Studio Photography

[Mandar]

Hi,

Anyone recommend any photo studios in Sydney?
Most of the ones i've found are damn expensive and I probably won't use half the stuff in there as I'm still experimenting/learning with photo techniques.

I just need a nice simple studio with lights, a plain background with that curved bottom edge. Either paid by the hour or halfday is fine.
Say $50/hour, or is that too low?

Has anyone set up a studio at home? If so what equipment? How easy was it to do? and how expensive was it to set up?

Cheers,
Mandar.

[salv]

Hey Mandar, and everyone else! :-D

Check out the studios listed on buy-n-shoot . com under studio space/hire.

Sorry I couldnt paste the URL as I have not made 15 posts yet.

Also, bigfish studios in Nth Sydney are great but may be over your budget!

[ayong]

http://www.bluemurderstudios.com.au
don't know the price. but that place looks hot.

[beagle2]

try www.photocreative.com.au - I have no idea what their hire price is though. They do good one day courses so if you want to learn to set up lights and shoot studio pics I recommend that. If you have something specific you want to shoot then they'll probably help you set up etc.

You can kludge a home studio using some of those work lights from Bunnings etc, bouncing them off ceilings and white floor coverings, and slow shooting on a tripod (they usually don't give enough light for hand held). I've done it a few times and it's clumsy, but you could get 3 such lights under $100, as opposed to over $1000 for a small studio lighting kit. I have no idea how much it would cost to hire studio lights for a day.

[the_pezman]

i say go the diy as well
for a few hours of shuffling round a studio away from amenities for yourself, your subject or your camera you can grab a few bits and pieces and shoot to your hearts content at home

some cotton drill from lincraft, spotties from bunnings/supacheap, umbrella refectors off ebay and youre set for a fraction of the cost

if pixiephotos can set up at the front of woolies you can do it in your study :thumb:

[sneekers]

i'll take a photo of my setup on sat at my brothers house (i got no spare room) and add it here, so you can see

[invisage01]

sneakers - that would be awesome if you can do that! would love to see it!

[Mandar]

Yea would like to see that photo too Sneekers!

Home setup sounds good. Went to paxtons today and even the basic kit with a couple of lights and an umbrella is a grand, so screw that.
The d.i.y. at home sounds good, i'll give it a shot.

and thanks for the links to the studio sites. Most on average are $50-$60 per hour, and minimum 4-5 hours. Which is reasonable I guess..

[beagle2]

Try www.vanbar.com.au for your gear - they are a pro shop in Camperdown and they have lots of stuff on display and they are quite cheap. You might be able get some el cheapo work lights and then gaff on an umbrella reflector (about $40-100). And if you upgrade to a small studio kit you can still use the brollies with that too. I might actually do that myself!

[arradius]

Anyone know where I could get a cheap softbox and reflectors?? I've started doing studio experimentation and I am not always going to have a mate around to hold cardboard up to reflect/bounce lighting off people....

[phunkdust]

eBay for the cheap chinese stuff (hey, it works!)

[smack bob]

If you want to buy the good stuff buy it from the states, I bought ALOT of gear from the states and after conversion and shipping etc it often works out around half price, I normally buy from B&H. Also for home studio if you are being paid for the job chuck the studio in the budget, if not more expensive option is a backdrop roll setup, although yes it will cost money could be worth it. ACP in Paddo has a studio they are cheap b their gear is pretty crappy, I am guessing most photography learning places have shitty equipment.

[arradius]

Mmmm I got my camera in the states as my Dad lives over there. I would have thought that shipping would be pretty expensive though.
By ACP being cheap, how cheap is cheap?

[shuttervision]

just wondering if there is certain "Wattage" i need to buy (im planning to visit bunnings)
i know u can get various light temperatures