5 Terrific Tips For A Studio Photography Shoot!
How to get the best value from your photography session?
One of the things you need to consider when you are planning to have a photoshoot done is whether you want to have a studio photography session or not. This article will go through what makes studio photography a versatile choice and how you can make the most from your studio photography session with Renphotos, the studio photographer near you!
We will look at ways to make the studio more creative and even advise on lighting techniques. So read on and gain great tips for any studio photography experience!
1. What is studio photography?
2. Why choose studio photography?
3. How to make the most from studio photography packages?
4. What to expect from Renphotos studio packages?
5. Some themed photoshoot studio photography ideas.
What is studio photography, and why consider it?
Studio photography is done in a controlled setting, typically indoors with a backdrop and where the photographer has complete control over the light and ambience affecting the image.
Most basic studio photography lighting setups have two lights shot through umbrellas, creating soft and diffused lighting along with a tall white infinity backdrop.
The backdrop stretches past the subjects’ heads and onto the floor and helps create the illusion that there is no background; this also opens up a whole new world of editing opportunities!
Why choose studio photography for your photoshoot?
Studio photography is desirable for many reasons, especially when you want to showcase something. There are six advantages to a studio photography setup, and we will go through some of them here.
1. A plain backdrop means no distractions from the main subject. The backdrop allows you to bring focus to the subject. Making it perfect for product photography or model portfolios, but that certainly does not limit it to these genres; if you wanted a family photo studio session, that’s also great!
2. Because of the combination of the controlled studio photography lighting and the space you are working with, you get pure light, creating a more polished look than in natural lighting.
3. You can get creative with different backdrops or bring in décor and furniture– the sky is the limit! You essentially have a clean slate to work with, have some fun and see how creative you can get.
4. Changing outfits is generally more manageable in the comfort and space of a studio.
5. You also don’t have to sweat or freeze as most studios come with aircon or heating! So shiny make-up is not an issue anymore, but also being able to heat the space makes it ideal for newborn and baby photo shoots where the temperature is essential.
6. Likewise, studio photography is not affected by weather, so if it’s raining, you do not have to postpone your photo shoot as you would with an outdoor photography session.
How to make the most of studio photography packages?
Before you decide to go ahead with a studio photoshoot, consider these points to make sure you are getting the most from your studio photography packages.
1. Make sure you know the size of the studio before you go and that it is appropriate for the size of the group you bring along. For example, a 3-metre backdrop is enough space for a family of 3 or 4 and is excellent for individuals and couples. However, any more people than this will likely require a bigger backdrop and limit the number of poses you can do.
2. That said, you may not want too many big group photos and smaller groups – so be sure to discuss these options with your studio photographer before booking.
3. Check everything included in your package. Many people assume the décor and furniture are all included in the shoot. But this is not always the case – especially if you have a specific look or feel you want to go for
4. If you have a specific look in mind, it’s best to share images with your photographer so they can let you know if they have that particular décor or furniture available or can get it for you. The more you communicate about what you want, the better. But bear in mind additional décor will most likely cost more, and in some cases, it can quickly go over the actual shoot price.
5. Ask what kind of editing is part of the package – Studio photography sometimes requires quite a bit of extra editing to get that polished look
6. Check what backdrops are available – Some studios might have more creative backdrops for you.
1. If you are looking for more creative lighting techniques, be sure to share your studio photography ideas with the photographer to let you know if they can create this type of lighting for you.
Some lighting techniques require specific lighting or backdrops and the knowledge of setting the shots up.
So don’t just take it for granted that if you have a shoot in the studio, it will look how you want it to without any prep work. There are many different studio photography lighting setups.
2. Ask if you can bring additional décor with you – this may be an option to get the right shot. For instance, you might want to include a specific piece of furniture you have available or your own Christmas décor.
3. Also, check how many outfits you are allowed to change – Some studio photography packages don’t allow you to change at all, while others may allow 2-3 changes depending on the amount of time you booked.
4. Arrive ready to go for your photoshoot- dressed in your first outfit and with makeup done, so all you need to do is check in the mirror and go. Your hour starts at a specific time, and you want to make sure you are getting all the photos you can in that time.
5. On that note, also aim to arrive 15 minutes before your photography session so that you are ready to go on time as there is often other sessions booked after yours, and you will lose out if you are late.
6. Don’t wear white for a white studio background – unless this is a specific look you want to go for, wearing white sometimes has the effect of making you look like a floating head – white on white can be challenging to photograph.
What to expect from Renphotos studio photography packages?
At Renphotos, we don’t have specific packages for the studio. However, the hourly pricing base rate is the same for studio or outdoor photoshoots, even though studio photography often requires more editing.
We have small studio photography set up at my home, a basic 3-metre backdrop that is ideally comfortable for singles, couples, or small families.
The backdrop is plain white – we find it best to have a blank canvas to work with and add in décor or furniture as you wish and encase you want your studio photoshoot to be themed or have more colour.
It is reversible to a black backdrop for those who want a more minimalist look with creative lighting, and I do have experience photographing this type of minimalist look.
We then build on our base rate depending on what décor you want including or what you want out of your photoshoot.
So, for instance, for birthday shoots, the cost is R 1800.00, and we include basic décor – such as ten regular balloons filled with helium (this is important so that the balloons float in the image), some birthday flags and paper decorations.
You can choose the colours to suit the theme you are going after. The same applies to cake smash photoshoots. Foil balloons or confetti balloons are also possible but would cost extra as these items can be pretty expensive.
We get most of our décor from My China ≫, but we do have other options, so be sure to send your studio photography ideas through, and we will see how creative we can get!
We also allow you to bring in your décor if you require it, within reason – it is a small studio, so there are some space limitations. We also allow you to change outfits a maximum of three times during a studio photoshoot to ensure we still get enough images.
We also ask that you arrive in your first outfit and ready for the photoshoot – makeup in place etc. Try to arrive a few minutes before your actual start time as overtime is charged if you are late, and often we may have back to back sessions booked, which means you will lose out on your hour booking.
Some themed mini studio photography ideas and inspiration!
Still not sure you want a studio photography session? Here are some excellent Studio Photography Mini Session Ideas and inspiration for themed photoshoots to make your studio photography more fun and creative.
1. Valentine’s Day ≫ is a great time to have a mini studio photography session and shower some love on your significant other – get dressed in red and embrace everything valentines day!
2. Easter is a great time to organise a family photo session and add in some simple easter décor for your little ones to get something adorable to remember them at that age.
3. Halloween is also a really fun time to get dressed up – commemorate the outfit you spend so long putting together with a mini studio photography session!
4. Christmas Mini Sessions ≫ are by far the most popular, and we love doing these – with a wide range of decorations and Santa hats, you can have fun with this and get photos ready to send out for your family Christmas card!
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Final Thoughts
In conclusion, you can see that studio photography has so much to offer. Here at Renphotos, we love to get creative with different themes and studio photography setups, so we look forward to working with you to make your studio photography vision a reality!
Be sure to check out the Studio Photography Category ≫ for more ideas and inspiration before booking your studio photography package with us.
And be sure to check out our specials before booking your shoot! We run specials throughout the year, such as for Mothers Day ≫ and Birthdays ≫!
2 thoughts on “5 Terrific Tips For A Studio Photography Shoot!”
Good day
Could you kindly forward me your packages and pricing..I’m looking at doing a photo shoot for my 29th birthday in March.
Thank you
hi refilwe please contact me on 0725910870 or [email protected]