Studio Photography Basics

by Ryan Macalandag

Just very recently, we folded up the apartment where we lived for more than three years and went back home to my father’s house. He’d renovated parts of it to make room for the DesignDepot Graphics (my graphic design shop) offices which includes a small space for a photography studio fit for single person portraits, small group portraits and other small-scale studio photography work. I named the studio Side Room Studios for apparent reasons – albeit uncreatively.

Now, I should not be talking about studio photography yet since there are a few other basic stuff we need to discuss first. But, I should just proceed anyway.


Why a studio?

To start off, why a studio? Basically, a studio is where you do controlled photography. The photographer sets and controls the light, the background, the props and the subject. On location, it is difficult to manage these elements to your own design and liking. There are such things as uncooperative weather, poor lighting conditions or reluctant subjects.

Indoors, the photographer is not bound by weather. Shoots can be done anytime of day and in any weather condition. Some productions even recreate certain weather conditions such as rain or thunderstorm inside the studio.

The background and props can also be set up to emulate location settings. You can make a desert background inside a studio, or a pier by the lake, or construct a living room for a lifestyle advertising shoot.

Studio lighting is the key element why photographers prefer shooting in a studio. Big studio lights are more reliable than ambient lights on location. Photographers need light that can be shaped, diffused and directed in any way depending on the needs of the shoot.

The most common studio lights are strobes, flashes and hot (continuous) lights. They vary in sizes and power. Their color temperature or balance also differs. Prices range from P5,000 to over P100,000 per set. Light modifiers such as softboxes, snoots, barn doors and color gels are also used.

The cost of shooting on location also discourages photographers from doing so. Travel, food and labor costs add up quicker than just staying indoors in a studio. Most models and photography production crew also increase their rates for out of the town jobs.

Controlling the Elements

The key word is control. Controlling the essential elements in the shoot is fundamental to a successful shoot especially for commercial (paid) photography jobs. The props, background, set-up, lighting and subjects almost always would work perfectly together in a studio environment.

In fact, Irving Penn, a well-known photography icon brought with him his studio equipment and set it up during location shoots. Today, in the advent of small and cheap strobe lights such as flash guns, the studio concept of controlling the light can be achieved already without paying for much. Battery powered lights may now be brought on location for a good controlled lighting.

Before Side Room Studios, most of my work is on location photography. I carry my portable studio bag around. I have a background stand, a couple flash guns, light stands, radio triggers and a few light modifiers. I have always said “the world is my studio” and I still will say it now even if I have an actual four-walled studio right beside my house.

Happy shooting!

Bye, Scott!


Before I end my article, let me say goodbye to Scott Graham, a friend who passed away last weekend. He was a traveler, an adventurer, a photographer, environmentalist and an over-all straight person who loved life. Scott, thank you for showing us the way, mate. We shall not forget how you went at living head first and always with passion. May the angels in heaven enjoy your pizza, pesto and bread as much as we did. May they have Happy Horse there as well.


(For questions and comments regarding this column, please email me at ryanmacalandag@yahoo.com or look me up on Facebook. You may also catch me on these websites: ryanmacalandag.blogspot.com and www.flickr.com/ryanmacalandag. A photography workshop and clinic is planned to happen soon in February. Stay tuned.)