Can a home studio be seen as professional by the public?

[csa]

So far most of our work has been with people we know or friends of friends. So far so good, but as we expand, I have to wonder how far we can take it with working out of our home. We do mostly location work but have set up a full blown studio on occasion in the living room. We've also taken lights to people's homes. When looking at advertising though, does it work without a studio location?

[L Stegall]

I think it really depends on how you present it. My wedding photographer had a home studio and I never thought a thing about it. Fran Reisner has a fabu home studio behind her house. I know a top notch photog in Florida who does the same. If people are stepping over your kids toys and/or dirty laundry or dishes to sit down and look at stuff, that's a different story. I think you could easily work on location and/or rent studio space if need be and do well.

[Ahh!]

This should be interesting.

[HotHolly]

The main thing with the public's perception of a physical studio is that you appear non-transient. They know where to find you. Without that, some may worry without borrowing credibility from past clients (aka WOM = increased trust).

When we started out, we used to be 100% on location too. Child sessions were tricky around here. Everything is dead 8 months out of the year. Its either too hot or too cold to have nice vegetation in the background. I used to have the sessions in the clients home. It was advertised as a perk. We bring all the stuff to you. Your child will also be more comfortable in their own home. Lots of kids would show off their house, their room, their favorite toys. Instant bonding. And that = better photos and a fun session for the kid.

It did NOT hinder price. Child sessions at that time were grossing just over $1K, including the session fee and post-session sales. It became a bragging right to have us come to them. They told all their friends that it was a wonderful experience and much less draining on the parents, than going to a studio.

You CAN pull it off as a perk. And it totally has its advantages from the clients POV. Its all how you spin it. ;o)
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My brain went in a different direction than you may have been asking. If this is off topic, just ignore me. lol. :o)

[Shelby Lane]

It really does depend on how you present it to the public. I started off with a home studio and did very well, but yes, I did have to fight the perception with some clients that I should be "reasonable" because I was not paying studio rent. Having a "real" studio does give you some presence. The hardest part about working from my home was overcoming my OWN negative perceptions -- worrying that people were going to see me as unprofessional or think that I was charging too much. I have had some clients who absolutely would not consider visiting a studio in someone's home, and I understand that. But they have no problem with someone bringing the studio to them. On a more personal note: after having a home studio, I don't know if I'd ever want people in and out of my house like that again. If I had a separate building on the same land, maybe. But it was extremely hard to separate my business and personal lives when I lived with the studio and the studio lived with me.

I have just recently gone back to all location work after four years of paying studio rent... and I just raised my prices. Location work is so custom, and you can take fewer sessions each day, and it takes more time for travel and often for the actual session and processing. My clients have seen the switch as a positive thing, because of how I've presented it -- they can see the convenience and the level of customization it brings. It's likely that I will go back to studio work after a year or so, but when I do, I'll own the space.

[bondarnes]

I have come full circle. I started out working from my home, but doing everything on location. After that, I was in a commercial building for over ten years paying rent like Shelby. It was my establishing and growing period.

Then we bought a very nice property with a 3,000+ sq.ft. home and a 2,700 sq. ft. detached converted garage for the studio. Our business really took off during this time and we were always right next door for our children. It was the perfect combination, until Walgreen's made me an offer I couldn't refuse. So I took the money and bought a nice home on 2.5 acres and added on my 30X40 dream camera room. I had enough money left for a down payment on a nice home in an upscale neighborhood.

Our business was never able to fully recover from 9/11 so we moved into the upstairs of the studio in 2007 and sold our home. It wasn't the ideal situation, but we were able to keep the business and our personal life separate.

A couple of weeks ago we sold this property and have a contract to buy a house. We will not have a studio there, but will go back to working on location. So now we are back where we started in 1970. Working from home, but photographing on location. We will have a dedicated sales room at our home so that part will be different.

I have been in home studios that were fabulous and you weren't sure whether the people lived there or not and I have been in others where you could smell dinner cooking and hear the kids fighting. The ideal would be two separate buildings on the same lot. The second best would be a studio in the same building where you live, but totally separated with a different entrance. Anything less than this will have your clients questioning your professionalism.

[toverman]

You can't argue with Don's experience!

I've seen a few home studios, and the ones that made me feel at ease were completely separate from the main house. One was a detached garage that was converted to the studio/sales area, and besides newborns much of the photography took place outside on the property. There's a pool/waterfall, rustic swing hanging from a tree and manmade "riverbed" along with lots of trees, etc.

