I’ve had this idea in my mind for so long and I’ve never had the courage to actually bring it to reality, but I have a photography studio now! It’s not a small deal, and if you want to have one, you should have in mind that it’s quite the action that costs money, time and effort. I started small though, I wanted to get the essentials first and step by step buy the rest of the equipment and with that to become the type of photographer that can do portfolios for people. I’m fully devoted to that goal and I must say that besides making a thorough research online, an important part of the whole evolution of the job process involves visiting Australian camera stores to see how the technological aspect develops.
With such vast offer of products, one could really get confused and disappointed and just give up. That’s why I am here; I went through the entire experience, and I know what you need to buy first in order to start with your studio. The first thing you need to do is to of course find well-equipped Australian camera stores and then make your list of ‘things to buy’ to start your shopping hunt.
A Backdrop
The backdrop is the background you’ll be taking the photos on. It’s something similar to a wallpaper and comes in a roll of paper. You can choose the size and colour, as it can be found at all possible options. An alternative to the paper could be a piece of cloth, like velvet or similar, which is always a good idea.
The Camera
Obviously, this is your most important piece of equipment. Now, for a professional photography studio, you’d need a really good camera, and the choice of one really depends on various factors such as what will you be shooting, will you limit your work only in the studio, will you offer your favours to companies, and similar things to consider. The important thing not to forget here, is that your camera should be wired to the studio lights which means you need to get sync cables. Normally, don’t forget about choosing quality lenses and other accompanying gear for the camera as a separate piece of equipment.
Main Lights
For starters, you’d benefit largely from a softbox here. This is a diffuser, and as such it softens the light and makes the shadows less harsh, giving window-shaped catchlights in the eyes. You should also pay attention to the height, distance and angle of the main light so you acquire the light you want. The flash should be strong enough and most importantly, it should be controlled easily, like through a button on the flash head.
Reflector
At the beginning, light will be your most important issue, as you want to know how to master this issue really well so you get awesome photos. The reflector is used to bounce the light back from the main light and direct it towards the shaded side of the subject’s face. The point of this is to still have a shadow but make sure it’s not too dark.
All in all, besides the proper location and some basic logistical features, these would be your most important elements so you can start working in your studio. Of course you’ll need to upgrade it as time passes by and you’re financially capable to do so. Do your magic.
