{DIY} Inspiring Home Photography Studio Shed
We are so excited to welcome Maria Johns, owner of Bow and Arrow Photography, to I Heart Faces! She is sharing her delightful idea of turning a shed into an economical home photography studio.
Welcome to my studio shed! This little labor of love was born out of the need for a studio space at low cost. (Thank you very much, Home Depot!) Making sure I had an at least 12×16 size shed was a high priority for hosting a photography business inside to ensure there was plenty of room. Home depot sells DIY kits that just have to be put together which was the perfect solution for us since a ready-made shed would not have made it up our steep and narrow driveway. We put it together, added electricity, laid down vinyl wood planks inside for easy clean up and, ’Viola!’ Well, it didn’t happen that magically, but definitely with a lot of love and elbow grease by my husband and sister.
I built this studio shed specifically for photographing newborns and children which are my focus and favorite subjects. I had the shed insulated so it keeps heat for the winter and A/C for the summer. I use a space heater for warmth and portable air conditioner for the winter. If you are thinking this DIY shed might be a good solution for your home-based photography business, be sure to consider your available space, the cost of running electrical, and cost of shed when considering this idea.* Count the cost before proceeding! Thankfully, I have gotten tremendous use out of my little space in light of fickle Virginia weather and the convenient location of my backyard.
(Special Note from I Heart Faces: You will also want to check with local zoning laws and homeowners' associations rules (if applicable) for permit information and property line set back requirements.)
The studio shed easily fits two “stages” and I change out different backdrops on top of the cream side by using “L” brackets from Home Depot and a system I found online from Flying Fig Photography’s studio.
The studio light peeking out on the top right of this image is an Alien Bees 1600 in neon pink with a 60′ Octobox. It is huge and takes up a lot of space, but it gives off the most diffused and “natural-looking” light.
The green chaise is from Target online and photographs beautifully as well. The most important finishing touch was definitely the chandelier. Super cheap from Ikea and added the perfect amount of sparkle to glam up a shed, giving clients that extra wow factor as they come through the door!
The hats are hung off of curtain rods and shower curtain rings with clips from Target.
This wood shelving system was a steal from Ikea and hosts my mountain of buckets and baskets.
The studio shed was a great fit for my business, providing enough space to utilize studio light while being cost effective. It’s a great creative space where clients and their children love to come!
What’s your favorite detail in Maria’s beautiful studio space?
Maria Johns, owner of Bow and Arrow Photography LLC is wife to a Marine Corps pilot, mother of two wildly loving boys, and an R.N turned accidental photographer specializing in modern photography for families, children, and newborns in Northern Virginia. You can keep up with her most recent photography on her Facebook page.
