I was checking out this 2nd floor 5000 sq ft studio downtown. It gets killer light during the day, and has 4 windows on each of the 2 corners, so there is plenty of light without having to use studio lights. I know some photographers do this, but I was wondering if anyone has any experience with these or using studio spaces in their hometowns. I live in a *fairly* small town (GROWING FAST!) and I'm dying to get into that place (there is also a living space there too!) It's located right downtown in the middle of everything, which is great, but it's a second floor loft, and I'm also not sure as far as marketting how that works as opposed to having a first level studio. In our town, not much is located up in the lofts except apartments and a few select small businesses that no one really notices. I guess I would just have to make sure there was adequate parking and a really well-designed sign for the outside

Anyone have any suggestions in any of these areas? I'm totally stoked if I can get into it!
<3 kristy

Kristy.... I've been researching something like this with no luck... Here in Indianapolis it's PRICEY!!!! So, if I were you and could afford it... I'd JUMP on the opportunity! I'm jealous!!!!!

~Bobbi

u wanna talk to josh smith @ www.cinematicbride.com

he has a place like this and its also downtown in his small growing town and about 3000 sq ft. 2nd floor with a living space as well. Its pretty awesome!

ROCK ON! : )
SWEET!

i am so excited too, cause i have a good friend who is a clothing designer and a stylist that i want to move in there too! i know audrey woulard has a natural light studio as well. i have some friends who own a vintagey home store (with everything from aprons to fine art to vintage children's flash cards to funky retro chairs) - and they are willing to stage sets for me (they're RIGHT across the street!) I'm so stoked, you have no idea! bobbi (my hero) - tell me if you find anything else out!

(is it true that josh is 20? i'm still in shock! and tim, you're 21?! you guys are friggin fabulous to be doing the work you do!)

woah that sounds incredible! I hate that I live in orlando which is one of the most expensive places in the world lol. Something like what ur describing would be the cost of the first born I do not currently have!

Josh is indeed 20 and I am indeed 21! Thanks so much for the kind words!!

get this, it's something like 900-1200/month. i have an appointment to check it out again tomorrow and talk *business* hehe.

tim, i haven't seen your oregon wifey on chat lately where is everyone? i suppose it's 1am here, and 4 somewhere over there, but didn't stop anyone before!

<3 kristy

WHAT?! DOOOOOO IT!!! I'm SO SO SO SO SO SO JEALOUS RIGHT NOW!!!! And also SO SO SO SO SO excited for you!!!!!

~Bobbi

Or maybe I should move to indiana or florida to hang with my favoritist people?
It does seem pretty cheap and this area NEEDS something like this here. I met with the *only* (IMNSHO) photographer in the are worth something to this community this past week. I heard about his studio and we chatted for hours, and he uses studio lights, etc. I would love to bring natural light photography/studio to this town. : )

If I do, promise me ya'll will come out for the open house plus, that would give timco proximity to spend with kacyjo out here in OR. *wink*

<3 kristy

In "Studio Photography" about a year ago was an article about a second story photographer in a busy part of town that had huge LCD screens in his windows projecting slideshows of his work... it looked awesome and was done perfectly.

Of course you're wanting to use the windows for light during the day... but you may be able to hang white paper at night and rear project onto the paper with a projector... there should be an inexpensive way like that to have a great effect at night if there's some foot traffic below.

This would also be your chance to put a slide in showing love to your vintage home store, designer etc...

check out Vicky Taufer, Sandy Puc, or Tim and Beverly Walden. They all have Natural Light Studios. If possible, you want the windows to be facing North, that way the light will be constant all day long, and the sun will never directly shine in. Hope this helps....

I saw that issue, and copied him. We have 2 eight foot by ten foot windows on a second overlooking an upscale downtown shopping area. only 600 square foot but the light bounces off the cream colored buildings across the street all day, making perfect light at any hour. Having a studio in a town flooded with photographers has set us apart. Most people around here have to meet in like a coffee shop or something, when my clients hear "studio on Broad Street," they are like oh wow, not starbucks, sounds solid, and they feel like your not going anywhere. It has definatly given me an edge over local competition.

I hadn't heard of this officially before, but am not surpised since so many shoot natural light.... sounds cool and if you can afford it what a nice step up:)
Heather

Yes, north light is by far the best light. Kind of hard to find sometimes, but if you can you won't be dissappointed. I have seen slanted glass-topped roofs in old buildings in some towns and when I inquired about them I found that they were old photography studios built before there was flash and such. I did this for historical research.
k.c.

sounds like a sweet set up. Hope you can swing it!

