Ways to start a photo studio 

I’ve converted my one car garage into a dedicated studio space (11x17’). Works great for the majority of my work but I’m usually craving a bit more space. I’m debating adding on to my garage vs. sharing a larger space with other photographers. Thanks again for producing consistently useful content!

Great video as always. Thanks for taking the time to do these video.

This is Gold! Thank you (as always) for the posting.

Hello Daniel, thank you so much for sharing photo studio idea’s, this is really helpful to me. Keep up the great work and enjoy a great and wonderful day.

Thank you for all these videos Sir. I really appreciate you.

Thanks, Daniel, for sharing more of your experience.

Thank you for this video. It helps to change ones views about having studio space

Thank you for your contribution to the photography community. Always incredibly informative!!!

Hey there sir thank you for ur time and effort to teach others your craft

Another good one 😃

Great advice for sure! Most of the time when one is starting out funds are limited if not even none existant so sharing the cost of a space is a great alternative. Also having another peer to bounce things off its great, as we all see and do things differently. There was a time when I used a white wall in a parking lot that i placed a white formica on the floor to make it look like an outdoor studio(or as close as possible). Thanks for sharing so much knowledge with all through your channel!

Thanks again for the sharing your past experiences and lessons learned. I am currently exploring the possibility of a shared studio space and your advice could not have come at a better time!

a great subject thats very current for me ..as Ive just rented an ex dance studio for a crazy low rent with a fellow photographer so we have set up together a photography studio.. Im so excited for the future & the options & opportunites that lay ahead

Great advice. My studio serves a dual purpose: it's not only a place where I do all my studio shoots, but also a place where I edit, write and hang out. And it's super affordable. It's really nice having a space where I don't have to pack up all my gear every time I'm done. It's also a commitment monetarily, which isn't a bad thing, it keeps me focused and setting up enough work to pay the bills. Thanks for being willing to discuss all these issues no one else is really talking about.

Good morning, Daniel. Thanks for inviting us into your home. It makes the video more personal. As always great information, if I lived in town I'd give the idea a lot of thought. My little home studio is being transformed for some Christmas photo shoots. I know, it's early but people aren't too busy at the moment. Cheers.

Another really insightful video Daniel. I really don't need a studio for the work in doing at the moment, but when you mentioned just having a space to shoot in, that's what I need now! Just to get a bit creative and try a few new things.

I kept a studio till 2010. It was an amazing 19th-century ballroom that I shared with a band and one other photographer. Slowly, over time, all of my work became location work up and down the northeastern, US so I gave it up. In my case, giving it up was the best business decision I've ever made but even now, almost 10 years later, I still miss having that space.

Always love your experiences and insights, I think there is something for everyone here. And I was wondering what was going to happen when winter struck 😂

Thank you Mr. Norton. I'm trying to become a food photographer, and looking at studio spaces in my area, none have a kitchen, so for the foreseeable future, I'm going to have to shoot at my house (or restaurants, if a client would require it).

Great Video.

Don't have a studio, but have been looking at the financials of it, so I really enjoyed this video.

Thank you for this video with good advice. My first studio was a 10'x10' canape at the farmers market. It was $25 a day and about 4 hours with time to take customers. Work good for me. Did not make a profit, but had a lot of fun. Now my studio is at a flea market type mall, I get a roughly 100 square feet to use as my studio in a business space. The hours of the mall have is 11am to 6pm three days a week. I have a business licence and liability insurance. I love it. Learning a lot about this business and enjoying it. Where I live is in a small city with a university and next to the middle of nowhere. The main business are the university and hay. Again Thank you for this wonderful video.

Great advice, Daniel! Thanks for the tip about Peerspace - for some reason I’d never heard of it before. You asked for video suggestions so here are some ideas: 1. Common fears that new photographers have and how to get over them. 2. Mistakes you’ve made in your career, and common mistakes you see others make, and how to avoid them. 3. War stories of shoots that were tough and what you learned, or stories of jobs you’re particularly proud of and what went right and why. 4. Photography associations. Are they worth it? Which ones? Who should join? 5. Photography trade shows. Which ones do you like/recommend? How to get the most out of them. Dos/don’ts. 6. Finding clients & marketing your photography services. 7. Agents. When do you need one? How do you find one? What does an agent do for you? What are the costs/benefits of having an agent? 8. Deep dive on pricing photography services. How to price when you’re starting out. How to know your level. Psychology of pricing. Return customer pricing. Discounts. Etc. 9. Tips for traveling with photography equipment. Gear and workflow tips for location shoots.

Hi Daniel, In my house, I have a very large formal dining room with a high ceiling and large window So I use that as my studio space

Our local public library has conference rooms that they allow me to use as an amateur/hobbyist photographer for free.

For now I use my living room or to location I Can bring my equipment in I plan to get a small studio in my backyard

We have a state run auditorium in town that rents out rooms for 25 and hour! Surprisingly great rooms!

