Pixiq

Studios come in all sizes and shapes, from a huge warehouse for photographing such things as minivans, to a small table top for jewelry pictures. The most important reason to create a shooting space that is easily accessible to you is to have control. A studio space allows you to both control lighting and to produce consistent, repeatable results.

The key to a studio space is to have enough room for objects, lights, and camera. Lights and camera need to be moved around to accommodate different subjects, which also may need to be moved around as well. Always try to find a space large enough to allow for this movement rather than one that just fits your equipment.

For most photography of normal sized objects—anything smaller than a bicycle—a space that is at least 10 x 10 feet (3.05 x 3.05 meters) will work. For smaller things like jewelry, dolls, and old toys, a tabletop space that’s 4 x 6 feet (1.22 x 1.83 meters) is all you need. When it comes to photographing large subjects—people, quilts, furniture, etc.—you’ll need a larger space. I use a room with high ceilings and at least 15 x 20 feet (4.56 x 6.1 meters) of floor space.

How Much Equipment?

Here is a list of the minimal amount of equipment for the photography of art, craftwork, collectibles, and other objects.

1. A digital camera and a zoom lens with focal lengths from moderate wide angle to moderate telephoto.
2. A memory card.
3. A tripod.
4. A background. This can be a large piece of neutral colored paper, a long roll of photo background paper, or a large piece of tight weave fabric.
5. Miscellaneous items like paper and pencil, a tape measure.
6. Lighting. One or more lights: tungsten, halogen, or electronic strobe with light stands.
7. Light modifiers. Umbrellas, reflectors, light boxes, or softboxes.