Studio sharing

Has anyone had experiences with 2 or more photographers sharing a studio? Pros? Cons?

I'm at the point where access to a studio would be really helpful, but cannot justify the cost of doing it all myself just yet.

I have also read about renting time and space from an already established photographer. How would that work? Would I pack in all my own backdrops and lighting or would I use theirs?

Thoughts would be most appreciated. Thanks.

generally the rental studios come fully equipped (although what constitutes fully equipped is debatable). Generally rental time share studios come equipped. Obviously what constitutes fully equipped is a matter of opinion, but usually lights and backgrounds are included. Nothing would prohibit you bringing in extra gear, backgrounds, or props as needed.

Depending on the gear you have available you might consider forming a time share cooperative with other local photographers or with an arts group. The upside is that you can rent out unused time at hourly rates to underwrite some of your costs.

This can be difficult. I started looking into this a couple years ago & gave up when the pandemic hit. Sharing a studio is like having a roommate (or 2). First you need to get along & you must rely on each other for their share of rent & utilities, keeping the place clean, whose name goes on the lease? Then there is the sharing of equipment or props. Did you show up hoping to shoot with the yellow paper background only to find it torn or gone? It's difficult on your own as well. I have spoke to many people about the amount of time I'd actually be in the studio. The owner doesn't care that you can only shoot on weekends, or only 2 or 3 times a month, they still expect full rent. Tried a thing many years ago were local artist/photographers could donate $$ and have access to a large, cheap industrial area. I remember showing up to do a shoot & the place had a sickening strong smell of paint from another artist, we had to leave it was getting everyone sick.

This is a very strong reason why there are so many "on location" photographers. It eliminates some much headache & overhead. I would suggest you look around your area, my town is currently running a "revitalization" program. Great incentives to buy and/or remodel buildings. I spoke with someone running the program & they are offering 1 year completely rent free. There is no obligation or long lease to get stuck in. They obviously want you there longer than a year but they know there is no guarantee you will prosper.

I think the key is location shoots & renting by the hour or half day until you build a clientele & get a reputation. Your clients don't have to know the studio isn't yours.

gonzogolf wrote in post #19224174
generally the rental studios come fully equipped (although what constitutes fully equipped is debatable). Generally rental time share studios come equipped. Obviously what constitutes fully equipped is a matter of opinion, but usually lights and backgrounds are included. Nothing would prohibit you bringing in extra gear, backgrounds, or props as needed.

Depending on the gear you have available you might consider forming a time share cooperative with other local photographers or with an arts group. The upside is that you can rent out unused time at hourly rates to underwrite some of your costs.

The time share aspect is kinda more what I was originally thinking, though I know I didn't phrase it very well.

photoguy6405 wrote in post #19224117
Has anyone had experiences with 2 or more photographers sharing a studio? Pros? Cons?

I'm at the point where access to a studio would be really helpful, but cannot justify the cost of doing it all myself just yet.

I have also read about renting time and space from an already established photographer. How would that work? Would I pack in all my own backdrops and lighting or would I use theirs?

Thoughts would be most appreciated. Thanks.

With CV-19 messing up a lot of business's and hitting photography hard, I have seen a number of ad's in Craigslist placed by local photogs, with studios, looking to rent them out on a per hour basis to help make ends meet.

Yes and we all hope soon, the business will pick back up and when it does renting space by the hour may get a little tighter, but if you can get a foot in the door at a local studio now, it may very well work to your advantage as the busines recovers. Think teaming up.

And by renting by time versus a lease, if things don't work out you can just move on without any legal hassles.

As for gear, some of the ad's I have seen state "fully equipped," personally I wouldn't touch someone else's equipment, too much of a liability, if something you used worked fine and then didn't work next time the owner used it, you will get blamed for breaking it.

As such if I was to use someone else's studio, I would clearly mark-up my equipment with my name (done) and only use my equipment, one, as stated, I don't want the responsibility for other peoples stuff and two I understand my gear and how to get it to do what I want done.

Just make sure your name is permanently etched or micro-stamped into everything you own and bring along.

Make sure it has a good scheduling program. Google has a good way to do this. If not, it's a nightmare confirming times.

Are compatible with the other renters AND owner of the studio. Nothing is worse than conflicts as they only get worse over time.
If the owner has outrageous demands or expects maintenance beyond what you are willing to provide then run away fast.

Check out the space and confirm that nobody is a pig. Last thing you want is your client showing up to a dirty studio.
Clean and tidy is the ONLY way to share a space.