Thanks Daniel very good insight.... I have been looking for a space going on 4 years. I am at the point .... like right in the middle where it can go either way. Getting the bigger jobs here and there but not big enough to have a large ish studio on my own. So for the time I rent out airplane hangers.... the small plane type.... but I drool at the idea of having my Fedex shipments be delivered to where I am most days. I’ve looked into the “rental” studios as well but finding here in Ohio it’s super tough to schedule your time “allotment “ due to the membership size. If you will in your studio is it simple rent or do you have to pick up taxes and maintenance as well? Ceiling height or the lack of is proving to be hard to find as well. Thanks for sharing another great chat and insight!

Thanks for the great content, as always. I have considered getting into portrait photography. What are your thoughts on shooting with a green screen rather than backdrops?

So I'm one of those garage studio types, LOL. I would really love to get a studio outside my home and have even talked about it with some other photographer friends, but its just really hard to get that commitment. We all do some work in studio, but more of it is on location and/or outdoors. So the studio space is at this point more of a "nice to have" rather than a "must have". As you pointed out, it is risky to take on the expense if you are not sure you've got the steady income stream to support it, which I currently don't. That said, I appreciate hearing about your experience in sharing a studio space. Seems to me that has to be the way to go.

I would love to have my own space but as I don't do it as a job I just book times with models on studio says at my friends home studio and other studios in my area. I have done shoots in models homes before and they were great and different as the model styled the shoot and had a lot of bohemian furniture etc. In the UK a lot of the touring models will do shoots from hotel rooms and Air B&B apartments to give a different look from a studio setup

My studio is in my basement. Yes, it's small but it's doable. I purposely got lights and stands so I can have a portable studio. That especially works well with going to the shelter. I do have friends who may be interested in sharing a space but I don't have the budget for it now. Also, I would need access to a place (outside) where my clients/subjects can relieve themselves if you know what I mean :)

IMO.. It doesn't matter if you record out or indoors. Thank you for the good content.

Thanks Daniel, is that an Instax camera by your coffee cup, i have one too! Over time i have been picking up studio gear as money allows.

Thanks Daniel. How about a video - Day in the life of a studio photographer. Not just taking pictures, but all the minutia we don't always think about.

I have my second bedroom as my studio @rc1photography I always tag you lol thanks for your insight.

Great insight as always. What. Are your thoughts, if any, on those of us who live way away from the big city? My expenses are quite a bit less for rent etc, but my client base is smaller. Are there big companies in say NY that would want product or food photography done at a smaller studio outside of the city that could supplement a small town photographers income? How would you go about getting in touch with them? Maybe there are others who live in rustic areas, great for landscape and wildlife photography but you can't always pay the bills by selling tree pictures, who could use some tips for indoor shooting jobs available in the cold of winter or the middle of summer.

Thanks Daniel great info.. I am starting out as a professional portrait photographer but I have absolute no budget. I have my basic equipment but no studio, cash for fancy adverts etc. What would be my best options?

Currently only really have a spare bedroom in my house. I certainly wish it was bigger. I'll have to see if there are any spaces for rent around me. Perhaps I could also run it past the photography club that I belong to.

I'm building my one studio right now :) 150 m2 inside an old milk factory. and planing the shared space in google agenda :)

Hi Daniel. I am an enthusiast trying to get started on a budget home studio lighting equipment for studio portraits and perhaps location portraits. Question: If I am buying only one soft box for now, how important is it if the inside lining is white or silver? I am talking about a 34” beauty dish EZ lock box that also has a removable grid. The white is out of stock because it is clearly the most popular (sliver model is readily available). Furthermore, in some instances, the white can be much more expensive than the silver one (not the case for the 34”). I am not in a hurry and can wait for white to be back in stock. But I am curious to know your informed opinion. Thanks.

Still working on location shoots. I looked into studio space rentals. Nothing close by. And the ones I did find, most of my profits from the shoot would go towards the studio. If I included it in my rate, I would be pricing myself out. As for your porch Daniel, maybe we can start a GoFundMe for a three season room for your place :o) I miss the birds chirping but not the trucks! Lol.

My studio is set and ready to go. So when are you coming to Houston? LOL

Am setting up a small home studio in my basement.

I have a "studio" that I set up and tear down in my living room, or even haul to clients' homes. I'd love to have a permanent place where I could store my gear, but I can't justify it. I have investigated renting studio space by the hour or half-day, but haven't been able to justify it yet.

It's been done before but , If you were asked to do a "Corporate Headshot" assignment where you had to shoot maybe six or eight people for a corporate website, what would be your workflow including small adjustments in post. cheers 👍👍

At this point I set up my lights and my x-drop backdrop in my living room. I live in a small town so I don't do high volume headshots or portraits. I think my shots look as though they were shot in a regular studio and so far the clients that I have had like my work. It would be great if you checked it out. @steveperryphoto on Instagram. We only have three studios in town and I don't think they would be into sharing or renting. So for now it's my living room. Thanks for another insightful video.

i recently rented a space for my studio, hated winter months , now its my home away from home

Yeah a studio is very convenient but there is a down side. I am a wildlife photographer but I got tired of all the travelling and living under poor conditions. So I rented a studio in the middle of town but man, getting those Elephants and Giraffes in the studio is such a hassle. Any tips ??