What size studio....

foots · 08-02-2008, 05:00 PM

Hello everyone, I what to get a building that will serve as my at home Studio, and I was wondering what would be a good size to have it build e.g. 20x20 or what? And how high should I try to get the ceilings? Any help would be great. Thanks

OniFactor · 08-03-2008, 02:37 PM

not enough information. you need to tell us what you want to shoot, and how you shoot it. if you're doing jewelry pictures, 20 foot by 20 foot is huge. if you're photographing groups of cars, 20 foot by 20 foot gets a lot smaller.

RioRico · 08-03-2008, 04:33 PM

You're in Mississippi, so you could just pitch a big tent. Some great photography has been done inside tents. Or if you're shooting miniatures, you only need a small tent.

Really, we need to know more. Are you shooting scale models, human models, battle re-enactments, pr0n (human or otherwise), sculptural objects, or what? Are you using handheld still or movie or video cams, view cams, motion control, or what? Do you plan to build sets? Do you need a tall space so you can climb onto a ladder or catwalk and shoot down?

silent_eyes · 08-03-2008, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by foots

Hello everyone, I what to get a building that will serve as my at home Studio, and I was wondering what would be a good size to have it build e.g. 20x20 or what? And how high should I try to get the ceilings? Any help would be great. Thanks

I guess you plan to do some portrait work or something, not huge, not micro, so 20x20 should be fine. You could probably get by with smaller, like 15x10 but if you can afford/plan/build, go for as big as you can. Height is not so much an issue, 6-8 feet should be enough for everything. For couple of months, I used my old room, it's like 12x9, and had some light-orange walls, facing east, so it was just perfect for portraits, very soft light becouse of the tight walls, very nice tone. here are 2 examples, no manipulation, just ambient light, only resize, WB was on auto, so skin got a bit reddish, I was using E510...

everything else goes into specific needs, so more details please

*creampuff* · 08-03-2008, 05:54 PM

Part owned a studio many years ago. If you're serious on studio photography, the bigger the better imo. 20 x 20 feet is passable. Consider having a large window on one side and a high ceiling plus a little space for changing room/make-up, storage, etc.

Wheatfield · 08-03-2008, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by foots

Hello everyone, I what to get a building that will serve as my at home Studio, and I was wondering what would be a good size to have it build e.g. 20x20 or what? And how high should I try to get the ceilings? Any help would be great. Thanks

The bigger the room, the more versatile it is. I worked at a studio once that had an overhead door, and was large enough to shoot 5 motorcycles (though only one car) with a normal focal length lens.
We rarely had vehicles in, but it was nice being able o have several jobs on the go, at the same time, and to have several semi-permanent sets.
OTOH, if you just want to be able to shoot half length portraits, then your needs can be fulfilled in your basement.
The studio we just moved out of gave us about a 24 x 24 foot room, IICR. It was good enough for most of what we did, larger groups were a problem, but it was rare enough that we would just rent a conference room at a hotel.
Where we are now gives us about the same shooting space, but has a better laid out office and customer area.

Anyway, figure out what the biggest thing is that you are likely to want in your studio, go out and find one and see how far away from it you have to be with the lens you want to use. Add a few feet for the background. Add 10%-20% to allow for some elbow room and theres your length. Width wise, Unless you are shooting cars, I really don't think anything bigger than 20' is needed, with 24' being nice.
My ideal room would be 24'x32' with an overhead door. I'd tell the city it was a garage.
A taller ceiling is better than a shorter one, 9' absolute minimum, 12' is the ideal compromise, though I'd go a bit taller if I could.

MRRiley · 08-03-2008, 07:02 PM

Frankly, build the biggest you can afford.

We just moved into a new house and it came with an unfinished 11x19' shed with a 10'+ ceiling. I am in the process of finishing the inside with insulation and drywall and plan on installing a cyclorama on the far end. I'm going to paint the whole thing 18% grey. Its barely big enough for full length portraits but I can always stand outside the double doors on the camera end.

foots · 08-05-2008, 08:40 PM

Hello all, I'm sorry for not giving more info. I just got back home from work, gone 3 days, but to answer some of the questions, I plan on shooting people, full portraits, head shots small groups and such, no cars or stuff big like that (at least not for now) Great info already giving, I'll shoot for a bigger space like Wheatfield talked about. Thanks again everyone.

*Clicker* · 08-06-2008, 08:19 AM

Just a good read

The Studio

*christinelandon* · 08-07-2008, 12:16 AM

A good thread, and some good advice. I concur with Wheatfield regarding basic shooting area dimensions, and with Creampuff regarding a bit of private space for changing, wardrobe, makeup, scenery/props/backdrop storage, etc. if you're serious about portrait work. As for ceiling height, 12 feet is good if you are lighting on floor stands, but you might want to consider higher ceilings, around 15-16 feet, if you like the idea of installing an overhead grid with continuous lighting sources.