One thing I think you do really well is being relatable. You have a real talent for explaining the thoughts behind what you do and why you do it. Really cool to see your work in progress studio.
This place looks awesome! A few big, leafy plants would definitely add some life and help balance out the industrial vibe. Snake Plants and Fiddle-Leaf Figs are both relatively cheap for their size, hard to kill, and pair well with the modern aesthetic. Real is better than fake, but I’ve found some shockingly realistic fakes at places like Target and World Market.
Can't believe I never thought of just a plain box for modifiers still folded up in their bags. Love the pistol grip stand too, might have to keep an eye out for one of those.
@JohnGress Absolutely love your studio john! Love what you did with the place. Congratulations and i wish i had that big of a space to shoot. Do you mind sharing where you got those cases you have hidden behind the backdrops? I'm looking for a similar type case for lighting and light stands for travel and for location shoots.
Thanks! 😊 The two on the left are from SKB. Here is a video about how I travel with gear ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DUu6nOsD47g.html
Well.. 9 months ago, so maybe the studio got changed a lot. Amazing space. the only one thing that I maybe add, it is a full body mirror on the left of the make up station. Love it...
Congratulations, John. That looks like an awesome studio space to create in. I watched your tour along with my daughter who offers you the suggestion that even if you're a bad plant dad, you may find great success with cacti. Good luck with all of the creative work that you do. Looking forward to more videos. 😊
Well done in finding the place, I just love those industrial locations. Here in the Netherlands there aren't that many of these buildings. And if you find one, either the rent is astronomical, or they're about to be converted into apartments. Btw, so cool that you're also mentioning the metric system for measurements ;-)
Thanks! Since were the only ones using feet it's the east I can do! Spaces like this here are being converted to apartments too. Part of the reason why I was ok with moving to less than desirable neighborhood was because I knew it would be years before I was priced out of the neighborhood.
Looks nice and professional. One problem you may encounter: the 6 roll backdrop. You seem inclined to leave the paper rolls on there and swap background depending on taste, mood. Easy, fast. The problem with this system is that the paper rolls will sag over time, in the middle. This then causes the paper on the roll to become corrugated in the middle. Annoying if you have to Photoshop that out. There's only one way to prevent that: take the rolls off and only put them up for a shoot. Store the rolls in their boxes, perfectly flat, or make a rack that holds them perfectly vertically. The longer the rolls, the faster the problem occurs. It will take an engineer and some finite element analysis to calculate what wall thickness - say aircraft grade aluminium - tube you would need to insert as prophylaxis. Chairs: they look great, but there's two kinds and I would have them all the same model - not necessarily the same colour, though - if you want a toned down style and leave exciting colour to the shoot area, take e.g. tones of grey. As a client: do I sit on the leather(ette) one with the cushion, or is it for the owner? Also, the table is large and allows distance between you and clients - that distance creates a comfort zone in which taking a decision becomes very relaxed to them. I would prefer a round table, I think, not very big.
There are simple aluminium strips to weigh the end of the paper rolls down and keep the paper tight/flat. Pointed screws on one strip, place on the floor, place the paper over it and push screw pins through paper, place the second strip on top of that and tighten thumb-nuts. Done. Easy. And flat enough to not be in the way. "Simple aluminium strips" in photography does not mean they are cheap - but they add value.
Studio stand - the link in the introduction to the video refers to a Titan stand without the dual axis arm that - I would say - is imperative. The Titan's price may seem titanic, but relative to the classic brands is really cheap. Even the $2K version with horizontal arm is cheap relative to the $6K base price for Foba, Linhof, Cambo, etc. (brands with great history and reputation). You'll need the horizontal arm to comfortably work with these stands. I would consider mounting an - say - A4 or Letter size tablet on the other end of the horizontal arm (or potentially a notebook computer as tether station). We often think our shots are perfect (e.g. sharp) on the small display when they are not on the larger display. In my "boom" other comment, I reference a boom arm in a parallelogram design and as that can carry some 26 lbs, I have considered a second one as a camera stand. It needs a junior stand on wheels and the advantage is that its feet are not in the way of my big feet. But, on the fence, I may need someone else to try this and make a video review about it, before I try.
