Top Things to Consider When Booking a Studio for Photography or Videography
Whether your client has a specific vision for their project or you simply need a space where you can set up controlled lighting for your shoot, every photographer and / or videographer will, at some point, need to rent a studio for a project. If you haven’t had the chance to rent a studio before, it can be a really fun and exciting experience that can add another level of professionalism to your work. It can also be disastrous, however, if you aren’t properly prepared. Sure, the process of finding a nice looking studio online, setting up a day/time with your client and booking it is relatively straightforward, but there are a few key factors that you should be aware of before locking anything in. With a bit of preparation and foresight, you can really utilize the studio to your advantage and, in turn, ensure that you and your client have a successful photo / video shoot. Here are the top things to consider when booking a studio for photography and videography:
The Time of Day
When you find the perfect studio for your project, your first instinct may be to book the first day and time that is available. Or, your client may have provided you with specific days / times that work for them. But, before you lock in a studio time, consider how the time of day will affect the overall vibe in the studio, along with your photos.
A lot of studios have windows to allow natural light into the space. Natural lighting can, of course, drastically change the shadows, highlights and tones within an image. If you’re looking for warm images, and are even considering playing with some soft shadows in some of your frames, you will likely want to book your studio time for early in the morning or later in the evening, sort of in the golden hour timeframe. If you’re looking for more of a moody vibe, you could book the studio so that you have it during dusk or blue hour and into the night.
Though booking a studio early in the morning or in the evening may not be ideal for everyone’s calendars, the studio’s lighting can make or break your vision. If your client really doesn’t want to have a photo or video shoot early in the morning or later in the evening, you could try explaining to them that the lighting during those particular timeframes will really help elevate their final images / videos.
If, of course, your client can only make midday studio times work, you can definitely still take great photos in studio. The beauty of a studio is that you can really set up your shots and hone in on a specific look in a controlled environment, even if it means using studio lighting to achieve it. Just be aware that the natural lighting elements in the studio will be providing harsher light during the midday hours, so, if you do decide to take images near the windows, the highlights and shadows will be more extreme, and your overall images may look a bit washed out.
The Sun’s Position
So, you booked a studio right during golden hour, rolled into the parking lot with the warm glow of the sun streaming into the car, and daydreamed about all of the warm looking images you’re going to capture, as you grab your camera gear and head inside. And then, as the door of the studio opens, you are met with… a very shaded space. What gives?
The sun, of course, rises and sets at certain points in the sky depending on the day and season. When booking a studio for photography or videography, especially if you’re planning on using natural lighting, it’s important to find out where exactly the sun will be during your studio time. That way, if you’re looking for those warm golden hour tones, you’ll be able to determine whether you should head to the studio for sunrise or sunset.
It can also sometimes be helpful to know the sun’s positioning if you’re looking to avoid certain tones or lighting scenarios. I was filming a video at a studio once and I was pumped for the morning golden hour glow; however, I didn’t realize that the sun would literally be pointing directly at my subject’s face during our planned video time, leaving a very, very bright block of orange light on their face. Because of this, we had to wait for the sun to rise higher in the sky so that the strong light wasn’t in our shot anymore, which wasted valuable studio time. Lesson learned.
Some photography and videography studios tell you where the sun rises and sets in relation to their windows on their websites and / or studio listings. If not, reach out to the owner via email or social media. It’s valuable information to have, and will help you better plan your shoot.
What (if any) Equipment is Provided
Depending on the types of photos and / or videos you’re trying to create, you may need certain pieces of studio gear to help you achieve your vision. This could be as simple as a white photo backdrop all the way to a professional lighting set up. Purchasing or renting equipment, however, can be quite expensive, especially if you need a lot of it.
Thankfully, some studios come equipped with professional lighting gear, backdrops and even props to help you capture the content that you need. Just make sure to carefully read through the studio’s website or listing to see what equipment they have on-hand, or reach out to the studio's owner if you can’t find a detailed list.
If you are bringing your own equipment, it can still be helpful to reach out to the studio owner to find out what the power supply is like, and the placement of outlets around the studio. Again, this will just help you better plan your day, ensuring that you don’t waste any valuable studio time scrambling to figure out where and how to plug in your lights!
How the Studio Will Help Tell Your Story
This is a personal thing and totally dependent on you and your project, but, like all photography and videography projects, the setting can really help tell the story you’re trying to convey, so it’s ideal to find a studio space that really speaks to that. For instance, if you’re filming a video for a local baker, you may want to find a studio with a kitchen space so that you can show your subjects in their element, or maybe even cooking their product. A studio with a living room scene could look nice on camera, but it wouldn’t really help tell the overall story in the same way.
Luckily, there are tons of great studios out there offering a variety of different scenes, colour palettes and lighting opportunities. The key is to determine the types of shots and the story that you’re trying to tell, and then search for local studios that meet that vision. Once you have a few shortlisted, you can present them to your client to see which one they like for their photos or video, which is important because the location needs to not only help tell the story, but also properly showcase their brand.
Conclusion
Booking a studio for photography and / or videography can be both fun and essential for your client’s project. But, without proper planning, it can also be disastrous. To ensure that you and your client make the most of your time in studio, make sure that you book studio time when the lighting and sun’s position works for you and your client’s vision. In addition, determine what equipment (if any) the studio provides so that you can bring your own equipment, should you need it. Lastly, consider how your chosen studio will help you tell the story you’re trying to portray. There are a lot of nice looking studios out there, but booking one that helps accentuate the story is key to developing your project.