that alone!)

DD's idea of black curtains over a white wall sounds ideal.
 
Oh, how the other half must live ... 14 feet square and you're calling it a "small" bedroom?!

How did it come to be free? Did one of the serving staff quit?
 
StewartR said:
Oh, how the other half must live ... 14 feet square and you're calling it a "small" bedroom?!

How did it come to be free? Did one of the serving staff quit?
Click to expand...

Hey maybe my measurements are waaaaaay off, its not a big room!!! The ceiling DEFINATELY only 8ft high, and it all appears to be in good proportion, so maybe my guess (from work) is off!

Oh, and I have two spare :) My only kid I get at weekends, 4 bedrooms for me, my missus, 3 cats & a dog.

Gary.
 
StewartR said:
Oh, how the other half must live ... 14 feet square and you're calling it a "small" bedroom?!

How did it come to be free? Did one of the serving staff quit?
Click to expand...

I am clearly definately way off, I mean a king size bed would be far too big for the room. Maybe its 10ft square?

Who knows, anyway - I want a studio! :)

Gary.
 
i knew i could have done something more productive than make my spare room a living room!!

why didnt i think of that.

Good luck Gary:)
 
I'd move it to london and sell it for 500k :D

Then buy a huge studio in scotland :D
 
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