Studio: First light!!

Yesterday I received the drapes, and two of the backdrops for my basement studio. Today I received the last backdrop for a total of three different looks!

I set everything up and the drapes fit perfectly, hanging slightly above the basement floor.  The area I have sectioned off is 10.666 feet across, and 11 feet deep.  The end opposite of the backdrop however is open ended, so I can move the camera back as far as 22 feet if I have to, but in trying it out, 13 or 14 feet back seems to be pretty much ideal.
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Studio Hardware

I’m almost ready to try out the new studio!  I purchased some galvanized pipe and ceiling hooks today and mounted everything in the locations where I had planned for a “test fit.” The pipe above the lower perpendicular pipe, will be used for the backdrop. It’s mounted 12″ away and parallel to a concrete block wall. It can only have one ceiling hook on each end to support it because the backdrops are one solid piece 10 ft wide.  The lower pipes running perpendicular to the block wall will be used for the blackout curtain walls – one on each end of the backdrop. These can have multiple ceiling hooks per pipe because the curtains are narrower, multiple sections (54 inches each, 4 per pipe).  I’m now just waiting for the curtains and backdrops to be delivered!!
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Studio.. (Basement cleaning)

Oh my goodness!!  I made a clean spot!!!  It doesn’t look like much, but I was 4 hours getting from “Before” to “After” and there’s still quite a lot to do!  The pale green dresser on the right – that’s going too, or at the very least, moved.
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Studio Plans!!

OK… So today I’ve been looking things over, studying the finer details, and running around with a tape measure!  As of right this second, these are the plans for my basement studio. [Read more…]

Studio Saga…

As some of my loyal followers are aware, I’ve been in search of my own studio off and on for quite a while now…  Today I sadly report that I am no closer to having one than I was when I started…  I would love to lease some space on “main street” but the fact of the matter is – that will never happen. Living in a farming community, in a region of the state that’s already oversaturated with photographers, I just can’t justify spending 4 times the amount in rent than I would ever take in. Unless of course I raise my rates, and that’s something I do not want to do.  My business plan is to provide the best quality photography at the cheapest prices – period…  I’m not trying to get rich, but get by – doing something that I love to do…
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Studio Lighting

In my quest for my own studio, I have also been on the lookout for lighting. There are a lot of options out there to choose from – different types of strobes, light modifiers, etc… But the choice that I keep going back to, that seems the most appealing to me, is LED continuous lighting. [Read more…]

My Quest For A Studio…

As some of my friends know, I’ve been on the lookout for a cheap studio solution. My quest thus far has been disappointing to say the least.  Trying to lease or rent a location is prohibitively expensive, and I don’t have a suitable location to use in my home either.  That leaves building a structure on the property to use specifically for that purpose, which technically is the most ideal solution as I can then set it up precisely as I want it, but this option is also expensive…  I’m thinking a 2 car “garage kit” would be ideal.  One half to be used as the studio itself, and the other half to be used as storage for props, lighting, equipment, and a small dressing room…  Hopefully someday…