If you’re working in film production, studio work can be just as valuable as location work. When you’re on location, it’s often important to adapt and find the best lighting and angles. However if you’re working in the studio, it’s crucial that you craft a quality studio backdrop and lighting setup to make the most out of the space you have. If you’re looking to set up for a studio photo shoot, talking head interview, filmed podcast, or product shoot, here are some strategies to boost your own setup!
Backdrop
Green screen
One useful tool to have for any studio shoot is a green screen. If you need a backdrop that you don’t have, or something other than a solid color, a green screen is a great way to add a more interesting backdrop to whatever you’re shooting. If you do decide to use a green screen, the key is simplicity. Stick to soft focus backgrounds with lighting that matches well with your own studio lighting. The better you can match the theme and lighting of your added background with your original image, the more cohesive the final image will look.
Textures
Another way to boost your work in a studio is to use visual textures. Tile, wood grain, brick, and even water are all useful textures that will help draw your viewers into the environment you’re crafting. If you add texture to an image you give your viewer something familiar to connect with. When choosing textures, think about the themes and subjects of your video/photo shoot, and choose textures that fit appropriately with those themes.
Props/Background Elements
Once you’ve settled on a backdrop, another way to add to your background is to add objects to your space. Think about who/what your subject is going to be, and if there are objects that could help compliment that subject. If your subject is some sort of food or drink with a specific flavor, you can add the fruits, vegetables, etc. that make up that flavor to the backdrop.
Lighting
Lighting Setups
One crucial aspect of studio work is using lighting to make your subject look more flattering. There are all kinds of lighting setups, most of which can be created using 3 main light sources. If you want to learn more about 3 point lighting, check out our blog on the basics of studio lighting.
Light Shapes
In addition to setting up lights in different orientations to make your subject pop, you can also use different kinds of lights for different visual effects. There are tube lights, ring lights, bulbs, etc. Often times, you can use these different lights to heighten the quality of something. Tube lights for example can reflect off of tall slender subjects and heighten the effect of how tall they look. Meanwhile ring lights can bring your viewer’s focus to a subject’s eyes by creating a distinct catchlight. If you can afford to buy different lights, try out different shapes and styles and find what works best for your particular studio shoot.
Color Temperatures
Another way you can manipulate light is with color temperature. LED’s often allow you to adjust your color temperature to different levels of orange and blue light, and there are also gels you can put over your lights and add different colors to your images. Changing the color temperature of your lights can add a particular visual style. If you want a sad, moody look, you can add more blue light to your subject. Alternatively if you want a sunny, summer feel, you can add more orange light to your image. Consider what feelings you want to convey, and then use the colors you think will best convey those emotions while complimenting your subject.
These general tips should help you get started with different backdrop and lighting setups. Your background and lighting are “make or break” factors in creating engaging studio images, so take your time and focus on different elements of your image as you set up your studio.
For examples of our own studio work, check out the studio page on our website. Additionally you can contact us for help on your own project!