Some photographers are in the enviable position of having their own professional photo studio facility to use whenever they please. But the rest of us have to rely on rented studio arrangements to do some of our work. Renting studio time can be a very convenient, and even affordable, way to do your photo shoots. However, I’ve done some of my best, and most profitable, work from home. Often, it’s just been easier that way for both myself and my clients.
How Does Renting Studio Space Work?
Traditional studio rentals involve booking blocks of time at a facility designed for photography, videography, and sometimes events. For a fee, you can use areas of the studio and sometimes even equipment like lighting gear and backdrops during your shoots. You may have to become a member and commit to a minimum number of hours per month, and you’ll have to compete with other photographers/members for popular time slots.
I Needed an Alternative to Renting a Photo Studio
Sure, working out of a rented commercial studio space is great. It can be convenient to do the occasional photo shoot at a managed facility. But there are plenty of drawbacks for the type of work I do. Working from my own space seems to complement the type of shoots I do, and just my working style in general. Here are several reasons I prefer working in my own space (mostly at home):
- Saving Time and Money: No studio rental fees, overtime fees, or equipment usage charges.
- Control of Schedule: No competing with other photographers for good time slots. Easier to handle rescheduling for my clients/models.
- Control of Environment/Privacy: No studio personnel milling about. No privacy issues with studio security/webcams, especially important for boudoir clients who are not professional models.
Do Professionals Really Work From Home?
I’ve never had any issues with clients concerned about where I do my work. I believe in good communication and transparency from the start. Make sure your website reflects the quality of your work, and let your clients know that you work out of your home, and there shouldn’t be any problems. You are the artist, and they’ll just take for granted that you do your best work in your chosen environment.
Yes, professionals can work on-location, at clients’ homes, at studios, and in their own homes.
Things to Consider When Setting Up a Portrait Photography Studio at Home
There are a few things you’ll need to consider when operating as a working portrait photographer out of your own home:
- What type of photography will you be doing?
- What gear will you need?
- How to select and set up the best space in your home
I cover several of these points in the following video. This is a webinar replay I recently posted, and it includes several tips on how to get set up to produce quality work from your own home studio. There are even a few examples of basic lighting setups for those who are unfamiliar.
The video also mentions a few bonus download packages. [Link below]
👉 Get your free bonus downloads here!
👉 Flash Photography for Portraits Course & Bonus Bundle
