DIY Garage Photography Studio
Hey, Chicago NorthShore Moms! Do your tweens and teens love doing photo shoots with their friends? Here is a set up they will enjoy using to create gorgeous images of each other!
WHY GARAGE LIGHT IS SO GREAT FOR PORTRAITS!
An open garage door creates beautiful soft light that is extremely flattering for almost anyone!
The soft light will make the skin look bright and smooth. It minimizes texture such as blemishes and facial lines.
It will add large gorgeous catchlights into your subject’s eyes. Catchlights are important as they brighten the eyes, making them sparkle and adding life.
WHAT YOU NEED
- Camera -(iPhone, point and shoot or DSLR)
- Garage Space
- Large neutral fabric or large piece of foam core board (also known as poster board) - black will make for a dramatic image and white will create a bright high key style. I have a large piece of black cotton jersey fabric that does not easily wrinkle and crease. I purchased it from JoAnn Fabric.
- Clamps, clothes pins, binder clips - to hold up fabric or poster board. I found mine at Home Depot for $1
- Sturdy structure to attach the fabric or foam core
HOW TO SET UP THE SHOT
Place your subject at the entrance of the garage. Make sure they are positioned behind the shadow line on the floor of the garage. If they are in front of the shadow line, you will have bright highlights on your subject and the light will be uneven.
Experiment with the placement of your subject and set up. Have them closer to the entrance and then pull them further into the garage. Pay attention to how the light and shadows on your subject and the darkness of the background change depending on the location of your studio setup.
The closer the background is to the subject, the brighter it will be. If you want the background to go dark, move it further back into the garage.
If you want the background to blur, make sure there is space between your subject and the background.
