Photoshop Actions | Paint the Moon Studio Spotlight {Photography Set Up}
So, here it is, the tiny little place where my kids and my clients squeeze into for studio images. It is humble, it is messy and unorganized and it is a very simple set up. One of the most simple set ups you can have while shooting professionally in a studio setting. I’ve had many requests over the past couple years for more information and pull back shots, and have fielded a ton of questions about what gear I use and how I do things. Since I’d like to answer everyone’s requests for more information, I’m going to break this little feature into a series of posts, this being the first. Today I will cover just the basics for my set up and show you the mess that lurks in the corners.
Please note: I *adore* glorious, natural light and always, always prefer natural to a studio setting. And, in fact, I swore I would never shoot with any kind of lights for years … scoffing at anything that wasn’t beautiful, natural light. However, I do live in the Pacific NW and we have long, rainy and DARK winters which make photography in the winter months pretty near impossible most days. I’m all for roughing it and getting out in the cold and wind to take photos – but when it’s also pouring rain in addition to being dark and freezing, it makes it not just miserable (especially for little ones and babies), but darn near impossible. So, the studio was born out of necessity and an intense longing for some photo opportunities during those dark winter days. I haven’t actually set foot in the studio – which has become a dumping ground for props over the summer – since last spring when we saw our first few days of sunshine and warmth. However, the looming darkness and rain are setting in here already, so soon I’ll be dusting things off in preparation for being studio bound once again.
Prime Location
The first thing you may notice is this is smack dab in the middle of our home. I like to think of it as an ever present reminder of how much my husband loves me ? we no longer have a living room, we have a photo studio. Add that to the fact that I also convinced him many years ago to ditch our dining room in favor of a girl’s playroom and you are looking at one very patient and supportive guy.
Space, What Space?
You may think you need a huge studio space and lots of fancy gear, but in all actuality, what is important is that you have the “right” gear and setup. Ideally, this space should be bigger. Width wise, I’m doing fine, but I would love to have more breathing room when stepping back to take a photo. Now that I’m using a full frame camera (Nikon D700 … “What’s In My Bag” feature coming soon), it’s not so bad. However, when I was shooting with a cropped sensor (Nikon D300), it was absolutely too tight in there. In the studio is the only place I ever touch a zoom lens … I love my primes, but because I can’t shoot wide open to get that lovely bokeh that is my trademark look while using studio lights (more on that below) and the Nikon 24-70mm 2.8 is a tack sharp lens, I end up primarily using the 24-70 for studio work (with a cropped sensor you would need to zoom out pretty far still). The width of the room (from my background wall to the opposite wall with canvases) is 13 feet. Since you want your subject pulled off the background at least 6 to 8 feet, this makes shooting in there very, very tight. Most of the time I am shooting with subjects closer than they should be to the background and watching carefully for undesirable shadows that can be the result of a subject too close to your background.
Settings
My prime lenses are my babies … the 85mm 1.4G is rarely off my camera, except in the studio. Because I shoot with strobes (more on what I use below), I can’t shoot with a shallow depth of field like I usually do with my primes. My shutter sync speed is about 1/250 second. Any faster shutter speed and I’ll get a curtain shadow. In order to shoot at the widest aperture possible, I have my light’s power turned down ALL the way and my shutter speed as high as it can go (the 1/250 second I just mentioned). This usually puts my settings around 1/250 sec, ISO 200, f4.5. With my D700 in the studio I will also use the 35mm 1.4G, sometimes my 85mm 1.4G, and for macro work like shots of precious baby details, I’ll use my 105mm f2.8G Macro lens (I use only Nikon lenses).
Here is a little diagram showing a rough approximation of my usual set up:
The Gear
Alien Bee 800 Flash Unit ? The workhorse of the studio gear (and it’s pink!). I use the 13 foot air cushioned stand for mine. Positioned camera left. ETA: Shortly after writing this I set up a second light as a fill light camera right (an Alien Bee 400 in a slightly smaller soft box). Watch carefully to make sure a fill light is kept at a lower power than your main light and have it angled in a way that you are still getting some good dimensional shadows so your lighting doesn’t look flat. A good place would be opposite your main light and slightly behind the subject, while leaving the reflector in the same spot).
Giant softbox for my AB800 – (30″ x 60″) with speedring attached. Produces a lovely, natural soft light.
CyberSync Receiver (connects to your Alien Bee strobe) and Trigger (mounts on your camera’s hot shoe) – These allow your camera to talk to your Alien Bee and trigger the flash when you shoot. 🙂
Impact 74″ White Reflector (positioned camera right)
I see the one I use is out of stock, but the LiteDisc Oval Reflector would also work well. I use a cheap light stand that I absolutely hate and have to weight down with a pillow to keep it from toppling over. I would recommend something like this Manfrotto boom stand instead.
Savage Multiple Roll Background Stand System – I love being able to keep multiple rolls of paper or fabrics up at one time.
Sekonic L-358 Flash Master Meter – for metering light and getting a perfect balance and exposure. I also take test shots and check my histogram (using a PhotoVision Digital Target).