Not only does separate, dedicated work space seem more professional to me, it's easier to separate work and family life that way. It's a sanity thing. Wouldn't be ideal to have a studio set up in your living room, a central part of your living quarters.

[srwatters]

If you want to see a killer 'home' studio, look up Fran Reisner north of Dallas.

[MicWayWal]

- It is kinda frustrating. I started out in my house in 1981. Everyone would ask if I was full time. I made a comfortable living.
- When we starting having kids I moved to a office building location to separate from the family to be treated seriously. Built my business to a yearly Gross of $750,000 a year. I was able to keep about 17% of that yearly. But it was not because I was in a office location. Tell you the secret in a minute.
- Built the studio of my dreams in a West Plano upscale location at a cost of $145,000 that opened in 2000. It was a peach. I promise you the first person that walked in my studio asked me if I went on location to shoot. You can't please them. Almost died there when the first shoe fell with the stock market crash in March 2000. Never recovered from the second shoe that fell on 9/11. Hung on until 2003 when my landlord asked if I wanted to let a bank move in my space. I jumped at the opportunity.
- Moved back to my house to get small and lean again. Now I pick and choose what I want to do. Don't have to accept just anything anymore.

Here is the secret. Take what you are, how you want to work, AND where you work as a BENEFIT to your customer. Sell it to them. You will find your customer. Sometimes they will find you. They will like you because you fit them. Find a niche and fill it. You can succeed.

[photojournalist]

Wow, inspirational words Michael. Makes me want to go find my niche when I wake up tomorrow.




http://www.khamphaphoto.com

[jonnydonut]

Always wondered the same thing. I have images in my portfolio that suggest I have a studio. When clients ask I say "no, I only have an emergency studio" or something along the lines of that. A few times I've worded it that I don't do studio work, but I can set up a studio at my home if needed. In Denton, as a college student I've always had a make-shift studio and roommates.

For two years with a home depot project, I had an amazing backdrop set up full time in my room in a apartment and a small bed. I pinned up sheets around the bed and even used it for photos. Not ideal, but it got the job done. I pretty much acted like my roomates room was mine and that was the designated photo room.

Now I'm in a rental home with two roommates. We have a huge living room with wood floors where i can take full body shots with a 70-200 and good background seperation. (did a lot of searching just for this). The set up stays out but rolled up and I give my roommates advanced notice. Certainly much more presentable to clients.

I would love to have something full time, or a real studio. For now, it's gotten the job done, and even with a couple commercial clients.. surprisingly no one has turned their nose up to it yet. guess it's all in how you present it. I wouldn't say "i have a studio" because it's truly far from that.

interesting to hear Don's story.

[jcmartin0313]

This is a good thread because I am currently struggling with the decision to rent some space, perhaps at Studio Arlington, lease from a photog friend on an hour by hour basis, or continue to use my home/ travel. Seems like Fran has the ideal setup..we all probably wish we could work from home like that.

[MicWayWal]

For those starting to look for space to rent I have a suggestion.

When I first started to move out of my home I was still part time in photography with a full time job. I really just wanted a office / sales room to meet with clients. I didn't need a camera room at that time.

I found a perfect solution. Office Suites. This would maintain the professional look I was seeking. Most also have a lot of perks built into the monthly fee. They have a full time receptionist to receive packages and take phone calls. People can come by during the day and drop things off for you. They have a conference room that you can show your work and meet with clients. I was always there in the evening so I pretty much had the conference room anytime I wanted it. These suites are everywhere and I chose one close to home and convenient for my clients to drive up to. When I needed to expand I bought another room and made it a camera room.

It worked so well I only stayed for two years. When I needed to grow again, an office opened up on the first floor of the building I was already in, so my next move was down one floor to that office.

Pick the right one. You don't want one buried deep in an office building. I had one on the second floor that when the elevator door opened the receptionist was right there. If you need some personal advise PM me for further help.

[Mindy H]

Originally Posted by srwatters

If you want to see a killer 'home' studio, look up Fran Reisner north of Dallas.

Fran has her Rangefinder article on her web site the shows her studio and tells a bit about it....

http://www.franreisner.com/ifyoubuildit.pdf

Thanks for the stories Michael! ....good words to hear!

[Bruce M. Morris]

So where is Fran? I havent seen her on her much lately.