Boom - not seen a lot, but very clever is the boom arm with a parallelogram mechanism. It has 4 pivoting points connecting 4 rods in an adjustable parallelogram configuration. One rod hold a stud for the light modifier, another extends beyond the stand's end and holds adjustable counterweight. Strong enough to hold some 26 lbs. What's the point? Well, pull it down and adjust the light (modifier) angle and push it back up - the angle does not change. You'll find a Cambo brand 6' boom (RD-1201) for about $900 ($730 without the lead shot in the counterweight bags RD-1200) or a $650/$530 RC-1101/1100 with almost 3' range (~80cm) (for this 81cm boom length, the total arm length is 132cm, so there's 51cm sticking out on the other end to hold the adjustable counterweight bag.) You'll need a "junior" light stand to carry this - not the basic "baby" - see my "junior" comment. I bought a vanilla brand one that is about half the price and very good, but it doesn't have a fixation in one light movement direction, but rather a friction thing that does not really arrest a larger softbox, depending on how it is mounted - so I keep a super clamp at hand to arrest that. You'll have to go see one before you buy, I suggest. Shipping back can be a hassle. That junior lightstand in my case is on wheels.
I prefer to change the hight from my lightsource/lightmodifier on a boom with the wind up lighting stands i have. With those cambo booms, the lightsource/lightmodifier is moving in a circle. You will have the same angle, but it will not be in the same vertical spot. With that, i also prefer a manfrotto 025TM boom (the short version from a superboom) with remote controls together with a broncolor cranked tilt head (made by manfrotto) for the broncolor para lightshapers...so i have a mini version from a manfrotto megaboom. That boom isn´t a steel boom, but it doesn´t matter with my Godox AD600 pro and AD1200 pro external flashheads.
@@bp-blackshark - appreciated. I wasn't aware that Manfrotto (*) did a small version of the superboom. As to the parallelogram adjustment, no, it does not move in a circle. If you bring it down and adjust the modifier end to a -say- 45 degree angle relative to the floor or light stand, and then take it up, then it retains that angle all the way. That's per the laws of geometry in parallelograms ;). (*) Over 50 years experience with brands like Gitzo and Manfrotto (MF), the latter would be third choice because of reliability or robustness. You could leave a Gitzo tripod in your will to your heirs but with MF needed to carry tools to fix or adjust this or that and put saved money relative to Gitzo aside for replacement. If you can't beat them, buy them, someone must have thought in MF's parent company. I bought more than a dozen aluminium "stacker" or "ranker" as MF call them and they work very well with my Profoto RFi modifiers, me firing lightweight radio-controlled speedlights into them. Recently, a commenter informed me that they felt that MF had cut corners with the current "ranker" production and they advised against them because robustness/reliability. Or, as soon as it has more than very simple engineering, I'm in doubt about the MF brand and have had my moments in those years when a superficially looking simple product made me think of the "mother ffers" interpretation of MF. Their carbon traveller tripod with magnesium ballhead in my cabin-size case being lightweight is great but the heavy weight hex key set I need to keep it from dropping my camera, meh. And that's why I wasn't aware of the small superboom.
Thanks! You caught me! I see in the video that I paused an looked at it because I couldnt remember who made it. I really want to get a Manfrotto Mega Boom!
Love the video John With the chains for the backdrops, how did you find them? I have the plastic ones and they have the same issue! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks Aaron! Heres a link to a single unit with a metal chain: bhpho.to/3Iwx7s6 If you want a kit with both the poles and the rack with metal chains, I would buy this, but the poles will be chrome. Impact Deluxe Varipole Support System with Metal Chain Kit bhpho.to/3IJH9qa Here is a link to a 3 rack with metal chains bhpho.to/3knCqQI
John, the backdrop holder where you have three on one side and three on the other…are those the painted canvas drops? I haven’t found a good way to have them on a rack yet. It’s a lot of work taking one all the way down and installing another one to shoot different painted backdrops in one day. Very curious how you store your painted backdrops and what type of pipe you have them on that won’t end up sagging from the weight. Ty!
