Studio questions..

[Richard51]

I am wanting to set up a studio. I have a access to a building 10" wide by 16' long with 8' ceilings. It also has a 8'x10' waiting room. I will have to finish it out and install lighting. My questions are; Is this adequate space and if so, What type of ROOM lighting should I install? Should it be indirect lighting? What color should I use on the walls and ceiling in the room? Also, I am considering a studio lighting set which is a continuous light set that has two five light sets (photographic no-blink flourescent) with 43" umbrellas.Each light in a set of five can be individually turned on and off. One light with 4 door barn door and one light which can be used as back light etc. This set up has a total of 1650 watts. I use a Canon 20D and have a wireless slave flash. Of course I have my background setup as well. My intent is to do family photography, senior pics, child pics, pre-wedding pics etc. Is this a good beginning studio set? I'm sure I will be adding to it later.

Thanks for any help and/or advice.

Richard

[Richard51]

OPPS!! Sorry. That is a building 10 FEET wide.

[Wilt]

Ceilings TOO LOW for standing portraiture! Look for at least 10', but preferably higher!

Also a bit narrow to permit you to set softboxes to the sides and a bit short to permit separation between subject and backdrop and also permit shooting distance!

Umbrellas allow too much light to bounce around to permit good light control, especially if the walls and ceiling are close! Color...white ceiling, any color walls *only if* you can have grey paper backround rolls to cover the color so that they don't taint your lighting!

[Richard51]

Thanks for your answer, Wilt. From your experience can you give me a ideal MINNIMUM room size, and can you recommend a studio light system that won't break the bank!

[Wilt]

I couldn't give you sizes off the top of my head, and besides that is highly dependent upon the type of shots you will be offering...head and shoulder individual portraits can be done in very small places! For guideline on width, I would use the estimate of 4' for each softbox+stand, flanking each side of the area you will be using for shooting. Shooting distance...dependent upon the lens focal length you choose to accomodate the group sizes you are targeting. Ceiling height requirements will be dependent upon the shooting distance and the angle of view of the focal length you have chosen, of course.