Studio dimensions enough?

I've just ordered a set of 3 ABs strobes which will be modified with umbrella, softbox (32X40), and 20 degree grid for background. I have other spacious rooms to set this up but not without having to tear it down every time I use it. I have a storage room that is 8 X 22ft with 9 ft ceiling. If I tear out some built in shelving the room will be 10 X 22 ft. I would love to be able to leave the set up out of the family's way--do I have enough room for the umbrella and softbox in this narrow of a space?

I will be shooting mostly individual portraiture and still life but would like to be able to do 2-3 people.

Thanks--obviously a newbie!!

I think it might be tight - but why not give it a try? If it is too small - then move it to the other rooms you mentioned.

work with what you got for now...then your passion of photography may move you towards moving some walls?

just a thought.

Rhine

My "studio" is 12x22 with 9 foot ceilings and IMO, it is entirely too small to do any serious work in. For head shots and small product photography, its plenty...but for full length, forget it...especially with 2-3 people. Your results\needs may vary.

My studio is in my room, and is wide enough for a 53" roll of seamless with stand, and is long enough for half-lengths of teens/adults or full-bodys of children. All of my recent photos on my flickr has been shot with this setup.

The 22-foot length is adequate, but I wouldn't want to have anything less than about a 14-foot width to have a reasonably versatile portrait studio. Even then, group shots would be quite limited.

One thing you could do to maximize the usability of the small width would be to support your lighting from the wall instead of using conventional stands. The real problem, though, is that you cannot use a ten-foot wide background.

If you forget the idea of doing portraits other than single-subject tightly framed portraits, there's a lot you could do with table-top photography using that space.

I just remembered that another member on the forum has a thread that you might find helpful. Dwight originally started this back in 2005 but there were updates up through 2009. He has a space of 10x20 ft with 9 ft ceilings. It is a great thread that shows what can be done with that size space.

Granted, his budget may be bigger than most of ours, but it does give an idea of what is possible.

Here is the link to Dwight McCann's "My Small Studio"

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=101352

Kfyount, thanks! That thread of Dwight McCann's was very informative.

blackandwhitekeys wrote in post #11662280
Kfyount, thanks! That thread of Dwight McCann's was very informative.

No worries - glad you found it useful. It would probably also be useful to search his threads and look at some of the shots he's done in that size studio. I know "big" groups aren't possible, but he recently posted a shoot with 3-4 models if I remember correctly.

Just wanted to show that while larger spaces are better/easier - it isn't impossible with spaces like we're talking about here.