Thanks Paige! That rack is where I mount my gravity backdrops gravitybackdropsus.sjv.io/DK0Nmj. I attach them with gaffer tape to 2" PVC pipe when I buy at Home Depot and then cut down to the same width. My extra backdrops are are leaned up in the corner attacked to PVC as well so when I want to swap them out, its pretty easy.
Hi John. Great space, but I think as a decorator you are a great photographer. The best part is having to set various scenes, but a studio has to have magic, a modern ambience and a good use of space. But it's all up to each person's taste. Good video and all the best to you.
Cool tour. I've been salivating for a camera stand for several years. Chicago? Are those windows bullet-proof? Those Studio Titan camera stands that you have lights mounted on are awesome! If I ever hit the big lottery, I'll have to get me a couple. About the painted backdrop rack - couldn't you put another 3-rack behind (instead of on top of) the first rack? If the backdrops were rolled on backwards, they'd face the front and solve your problem. I don't know, just guessing. (I wrote that BEFORE I saw that you already did it.) hehe. Cool studio, but the best part about it is the awesome photographer, John Gress, who does incredible work!
Thanks Miley! Good on you for fighting that out so quick! It took me a few weeks. The studio Titan stands are great for sure. Ifs kind of crazy that if it wasn’t for mirrorless I wouldn’t have learned the joys of a camera stand.
wow!! looks awesome John 😍 a dream for me to have more shooting space… and not so limited in height as is my little home shooting area😅 Congrats, i hope you will be happy there and create more wonderful images & BTS vids to share w/us!! i appreciate all your efforts in creating your fantastic channel 🙏🏼
John, you ask for homey feel advice... my idea.... find models favourite music and have that in the background, fresh coffee on tap. Maybe some magazines for the waiting around time.
Brilliant place!! And well laid out, too. I envy you for all the space you have got. My very own studio is a bit more polished in terms of make-up-area, wardrobe and washing room appliances and it is in the very city center but yours looks much more practical and you do have such an array of great camera stands and wind up light stands. Really really nice. Makes me wonder if I should do a video of my place, too.
John that’s a beautiful studio. I also moved out of my old studio and looking for a new place. What’s is the total square footage of your studio? Congrats and may the new place makes you a great living.
Man that one heck of a real working studio!! Thanks for the tour, I always love seeing other photographers working space! Also, loved the back story on the old digital camera!
John your studio looks amazing. I have a 2 questions for you. If you have a time and answer I will be more than appriciate. I want to rent space like you have and invest for all decorations and lights, and I want to rent it hourly as a studio 1. What was a estimate cost for built the stuido you have now? 2. As a photographer do you think is there any demand for studio ? Thanks for your respond
Thank you for showing us around your fabulous studio. Love your easy going style John. Just found your channel, through one of Manny Ortiz's videos. Look forward to watching more. Best, from England, U.K.
Love the space! I've been searching for space where I live and am having no luck at all, everything here is boring office space that's grossly overpriced
Part of me would love to move to the US from Canada to simply buy a warehouse for less than half the cost of a condo here. It's really a nice place you have and I'm envious of how great a space you have. I used to rent a similar space like that a decade ago and stopped after a major injury and simply never got back into renting or owning a studio space since due to market here that more than tripled in cost from when I last had a space... I wish you all the best in your amazing space.
This place is absolutely stunning 🤩🙌 A few large green leaf plants would really add some character and breath in some life. I really, really like this place and would lov to work such a place ☺
This was an amazing tour, thank you for sharing your beautiful space! I had NO idea that camera stands like that existed, what a great idea, especially for ergonomics for someone who suffers from back or joint issues!
This video will help. Need some wood (flooring)? How I complete my portrait sets using wall paneling & planks flooring ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rPHxVWHwU9s.html
That’s amazing! What a fantastic place. Congratulations. The wall to wall windows must put clients in a great mood as well as yourself, the view out of your studio is really cool, too.
Thanks Bob! Ahhh I hadn’t thought about it from the client’s perspective 🤦🏻♂️ great point. I love seeing outside and looking at the trains going by while I’m working.
"Junior" lightstand - as you mention the big Manfrotto stand being "junior" it's good for people to know the what they consider standard size spigots at 5/8" (15.874mm) diameter is called "baby" in US studio jargon. The next size up is called "junior" and then there's "senior". As "bigger, taller" gives longer levers for forces (weight) to work on, tube sizes and strengths need to improve and that's where the larger sizes come in.
