![](../../wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IMG_1167.jpg)
Setting up a New Photo Studio
If you’re a part time photographer, setting up a dedicated studio space means you don’t need to set up and tear down every time you bring a client through.
This blog post describes my setup to achieve maximum results in a small space.
![2 light setup. Key light camera left, kicker camera right.](../../wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IMG_1190-2-1024x683.jpg)
Studio lighting gives a photographer total control over how light falls on their subject. To ensure that light isn’t bouncing off every wall, a deep grey colour (Dulux Maraetai) was chosen for the walls.
I installed a Meking 2 roller wall mounted backdrop system with 2 Savage seamless paper backdrop rolls, black and white. White backdrops are actually very versatile. With controlled studio lighting, you can make a white backdrop appear darker, most typically grey.
![Meking 2 Roller Backdrop System. Nice soft natural light from window if required.](../../wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IMG_1175-e1460919313835-1024x683.jpg)
As a carpeted floor is too soft for standing on a paper backdrop (it will crease), I bought 2 pieces of MDF thinboard to line the floor below where the backdrop fell.
![Savage 2.7m Seamless Paper Backdrop and Two 1200 x 1200 MDF thinboards](../../wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IMG_1167-1024x683.jpg)
My little model Mikayla tugging at the camera straps – as you can see, the option of natural light is an attractive alternative.
The backdrops had to be trimmed to 2.4m down from 2.7m. It’s an easy job with a hacksaw. Here’s how!
![Chopped off the end of the backdrops with a hacksaw.](../../wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IMG_1182-1024x683.jpg)
And here’s the hero in the room. I couldn’t afford for light stands to get in the way so up went an Interfit INT309 Wall Mounted Boom Arm.
![Interfit INT309 Wall Mounted Boom Arm - large range of motion.](../../wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IMG_1169-1024x683.jpg)
![Interfit Wall Mounted Boom Arm](../../wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IMG_1183-e1460919361808-1024x683.jpg)
Look, no light stands! All that room below the softbox! Perfect for little (and big) models!
![Visico 300WS Strobe with 80cm x 100cm softbox overhead. Unedited, straight out of camera.](../../wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IMG_1208-e1460919396681-1024x683.jpg)
![Single light set up - unedited straight out of camera](../../wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IMG_1210-e1460919425810-1024x683.jpg)
This is how much control you get from a well set up studio. I can’t wait to explore the possibilities! This space will give me the room to polish my understanding of lighting. I am looking forward to bringing people through my new studio. Click here to book a studio session with me.
![Digging the versatility of the Interfit boom arm. Anchored at 4 points onto wall studs.](../../wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IMG_1218-e1460919467662-1024x683.jpg)
The true hero of the day is my little angel, Mikayla.
![Daddy don't forget to put your lens cap away.](../../wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IMG_1227-1024x683.jpg)
- Aperture: ƒ/4
- Camera: Canon EOS 6D
- Flash fired: no
- Focal length: 24mm
- ISO: 1000
- Shutter speed: 1/40s