How many square foot should a photography studio be?
I’m building a my wife a surprise home studio after she completes photography school. I know nothing about lighting and how much space I need to consider for it. I’m on a budget and need to build it fairly small.
It depends entirely on what you are going to be using it for.
If you (your wife) are going to be doing small product shots then you only need a relatively small space.
If you are going to do large groups or cars or the like then you need loads of space.
impossible to answer this question properly without more information.
We get by with what we have to. All I can tell you is that you never really have enough room. Lights, umbrellas, backdrops, stands, number of people in a group, the need to have your subject at a distance from the backdrop, … it just all adds up to one thing…. give her AS MUCH ROOM AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN!!!
There is no "magic" amount of square feet that is ideal. Much of it depends on what is being photographed. Again, just make it as large as you can, that is all you can do anyway.
steve
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I would have to agree with the first answerer.
You can ALWAYS use "extra" space in a studio. Whether it’s for additional backdrops, storage of props and equipment, etc., there is no "perfect" amount because you’ll probably always end up wishing you had a little more space.
I would make it as large as you can within your budgetary / space constraints. As for lighting, you might want to let her make that call — depending on what she shoots, she might need something specific or have a preference.
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It would be nice if it were at least 20′ by 20′ if not more. That stuff takes up a lot of room. and it’s easier to get creative with more room.
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600 with 14′ ceiling
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What is the largest size object she intends to shoot?
A studio that is about 30 x 30 feet will be plenty for most applications. Remember you have to have some high ceilings to hang a few lights from time to time (12 to 15 feet) or get enough downward light for certain effects.
There must in any case, be enough room for a background stand and about four or five feet in front of it for the models to move. A standard portrait situation will place the photographer at least another four of five feet from there. Figure you need at least 15 feet on the long side and 12 on the short (backgrounds are usually 107 inches wide).
Don’t for get two circuits of 20 amp outlets all around the studio. She will eventually be using all of them as her lighting kit enlarges.
Since she will not be shooting small aircraft or blue water sailing vessels you don’t need a 5,000 square foot studio.
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Fashion and glamour photographer
My studio is 16×12 and its not big enough with a short ceiling. When I build another one in my pole barn of the future, it will be at least 20×15 with a 12′ ceiling. I’m thinking maybe 24×20 or 24×24 depending on how wide the pole barn is. Who knows? I just need to get a couple cars and my lawn mower in and like 10 bikes. It may end up bigger than my house. 20×15 would be good though. Enough room for lights and maybe even a little corner cut out for people to change in if need be. Just make sure if you can, make the ceiling as high as possible. It really makes as much difference or at least almost as much difference as the square footage. Good Luck.
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It depends entirely on what you are going to be using it for.
If you (your wife) are going to be doing small product shots then you only need a relatively small space.
If you are going to do large groups or cars or the like then you need loads of space.
impossible to answer this question properly without more information.
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Let’s start with what’s going to be photographed, and what equipment will be used for lighting, backgrounds, etc. If she’s photographing small tabletop products, that can be done almost anywhere. So I’m going to assume she will be photographing people.
And the following only applies to the minimum SHOOTING ROOM. It doesn’t leave any space for desks, chairs, props, computers, etc.
The smallest space you could possibly get away with, to photograph an individual portrait subject, would be about 8 feet wide, and 16 feet long. The width gives you rooom enough to place a 53 inch wide roll of "seamless" background paper behind the subject and small studio lights on either side. The length lets you get far enough back from the subject to get them all in, while using a normal or telephoto portrait lens. I’ve shot professional portraits in this small a space, so it can be done.
For photographing groups (families, etc.), you can pose up to 8 adults on a 9 ft wide background, so you need at least 12 feet width to accommodate main lights on one side, and a flat reflector on the other. To maintain the same proportion of length to width, you would need 24 feet of length. This width also is handy for individual toddlers and younger kids since it’s hard to keep them in one place unless you glue them to the floor. The extra width lets them wander more off "center stage" and still be photographed. Background paper comes in 9 and 12 foot widths. Muslin and canvas backgrounds generally come in 10 ft and wider widths.
As others have pointed out, high ceilings are also nice!
My first professional studio was 12 feet wide, 25 feet long, 8 ft. ceilings. That space accommodated not only the shooting area with 9 ft. wide backgrounds and three studio lights, but also my desk, computer, couch, chairs, stools, and misc. props.
Hope this helps.
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Personal experience
http://www.NYPortraits.com
Well it depend on what kind of studio and what do you want to put on it.
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http://www.simplephotographylessons.com/