"Baby" is a 5/8" or 16mm diameter spigot, that´s why the lighting stands are called baby stands..."Junior" is a 1 1/8" or 28mm diameter spigot, that´s why that lighting stands are called junior stands.
I think I would go with the IKEA Tobias chairs. They are about $105 each. Noticed you have blocks under your AutoPoles. Do you have the autopole extensions on them yet? They make them. Also they make Autopole legs/bases. For your changing room have you thought about something more permanent? I used metal studs which are easy to cut and screw into. Then got 4x8 sheets of corrugated plastic similar to what they make political campaign signs out of, to make a lightweight, inexpensive, sturdy walls. You can also use OSB wood panels or corrugated roofing panels in galvanized metal or plastic available at Home Depot or Lowes as inexpensive siding. You need to grab some sheer curtains off Amazon as well. If you haven't already, a neat edition to your Mole Richardsons is to build a dimmer switch into a very short extension cord and a 1 gang electrical box to control the output of power to your hot lights. Love the swirled door. That's gonna make a great background too. Great space. Thanks for the tour!
Thanks Lenn. Good catch on the bricks under the auto poles. The specs say they’re 12” tall which is 2” shorter than the ceiling. I put the paper one up first and then I set up the painted side and realized they were taller than I expected. Oh well. Maybe some day I’ll take out on the paper side.
Hi John, an alum from your Brooklyn workshop here. I have a large space with an 11' ceiling. What height would you suggest I hang my paper backdrop rack at? And second question, what are you using for the wood-like flooring platform you put in front of your seamless in some shoots? Is it a DIY solution?
Hi Mike! I would put it as high as possible. When I had a 10' ceiling it would often get in the way. Here is a link to a video about flooring.- ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rPHxVWHwU9s.html
I found most of photo studio using white color as their wall and ceiling. What is your consideration for choosing the 'non-white' color as your studio set-up? Any pros and cons for choosing gray and bricks as your main background?
When all of the surfaces are white or light gray it is difficult to control the depth of the shadows because every surface in the studio reflects light.
Great studio tour. Love the space and all of your awesome tools and tricks of the trade. Always enjoy seeing the beautiful work you produce and now seeing your set-up I see your attention to detail and good workflow has yielded those great results.
I didn't know he had a husband 😳 I been following him for years now wow learn something new everyday your photography fire bro no matter what your a awesome photographer 👏 😇😁
If you use chairs as props in your photos, then perhaps surround your table with 6 or more eclectic chairs that could serve dual purposes. I have to rethink autopoles. I've been hesitant to use them for stability reasons but since you have 6 backdrops on each set maybe they are stable after all.
I did think about that. If you look at the cgi rendering all of the chairs are different. I hear you about the poles. The tension levers are really the key. I don’t know if I could trip and fall into one and have it stay up but they are really good for the downward force.
Hey John--congrats on the new studio! As an aside, I'm putting in a backdrop system in my garage studio (same as your rack and chain system), but I noticed that my canvas backdrop wants to unwind all the way when I lower it instead of staying in place. Any troubleshooting ideas?
Very interesting and informative video, as usual. Great, nice, BIG pro studio full of great gear and with gorgeous windows and view outside. I noticed that you have a Nanlite Asymmetrical Stripbank which I am wondering for some time if I should get one for my low key arty male shirtless and nude portraits. Do you consider this softbox being one of your good buys, and would you advise me to get one for my type of photography (in addition to the 2 conventional stripboxes I already use)? Thank you in advance for your advice. All the best from Belgium for you in 2023, in all fields, including of course in your beautiful new working space.
Thanks! You might prefer the Nanlite Stripbank Softbox with Bowens Mount (12x55in) SKU: SB-ST-140X30. I thought it was too large for a hair light but it might make a good main light.
Where did you get the pocketed material for the PVC pipe for your dressing room... ? forgive me if I'm missing it in one of the links above. Also, how did you attach chains to ceiling? Thanks!
