Smallest Studio Size

[DigiSLR]

Ok, I've went all out and decided that I want to learn studio photograhpy in addition to my current styles of nature, high school sports, and basic candid snap shots.

Using a 30D (1.6 crop) and one of either 35 f/2 , 50 f/1.4, 80 f/1.8, what is the smallest size I will need to learn the BASICs of lighting to do things like headshots and possibly single person full body shots?

I've bought myself a great lighting book, a light meter, a 2 Strobe kit, and a backdrop stand from B&H. (My other question is where does everyone pick up their Muslin's from, does anyone have any used ones they want to get rid of, or what about making my own...)

I have a completely spare bedroom that is 12 x 12, or I can rearrange my living room when needed. I guess I could also use my garage when its not sweltering in the summer around here.


So, whats the smallest area I can begin learning about portraits?

[Silvernic]

I have a small basement studio that is 12x20 with 8 foot ceilings. You may be able to go a hair shorter than 20 for length, but it's pretty close to minimum. I don't think 12 feet is going to get your subject far enough from the backdrop and you far enough from the subject with a decent focal length.

[markperez]

Here is my thought for full body shots. With 9ft seamless paper you will probably need min 3ft either side to put lights to light up the seamless for say highkey photos. So that make in min 15ft width. Add a hair light. Say your subject is 6ft tall probably want to get the hair light maybe between 2 to 3 feet above them and with my mono lights the case of the light adds another 12 inches so there is a min of 10ft tall. Now again if your subject is 6ft tall the you want the subject around 5 to 6 ft away from the background and depending on your lens you want to be 3 to 6 ft away from your subject if not more. So that is 12ft long. So I figure 15ft wide 12 long and 10 ft high just for your shooting area. Then you have to have some place to put stuff that isn't being used when your shooting.

This is just my thoughts on how to figure out the size and it is also about the size that I shoot in.

[xjben]

I don't have a studio, but I would think Mark's estimates seem reasonable. I was thinking the mall/cheap portrait options in department stores use about that much space. Doesn't give you much room for flexibility though, so to be much more confortable I'd think the 20 foot long room would be ideal.

[jbrem]

I have about a 12x12 and it's really too small. It's a spare bedroom where the door leads into the living room and I am constantly in the living room shooting while my model is in the studio. also, Mark is correct about needing the extra room on the sides of the seamless for lights. I'd say 15x20 would be as small as I would go if I had a choice...

[Moses on the Street]

I hate to resurrect this old thread but I did a search for "studio size" and this one came up.

I have a room that is 21 x 13 with 8 foot tall ceilings. You guys think it will work?

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by Moses on the Street

I hate to resurrect this old thread but I did a search for "studio size" and this one came up.

I have a room that is 21 x 13 with 8 foot tall ceilings. You guys think it will work?

yep.

Would be nice to have higher ceilings, but you can get some decent work done in that space.

[Moses on the Street]

I forgot to include that I, also, have a 30d. I'm not sure I understand the relationship between room size and crop factor.

[babybluetx23]

I have a 15x15 with 8 foot celings. So far it has worked out well for my needs. I have shot a max of 5 people in the studio and it presented no problems for me.

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by Moses on the Street

I forgot to include that I, also, have a 30d. I'm not sure I understand the relationship between room size and crop factor.

A 30D is going to be 60% less wide than a 5D. Thus, you just have to factor in how your lens selection works with the space you have. 50mm on a 5D will be 50mm Field of View, on a 30D it'll be more like 80mm...thus tighter...Your FL will be the same, but you have to realize that you may have to move back to get everything you want in the frame.

You more than likely will not want to use a wide lens and be close to your subject when doing portraits unless you like fisheye distortion.