Do you want to convert your Garage into a Photography Studio?

Watch this video to take a tour of my garage photography studio and I’ll show you what I’ve done!

Garage Photography Studio Tour Video Transcript:

0.0 sec Hi!  This is Juventa with Vezzani Photography and HomeBakedJoy.com and I just want to talk to you today and give you a tour of my studio.  So, let’s go!

14.4 sec Okay.  Here is a shot of where I do a lot of my work.  I was able to convert my garage into a fully functioning photography studio.  I do individual and family portraits in here as well as stock photography.  Right now my lights are set up for food photography.

32.8 sec One important aspect of making your garage feel like a professional studio is having a defined space.  I purchased painter’s drop cloths made out of muslin fabric and they work beautifully.  They are inexpensive and HUGE and I love them!  I also purchased a black curtain rod and rings with little clasps on them to hang my curtains from the ceiling.  This gives me full coverage and privacy, allowing me and my clients to feel more comfortable.

1.0 min Next to my curtains I have a Foba TT Plastic Background sheet.  I use this when I want a seamless white background for my stock photography.  It is washable and fairly durable. I also use a Manfrotto Background Support System which I love.  It is much stronger than my other support system and more stable for my backdrops.

1.4 min  On the other side of my studio I store my background boards for my food photography.  I have a weathered painted white panel that I use for an antique or vintage look.  I also have a white wash wooden board that I sometimes use.  Another inexpensive option for a background board for food photography is to use wainscot.  You can buy it at your local hardware store and cut it down to the size you need.

1.8 min In addition to my wooden backgrounds, I store a black Foba Plastic Background sheet to use when I want to do a seamless black background.  It is also flexible and washable like the white one.

2.1 min  The next thing I want to talk about is lighting.  Many garages have windows which can be a problem when you want to have controlled lighting.  There are two options here.  One is to permanently cover the windows with a dark curtain or dark paper.  Another one, which I currently use, is to create a diffused light source.  I have a roll of seamless white background paper that I use for family portraits.  I have it mostly rolled up just enough to diffuse the light coming in from the outside.  As my food photography is facing the garage door, this can add a soft glow to my photography and hasn’t been a problem for me.  Obviously at night, outside light is pretty much a non-issue.

2.8 min  Now I want to talk about my studio lights.  As I mentioned previously, my photography studio is set up for food stock photography as well as for photos for my food blog.  I will go into greater detail in a future video as to the specifics of studio lighting.  For now I will just give an overview.  I have my large Octobox placed in the back to back light my food.  I LOVE my Octobox.  It is a giant diffuser and gives a really soft glow to my pictures.  Next to my Octobox, I use a studio light with an umbrella.  This is the perfect placement for some dramatic side lighting.  I also have a studio light using an umbrella coming in from the front.  I like to use Alien Bees for my studio lighting.  They are a decent price for a really HIGH QUALITY studio light.  When I took my studio class, this was the lighting that my instructor recommended.  Well worth the price for what you get.  I have 2 B800s and 1 B400.  The B800s have a lot more power and can create a dramatic source of light.  The B400 is half as powerful but still very strong.  I love that depending upon what time of day it is, I can simply do micro adjustments on my studio lights and get exactly what I am looking for.

4.2 min One thing I wanted to quickly mention was the finish on my floor.  I bought a dark concrete stain to give my studio floor a more polished look. Next I want to talk about my food photography table.  I found this little table at an antique shop called, “In the Barn.”  It is made of weathered barn wood and has a white wash finish.  It is definitely a unique addition.  On top of my table I have a higher quality food backdrop from Erickson Woodworks.  I got in on Etsy.  While is it quite costly, I have been extremely pleased with the high professional quality that I have been able to get with my food photography.  This board is double sided.  The back has a mock concrete finish which allows me to take food on a more modern background.  I also like to simply use my table top as a background for many of my food stock photos.

5.0 min  Another item I have in my studio is this little black stool that I got from Target.  This little gem has been used for countless family portrait sessions, inside and out, as well as a table for my props.  I have also used it to stand on when I want to take a shot directly over my food.  You will need a sturdy support system and have to use caution when taking overhead shots.  I will sometimes switch from my 100mm Macro Lens (my go to food photography lens) to my 50mm Lens when taking overhead shots.

5.6 min The last thing I want to show you is this reclaimed TV entertainment center.  I needed a place to store all of my props and this was perfect.  It was free and helps to keep the dust off of my dishes.  Most of my props are inside my kitchen right now, but it’s nice to have a place to store them when you need to.

5.6  Alright, that’s the tour of my studio.  Thanks for watching.  We’ll see you next time.  Bye!

***I’d like to thank my daughter for filming this video:)***

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