They are drapes that I had made for 3 studios ago but I think any drapes would do the trick. The Chains are sling over the pipes and then I attached the cains to them selves with these to create a loop around the pipe. www.homedepot.com/p/Nite-Ize-Steel-Big-Key-Ring-with-Carabiners-BRG-M1-R3/204778398
Look up Maker Pipe and you can create structures using EMT Conduit and it's AMAZING!! If you wanted a more secure structure for the changing area, shelving, rigs, etc. You can literally make anything with them. It's super great to have.
Very nice studio John! I would like to know more about how you set your backdrop system on the super poles. I have exposed masonry in my loft and I’m unable to mount my background system; so I have to use a single background stand which doesn’t allow me offer clients more background options.
Good morning! It's nice to hear from you. You can mount these racks directly to bricks if you have drywall anchors (I did this in my last studio. If you can't drill into the wall then the Autopoles (veripoles) and the racks will work well, provided your ceiling is 12' or shorter. My ceilings are 12'2 but they still worked, even though the specs said they wouldn't. Originally I had two pavers from home depot under each one to help them span the gap. If the ceiling is higher than 12' then you can get extentions. If youre using paper and your ceiling is higher than 10' then you could consider the 6 rack from Manfrotto (amzn.to/3X55MRW), but when I had it in my 10' tall space the bottom backdrop was so low that it was always going through the heads of my subjects. In general I would suggest this set (bhpho.to/3IJH9qa) which has chrome poles- but regardless of what you chose to do, make sure you get metal chains. Heres a link to the black poles by themselves bhpho.to/3CriGSa and the rack with chains bhpho.to/3CI0Ev4 I hope this helps.
Oh right, you'll need two of these amzn.to/3ixsMKC The rack hopefully will come with the bolts, but if not they are standard metric bolts which you can also get at home depot. I forget the size, but I remember needing to get some there once. If the rack doesnt come with these little bumper for the bottom (it will make sense when you see it) you might need 4 super clamps.
John, I thought I will not be able to watch until the end such a video... (you know... kinda boring), but I was wrong 😀. Very nice studio. Thank you for being so open in sharing also financial details. It's great to see a "content creator" (hate that word) who is not trying too hard to be a celebrity, but just shares his knowledge and build trust with his audience. I appreciate that a lot. One idea worth considering is putting some diffusion fabric in the windows (maybe the same way backgrounds are hung, with some ballast stick at the bottom and a possibility to roll it up when needed). I have a huge diffusor (I've built the frame by myself and can now stick the diffusion fabric with velcro to it) - like 2,5 m x 2,5 m in size - that I put in my window and it makes wonders in terms of great soft light it provides. I wish you all the best in your new setup!
Thanks Marcin. I am always happy to share my mistakes, because maybe it will help others avoid them. I thought about doing that at some point too but I forget why I didn't do it. Maybe I was thinking about controling the screen glare but keeping the vibe. I actually have a 2.4x2.4m white scrim and frame in the case that I had the red chain sitting on and I am reallly looking forward to using in it this 3.6m space!
Had to move my studio I had been in for 6 years about 5 weeks ago. Very hard to find a place with a high ceiling. New places rent is good, but its smaller and feels cosy, but is a joy to walk into. Put in a wood floor and that made me happy. A friend who uses the studio off and on suggested I cover up my windows with backgrounds. From a practical perspective it made sense but the charm of the place was gone and I hated it and changed back the following day. The changing area is a good idea. My old place had a huge one but the current place is a bit pokey, however I think your idea will work very nicely for me. Like others have said, finding a reasonably priced but suitable place can be very hard. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you 🙏🏼🙏🏼 it would be a lot more practical for me to put up a background rack over there by the camera stands but it would KILL the mood, just like you said. I planned on my dressing area being slightly larger but that’s where the pipes are. 🤷🏻♂️
Here are links to the two booms I use: Avenger D600 Mini Boom (Chrome) Adorama howl.me/cjCnFQ448lc Amazon amzn.to/3ccRk85 B&H bhpho.to/3WbSZMB Matthews Junior Boom Adorama howl.me/cjFTzSciLGq Amazon amzn.to/2ZBQEBz B&H bhpho.to/3p3pTnV