Not sure where Photoguy6405 is from but if he's not in, or near, a city these kind of studio rentals may be hard to find. Try:

www.peerspace.com

Hi Ken!

What do you need in a studio? How would you use the studio? Have you ever used or worked in a studio? I looked at your website and you have wonderful work! It appears your high end work is all outside. It's very different going inside.

My first studio work was out of a pro studio, great folks, great studio, decent prices, but 45 minutes away from home. I was doing fashion, and let's say the caprice of models made it a serious challenge to reserve and pay for studio space that I knew I'd use. I looked into the possibilities of time sharing with local small studios, and looked at converting part of our house into a studio. Converting. HA!!!! That's a joke. We are in suburbia in a 3 story townhouse with a small one car garage. We also have local zoning laws that until very recently did not allow for a professional photography studio in the home. I have unkind names for the municipality in which I live.

I'm not a pro photographer, however. I also have a small one car garage. That sounds like a studio opportunity for my situation.

If you have a garage or some space you can quickly and easily convert into studio space, and your local laws allow you to have professional studio space in your home, you're set. Also, if you have interesting space in your home, that's also potential studio space. Below is the link to my fashion portfolio. Much of the studio work was done in my little townhouse with killer gear: Canon Speedlites, a couple light stands, a C-stand, simple light modifiers, narrow and wide seamless paper and stand, and wireless remote triggers. I can shoot anytime I want. Yes I have to clean the garage floor whenever I want to use it, but that's okay. Models don't care as long as you're a good photographer and the space is clean, warm/cool, and safe. My municipality can say nothing because it's all for fun. My neighbors can say nothing either.

https://www.grahamglov​er.com/Fashion/Fashion​-Portfolio/

Ha! I'll never forget the look on one of my neighbors when I'd just finished a fashion session with a model. I was driving her to the airport. On the way out of our townhouse community I saw a family friend neighbor who "watches over the neighborhood", and I waved to her! Her jaw rather dropped as she could see the gorgeous young woman in the passenger seat was clearly not my wife. She and her husband didn't know about my fashion work. A few days later said neighbor was trying to pry for information, and I wasn't giving it.

I'd love to have space to have 40ft x 40ft space with 20ft ceilings, a full cyc wall, an 8 foot parabolic or bigger, huge soft boxes, black and white v-flats, et al. I don't. I watched a DVD based photography course that basically said the amount of space I have is wholly inadequate for a studio. That was my challenge.

I get the idea of time sharing, but I also like the flexibility of having my own space when I want it. Creating my "studio" cost nothing other than the equipment and the time to set it up and break it down. It actually helped me learn what I need, as well as learn how to take control of what is in the frame of the camera and what is not.

Good luck! Hope this helps!

mathogre wrote in post #19225130
Hi Ken!

What do you need in a studio? How would you use the studio? Have you ever used or worked in a studio? I looked at your website and you have wonderful work! It appears your high end work is all outside. It's very different going inside.

My first studio work was out of a pro studio, great folks, great studio, decent prices, but 45 minutes away from home. I was doing fashion, and let's say the caprice of models made it a serious challenge to reserve and pay for studio space that I knew I'd use. I looked into the possibilities of time sharing with local small studios, and looked at converting part of our house into a studio. Converting. HA!!!! That's a joke. We are in suburbia in a 3 story townhouse with a small one car garage. We also have local zoning laws that until very recently did not allow for a professional photography studio in the home. I have unkind names for the municipality in which I live.

I'm not a pro photographer, however. I also have a small one car garage. That sounds like a studio opportunity for my situation.

If you have a garage or some space you can quickly and easily convert into studio space, and your local laws allow you to have professional studio space in your home, you're set. Also, if you have interesting space in your home, that's also potential studio space. Below is the link to my fashion portfolio. Much of the studio work was done in my little townhouse with killer gear: Canon Speedlites, a couple light stands, a C-stand, simple light modifiers, narrow and wide seamless paper and stand, and wireless remote triggers. I can shoot anytime I want. Yes I have to clean the garage floor whenever I want to use it, but that's okay. Models don't care as long as you're a good photographer and the space is clean, warm/cool, and safe. My municipality can say nothing because it's all for fun. My neighbors can say nothing either.

https://www.grahamglov​er.com/Fashion/Fashion​-Portfolio/

Ha! I'll never forget the look on one of my neighbors when I'd just finished a fashion session with a model. I was driving her to the airport. On the way out of our townhouse community I saw a family friend neighbor who "watches over the neighborhood", and I waved to her! Her jaw rather dropped as she could see the gorgeous young woman in the passenger seat was clearly not my wife. She and her husband didn't know about my fashion work. A few days later said neighbor was trying to pry for information, and I wasn't giving it.