Savage Seamless Background Papers – An integral part of my studio puzzle. I love my Savage papers. I have a rainbow of colors on hand, if it gets dirty or ripped I can just roll more out, they aren’t a big investment so if I want some fun, trendy colors I can do that without worry, and I like the nice, clean look they give. I also love making them my own with some added texture since they are a perfect background for adding pretty textures to, giving it a look that fits with my style. I use pony clamps to hold the rolls to my baseboard and on the actual roll to keep it from rolling out too far (and those clamps are endlessly useful on all types of sessions). I have mostly the 107″ rolls. The 53″ rolls are okay if you are working with a newborn or single subject … or a very close pair of subjects that don’t mind squishing together and staying still. However, many of my little clients love to be wiggly and silly, and I totally encourage that for the type of work I do. So, I like the freedom of the 107″ width.
Flooring and Baseboard Trim – I purchased a 10 foot strip of white baseboard from my local Lowes and just roll my background paper down to meet the baseboard, clamping it on both sides with the pony clamps. My flooring is also from Lowes. It’s a special order, but fairly ordinary, laminate faux wood. We purchased a giant piece of plywood and laid the click together faux wood flooring on top of the plywood for stability. I choose this one because I liked the dark, rustic look of it. I just clicked it together on top of the plywood … I didn’t want it to be permanently attached in case I wanted to change it out or move everything in the future. The dimensions of the flooring are 8.5 feet wide by 7 feet deep (not leaving a lot of room for me when pulling my subject off the backdrop at least 5 or 6 feet … many experts recommend 6 or 7 feet).
Manfrotto 222 Joystick Head and Manfrotto 058B Aluminum Studio Pro Tripod – I absolutely adore this tripod … it’s very intuitive and superbly made, but I find myself rarely using a tripod in the studio because I have to be quick with the kiddos. I do love using it on outdoor shoots though.
So, I will leave you with the pull back shots now and you can make yourself feel better about your own messy studio when you see what a disorganized jumble mine is. Note that my light position is usually different, like the diagram, but we don’t want everything to be out in the middle of the room so I only pull them out when shooting. For the second in this series of Studio Spotlight posts I will dish out all the details on my props and answer some reader’s questions that have been sent to me. If you have a question you’d like to see possibly featured in a future installment of the studio series, you can send it to [email protected]. And if you found any of this information helpful, I would greatly appreciate it if you shared it with your photographer friends.
The distortion is from the wide angle lens, my canvases aren’t actually all crooked and wonky … a mish mash, for sure, but they are at least straight. 🙂
And one of my little Junebug after I was finished taking pictures of the mess … proof that you don’t need a super fabulous studio to take great shots:
And one of my favorites of my little girl in the studio. This is another reason why I love having the studio in my home – spur of the moment photos with great lighting can be taken any time. Addie was showing me her “Big Sister Dance” here and I asked her to show me on the “dance floor” so I could capture the moment (we had just found out I was pregnant and she was VERY excited). It was late in the evening as well as freezing cold and raining outside to boot – so this would have never been captured without my little studio. 🙂
Thanks so much for this post, Annie… I’d love to do indoor photos one day and as I can see it can be kind of affordable. ps: Funny, but at first I thought you’ve painted many times your wall studio… (shame on me LOL :o)
As usual, you give me inspiration! 😉
Thank you Annie you are a generous soul sharing your knowledge. Such an inspiration x Mellypops
Would just like to say… This is one of my favorite posts. Ever.
Thank you! 🙂
Wow, Annie… this makes me want to turn my dining room into a studio, but I have a feeling my hubby won’t like the idea, lol. Thanks so much for sharing!!!
Thank you for this post, Annie. I am thinking of buying an Alien Bee too. Would you say you would have enough power with a B400 and reflector, or do you think you really do need the B800?
Hi, Michelle! Yes, the 400 would be perfectly sufficient. I actually have my 800 turned down ALL the way down on power most of the time (I like to use as wide an aperture as possible). 🙂 Glad you found the post helpful!
I’m honestly taking every single piece and adding it to my collection! This gives me hope to make a studio out of my house! haha
What about a holder for the reflector? I’m purchasing 2 of the 13ft air cushioned stands and a litedisc reflector, but what do you suggest to hold the reflector to the stand? Thank you again! so much!
I emailed you, Amy! I have a link in the post now for a nice boom stand from Manfrotto to hold the reflector. They are a solid brand with really great quality products. 🙂
Thank you sooo much for taking the time to post this. I mainly shoot natural light but would love to get a indoor studio and this will help me get the right stuff. One of the hardest things I have found about photography is making sure you get the right equipment. Thanks again!
Ok… all the little notes around the room were cracking me up! Great tips. Thanks!
I love to see other people’s studios 🙂 thanks for sharing! I really thought you were using natural light this whole time! So great job, your lighting is so great no one can tell the difference!
? Melissa
An answer to my prayers! I’m about to go home-studio … and wow! You’ve answered all my questions! 🙂 Thank YOU to the moon and back a million bajillion times over! <3
I so appreciate this post…and I love how you added your little comments in the photos. can I ask how much you depend on the natural light from your window? It looks like you have the reflector in front of it, but I’m wondering if any natural light helps out in the set up. I’d love to do this in my basement, but there is no light at all. you rock!
