Building a Studio

I am just about to move to a larger house. Part of the reason of moving is being able to build a studio in the back garden. I am planning something around 20' x 20' - which should cover most eventualities.

The question is, what colour should I paint the walls & ceiling. I have two ideas.

1) Paint them white to allow me to bounce the flash off them - and if I do not want to bounce then I can cover them up with black sheet.
2) Paint them black and use white sheets if I want to bounce.

At the moment I think I will go halfway, painting one wall and ceiling white with the rest black but any input from others would be appreciated.

Just on a second point - I am currently planning to make the ceiling about 8' high, but I am contemplating that if I make it a bit higher it would be better to bounce of off and would also allow a hair light directly above (and not too close to) a standing subject. In fact I am begining to think that higher is better.

Cheers
Mark.

From the advice I have read, a 10 foot high ceiling is best. And as for the walls I would go for white all round to give an nice atmosphere to the studio for new models. Don't want them to think it's a dungeon!

Depending on what you are shooting, sometimes a 10 foot ceiling is not high enough, I lean towards a 12 or 15 foot ceiling as being optimal. Reason is that if shooting a person holding their arms straight up or holding a long prop, you need a backdrop that will give you enough room above them to have backdrop behind everything. I have a 10 foot backdrop with a 12 foot ceiling and sometimes that doesn't quite make it.

And I would go for the flat white paint all over personally. I just feel that is easier to correct the all black. And definately avoid using both.

Just my experience and opinion,

Now I have absolutely no studio experience, just some with studio strobes in my lounge. My lounge is painted white, and I get reflections back from walls and ceilings that I don't want, so i'd prefer to have it all black and have the light fall exactly where I place it. With studio lighting I don't anticipate doing any bouncing off the roof, i'll put a reflector there if I want light reflected.

Just my $0.02

You will need more than 8' to get a light overhead a model with a snoot, grid or softbox on it. Ideally I would take 15' and I would install a track to take overhead lights ($$$$$)

the best studio I have shot in was painted matt white and had black drapes on runners down each side wall but I have also used matt black panels on stands to act as dodges which is probably more flexible as you could paint one side white and the other black.

Thanks for the feedback. I may be able to go to 10' for the ceiling but it will begin to get more expensive (more money on the already expensive process of buying a house). I like the idea of the white walls with black sheets/drapes if reflections are not required.

Thanks again.

I'd agree with the white walls with black curtains. Hospital rails work best, but can be hard to get.

To extend the ceiling height, you could use a peaked roof. In some situations this may give you unwanted cross-shadows, but other times it would give you a better overall bounce. You could always put a flat panel up later if it doesn't work or change it for each shoot as needed.

I'd also rethink your dimensions. 15 feet should be wide enough, and you'd gain more from extending the length to 25 feet than you would from the extra width.

Thanks Red. It will be difficult to change the size too much as I have a fixed plot I can use, so it will have to stay around 20' square.

Do you use a studio as I see you are based in the South East.

I'm near Maidstone, and I don't have a studio, but I sometimes use one owned by another user on here. I'm passing on some of the leasons he's learnt, and others I have from using his studio.

Another thought I've just had is to have a big double garage door on one side. This will allow you to shoot bigger objects or groups by stepping back and outside the studio. Have to make sure you can block out light around the edges for dark shots though

Thansk. All ideas are much apprciated. I want to make the studio as flexible as possible and ideas like this are very helpful.

Small world - my wife works in Maidstone.

You'll have to let me know when it's done so I can take a gander.

Certainly will do. Just dont hold your breath as this new house is draining most of our money It will probably be after Christmas now.

Why don't you invite UK POTN people over for a little fundraiser where we can have a go in the studio for a donation towards it!

StudioAid

LOL It'll be like Challenge Annika!

Ha ha ha - StudioAid. Perhaps I should get Sir Bob Geldoff involved. Perhaps get U2 to play a gig in the back garden. Is that a plan or what?