I'd love to have space to have 40ft x 40ft space with 20ft ceilings, a full cyc wall, an 8 foot parabolic or bigger, huge soft boxes, black and white v-flats, et al. I don't. I watched a DVD based photography course that basically said the amount of space I have is wholly inadequate for a studio. That was my challenge.

I get the idea of time sharing, but I also like the flexibility of having my own space when I want it. Creating my "studio" cost nothing other than the equipment and the time to set it up and break it down. It actually helped me learn what I need, as well as learn how to take control of what is in the frame of the camera and what is not.

Good luck! Hope this helps!

I don't have a lot of studio experience, no. I did a shoot last week in my garage, but even though it was the biggest space I have used so far I still found it limiting, space-wise. My workable area was about 15'x13'.

I like the idea of renting from an established studio. My biggest fear... and I'm probably overthinking it... is how that comes off to the client.

I mean, let's say I am ABC Photo, and I'm basically telling my client, "Come down to XYZ photo." I feel like the client would be justified in asking, "Why don't I just hire XYZ Photo?"

photoguy6405 wrote in post #19233686
I don't have a lot of studio experience, no. I did a shoot last week in my garage, but even though it was the biggest space I have used so far I still found it limiting, space-wise. My workable area was about 15'x13'.

I'd love 195 sq ft of studio space. My garage isn't that big.

Yes a garage is limiting, but your limitations are what you make of them. One of the models I shot in my studio was 5'11". On her arrival I'd remarked on her height. She mentioned she'd brought heels and asked if she should just use flats. I told her to use those heels! I figured out how to shoot her in my studio. We had a fun and great shoot.

photoguy6405 wrote in post #19233692
I like the idea of renting from an established studio. My biggest fear... and I'm probably overthinking it... is how that comes off to the client.

I mean, let's say I am ABC Photo, and I'm basically telling my client, "Come down to XYZ photo." I feel like the client would be justified in asking, "Why don't I just hire XYZ Photo?"

There are two parts to that.

If you have no studio experience, a client comment like that is justified. You need to build up your experience in a studio.

If you've gained some experience in a studio environment, then it's easy to counter. "Here's my studio work. You came to me. The studio is just space and equipment. When you hire me, you get MY photography in the space and with the equipment I choose."

Not everyone has a studio. What matters to people is the photography. It isn't the equipment, the space, or anything like that. It's you and what you do.

Hope this helps!

mathogre wrote in post #19233702
I'd love 195 sq ft of studio space. My garage isn't that big.

Yes a garage is limiting, but your limitations are what you make of them. One of the models I shot in my studio was 5'11". On her arrival I'd remarked on her height. She mentioned she'd brought heels and asked if she should just use flats. I told her to use those heels! I figured out how to shoot her in my studio. We had a fun and great shoot.

There are two parts to that.

If you have no studio experience, a client comment like that is justified. You need to build up your experience in a studio.

If you've gained some experience in a studio environment, then it's easy to counter. "Here's my studio work. You came to me. The studio is just space and equipment. When you hire me, you get MY photography in the space and with the equipment I choose."

Not everyone has a studio. What matters to people is the photography. It isn't the equipment, the space, or anything like that. It's you and what you do.

Hope this helps!

This does help, absolutely. Thank you.

mathogre wrote in post #19233702
I'd love 195 sq ft of studio space. My garage isn't that big.

Yes a garage is limiting, but your limitations are what you make of them. One of the models I shot in my studio was 5'11". On her arrival I'd remarked on her height. She mentioned she'd brought heels and asked if she should just use flats. I told her to use those heels! I figured out how to shoot her in my studio. We had a fun and great shoot.

There are two parts to that.

If you have no studio experience, a client comment like that is justified. You need to build up your experience in a studio.

If you've gained some experience in a studio environment, then it's easy to counter. "Here's my studio work. You came to me. The studio is just space and equipment. When you hire me, you get MY photography in the space and with the equipment I choose."

Not everyone has a studio. What matters to people is the photography. It isn't the equipment, the space, or anything like that. It's you and what you do.

Hope this helps!

The only thing I would tell the client is either that you share the studio, or let them know that this studio is where your portfolio was shot, so if they want the same great quality, it shouldn't be an issue. But, I wouldn't bring anything up unless they ask.