Thoughts on my small photo studio...
Jan. 9th, 2026 03:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
seeyatSo, my father has repeatedly suggested and pressingly implied me toward moving my studio gear into the small office, upstairs. I understand his forwardly expressed concern. He fears that someone will see things through an open door or window and steal them.
...I'll be honest, if that's such an adamant possibility, I'd prefer living elsewhere. I know this is a "red zone" on some crime maps. I would also prefer that successful execution of my creative passion be a priority over paranoid hoarding of equipment in a little, practically mirror-surfaced room where light bounces so much I lose all control of it and wind up with light-saturated images lacking texture and detail.
There are ways of working around some things, such as the color of surfaces. I can paint all the walls and ceiling matte black or hang black fabric on every wall. I can erect V-Flats or V-Flat alternatives like Lava Flats all around. I can make very intentional and controlled use of any sorts of flags and light blockers.
Most of those options take up much more space than seems comfortably practical and also make way for my biggest concern... the comfort of the people I'm photographing. I don't want people smushed into a room.
So, I'll still definitely be doing most of my people shooting in the living room space, where there's a kitchen table and a seat for people to sit on. One of my rules for shooting strangers and new acquaintances is they bring a friend so it's easier on us both and they actually feel secure in the already intimate space.
I do enjoy the challenge of this tiny space. It's encouraging me to deeply think on collapsible and convertible furniture. There are so many options there inspired by Japanese designs and New York City apartments. I've found some folding shelf systems, collapsible table and chair combos, lighter chairs and couches and smaller designs, etc.
I love the way this is inspiring me to consider ways of consolidating space with maximum practicality.
The basement will be a workspace with a couple of workbenches and shelving units so that's not an option... it just seems dad's hellbent on me keeping this venture out of my living room.
...and his reasons are understandable, yet somewhat smothering. ...suppose, that's just dad-like energy.
...I'll be honest, if that's such an adamant possibility, I'd prefer living elsewhere. I know this is a "red zone" on some crime maps. I would also prefer that successful execution of my creative passion be a priority over paranoid hoarding of equipment in a little, practically mirror-surfaced room where light bounces so much I lose all control of it and wind up with light-saturated images lacking texture and detail.
There are ways of working around some things, such as the color of surfaces. I can paint all the walls and ceiling matte black or hang black fabric on every wall. I can erect V-Flats or V-Flat alternatives like Lava Flats all around. I can make very intentional and controlled use of any sorts of flags and light blockers.
Most of those options take up much more space than seems comfortably practical and also make way for my biggest concern... the comfort of the people I'm photographing. I don't want people smushed into a room.
So, I'll still definitely be doing most of my people shooting in the living room space, where there's a kitchen table and a seat for people to sit on. One of my rules for shooting strangers and new acquaintances is they bring a friend so it's easier on us both and they actually feel secure in the already intimate space.
I do enjoy the challenge of this tiny space. It's encouraging me to deeply think on collapsible and convertible furniture. There are so many options there inspired by Japanese designs and New York City apartments. I've found some folding shelf systems, collapsible table and chair combos, lighter chairs and couches and smaller designs, etc.
I love the way this is inspiring me to consider ways of consolidating space with maximum practicality.
The basement will be a workspace with a couple of workbenches and shelving units so that's not an option... it just seems dad's hellbent on me keeping this venture out of my living room.
...and his reasons are understandable, yet somewhat smothering. ...suppose, that's just dad-like energy.