DUDE, you guys are amazing, thanks for all the info. I went on a wild goose chase this moring to find the owners and the realtors, and the office was closed (holiday, oops). so we'll see what happens! I would be so so so so excited.

<3 kristy




I was actually looking into that! When I chatted with the other photog downtown (1st floor way at the other end of downtown) - he was saying that he should do that because he's sorta by a courthouse and lawyers offices, and you can't even tell there is a photographer in there!

I would die for that type of opprotunity! I dream of having a natural light studio. Maybe once I win Deal or No Deal or something . If you can afford it, I say why the heck not?!?!

I say go for it if you have the income. Buy the building if you can. I wish we had bought a building a couple of years ago when it was available. It would have been a perfect daylight studio with room for an apartment.

That being said, I do not know how workable a daylight only studio will be. You will not have much light on rainy days and you will not be able to shoot at night. Winter will be a scheduling nightmare because of the short days. Most of your clients will have jobs and not be able to come in during the day, if it's dark at 5:30, there's no window light for your 6:30 appointment.

Once you are accustomed to working with strobe it's easy. The only real difference is recycle time.

Nice thing about a natural light studio is that you can always add electric light to compensate for the lack of natural. Best of BOTH worlds and I say DO IT because all the elements of advertisers, props and foot traffic sound promising. The only thing I wonder about is if everyone will be able to get upstairs (is there an elevator for those who can't do stairs?). The idea of a studio on the 2nd floor is cool - much quieter and feels exclusive. Post some pics when you're in!

oh WOW. okay, so update on the studio, since I've seen it now. it's 5400 sq feet in downtown (upstairs...but they're not narrow, and there are rails, etc.) anyway, it's all old hardwood floors and really really crappy walls/door frames. (IE GREAT LOOKING ONCE YOU PAINT THE WHOLE PLACE). there are at least 7 ENORMOUS windows in the main area where i would shoot....there are 2 main areas, as well as a sky light in the other room and more windows. there are 2 full bathrooms, as well as maybe 5 (?) bedrooms/office areas. it's puuuurfect for a natural light studio, I can only imagine all the wonderful results.

the main issue is that it's a HUGE fixer upper. I would never invite customers up there as-is, however, there would be a living space for me, as well as a possible roomate situation....without stepping on toes.

it would just need an extraordinary amount of full, colorful paint ASAP - which would take a lot of main power, since there are large celiings....everyone one OSP (west) would have to come out and help! : ) (haha, no seriously...i mean it!)

other than that, what do you think?
it's 1200/mo which is pretty much what my current house payment is! so it's kinda perfect........

oh, and the situation with my current living situation is that i have PLENTY of room for a traditional studio (the point of picking this house).....so it's a toss up.

1) natural light studio: spend money on moving out/moving in, and save money cause i wouldn't really need to set up a traditional studio (unless i wanted to later when business picks up)
also, it's in a busy part of town, however it's upstairs, and not many businesses are upstairs in grass pants (hehe, grants pass i mean) - so i would definitely rely on word-of-mouth, as well as maybe making a huge poster out front/bilboard or standing little ad that people could see downstairs by the sidewalk. hmmmmm !?!??!?? i could also have a really fun open house for the opening.

2) stay here and do a traditional studio: i don't have the cash to fork out money for a tradtional studio here in the house, but it would just take some time to build up more business and save for that.

?!?!??

i would be totally stoked to do it tho!

<3 kristy

What are you waiting for? Sign tomrrow and get yourself a artsie roomie, plug in some money and live it up! Downtown you say? You'll regret it if you don't do it!

hehe, that's what i'm thinking kate. i called the realtor today and left a message saying i was interested in seeing it again, and to see if i could take some pics!

the fix-ups are nothing i can't handle with some time and paint and creativity. it's totally perfect, plenty of diffused light, even when it's overcast, like the other day. it's all about envisioning a final product....which, lately, i'm a little scared to do!
<3 kris.

oh, and eventually, i would do a full-on studio (optional) - there is PLENTY of room for like 5 different set ups in there at LEAST.....WOOHOO!
<3 kris

Dude, GO FOR IT. I am so jealous.