Hi, Mindy! I don’t rely on the natural light at all … it looks like a large window, but I actually get very little usable light from it and the strobe (Alien Bee) overpowers any light that may be coming in anyway. The thing that is really a huge pain is the skylight above my studio. I’ve been looking into getting a shade that works by remote to place over it, but since I shoot outdoors when it’s sunny and nice out I’ve been thinking I really don’t need it. 🙂 But, you don’t need natural light coming in with this set up.
LOVE this!! Thanks so much for the inspiration and for sharing!
Thank you so much for sharing!! This is very encouraging 🙂 and hilarious! I’ve been debating on indoor lighting solutions for my living room (bouncing just isn’t cutting it!), and whether to keep on with the photography business. It’s so wonderful to see other moms making it work. Your work is absolutely fantastic, love it!
Warm sunny wishes from Nebraska,
Jenny
This is wonderful info…thank you!
Thank you so much for such great information!!
How do you put the reflector onto the stand/boom?
It comes with little clamps on it. 🙂 If yours doesn’t you could always use pony clamps like the ones I use for the backdrops.
Thank you so much for going into such detail and the pics of your setup – This helps me out tremendously. I love your site and your actions. 🙂
I too have the Alien Bees, an 800 and 400 and LOVE them. I use the 800 as my main light with reflector as you have set in your studio. The Alein Bee 400 striplight, like you have displayed in images, I have set 180 degrees from main light… so it is behind and to the opposite side of the subject. This provides a more dimensional effect to my work… might be worth a try. Thanks for your willingness to share!
Thanks, Bridget! I actually wrote this last spring and have since switched things up … my fill is sitting pretty much exactly where you described yours to be! 🙂 Thanks so much for visiting and for taking the time to comment!!
Thank you so so so much for sharing!
I loved your pullbacks! So very helpful! Is that an action you ran on the last photo of your daughter? It makes the entire photo look like it was printed on canvas. I really like it! Is it one of your actions? Thank you again for your helpful post!
Hi, Kenzi! You’re welcome – I’m glad you found it helpful. 🙂 That is actually a texture I used on the image … you can find them under the Textures menu above. Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing this with us! You are an inspiration and so very helpful many photographers do not let you into there world. Thanks again for sharing yours I found everything so helpful as I also use my dining area. Now I know I don’t need that “fancy smanchy” studio!
This was wonderful. I dont have a studio yet, hopefully someday. This gave me so much insite, thank you for sharing this!
I just loved reading this!! I myself love shooting outside. But with winter approaching I need lighting. And i am so torn on what to get with a limited budget. I love this. It just goes to show you that you don’t need a whole bunch of lights to make wonderful pictures inside. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this!! Did I mention how much I LOVE this!
Thanks so much for the tips! I’m in the process of adding to my studio right now and this is a big help. I’m curious what is the name of the pink paper roll you have? The shade is gorgeous, but it’s hard to tell with that textured photo!
Thanks again!
Thanks, Elizabeth! That’s the Coral Savage paper … it’s warmer in the photo shown here because the texture I applied was warm. You can see the true color here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paintthemoon/4291994283/in/set-72157623325749578
I have a pretty newbie question- What do you use for printing your images? Do you have your own printer or do you use a company?
Annie, thank you so much for taking the time to share this. I love natural light and shooting outdoors because it allows for much more creativity. However, I think having an in-home studio is a great alternative for those gloomy and rainy days.
Will you consider doing some workshops and travel to Dallas or Texas wouldn’t mind hosting you 🙂 I think you would be great and could offer some useful insight on editing, technique, and
more.
Again thanks for information and I can’t wait to read the rest.
Lorena {Elle.g}
so neat! thanks for sharing..wondering if those remote triggers are basically the same as radio poppers (and at a humungous price difference)? Would you recommend them??
Lisa .. yes and yes! 😉 They’ve worked wonderfully for me and are essentially the same thing, but with a lesser price tag.
Thank you so much for sharing all of this info!!! It is sooo helpful for me ( a newbie)! I really appreciate you taking the time to share and your willingness to share your secrets! I can’t wait till Christmas when my husband lets me buy “the whole shebang!” Whoo-hoo!
Loved all the info & the pull backs were very insightful. Having a small home studio as well made me appreciate your info. Have you a fav backdrop stand as I have a homemade one but finding it not quite wide enough. Do you prefer the seamless paper to fabric backdrops & if so why? Thanks for sharing. Lyndal
Hi, Lynda! I just prefer the clean look it gives, they are super easy and affordable – I can have a myriad of different colors and change them out easily, and I love being able to add my own touch with a texture like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paintthemoon/4398121957/in/photostream. 🙂
Annie, how do you get the large soft box so low to the ground? I have the 10 foot AB stands and they don’t go that low I think. Thanks!
Hi, Rosa! If you turn it vertically it’s going to be closer to the ground. I haven’t seen the 10 foot stand, but I’m assuming it’s similar. 🙂