Is it better to have a studio outside the home to be successful in this business?

[Cpennickjr]

I keep going back and forth on if I should try to get a studio space or not. I really think it would be better but it may be too expensive for me right now. I would like to hear from some of you with studios and those without.

[TPF Sponsor]

[Formatted]

This thread is certainly going places....

[tirediron]

If it's too expensive, then don't; if you can afford it and want/need it, go for it.

[bentcountershaft]

I keep going back and forth on if I should try to get a studio space or not. I really think it would be better but it may be too expensive for me right now. I would like to hear from some of you with studios and those without.

As opposed to having a studio at home?

[Cpennickjr]

Yes, as opposed to having a studio at home? I think no matter how good I am, people may not take me seriously and will not be able to charge the rates I want.

[bentcountershaft]

In my area 2/3 of the full time studio photogs have home studios although they generally aren't spare room or basement set ups. They're more often large, converted garages/barns with high ceilings and a decent amount of length.

[KmH]

According to a survey the PPA (Professional Photographers of America) did, retail photographers without a studio, have less total revenue and less yearly income than retail photographers that do have a studio (at home or otherwise).

However, the photographers that didn't have a studio had income that was a larger % of their total revenue. so while photographers with a studio had more income, that income was a smaller % of their total revenue. Which makes sense, because those with a studio generally have more overhead expenses.

[ghache]

If i had the space a home to make a decend studio, a converted garage or whatever i would deffinetly do it.

[Mike_E]

Do you want your customers coming to your house?/Is your SO good with it?

Does your HOA allow it?/Are you zoned for it?

[ghache]

Do you want your customers coming to your house?/Is your SO good with it?

Does your HOA allow it?/Are you zoned for it?

this is why i stopped shooting in my basement. i didnt like to have people i dont know in my house for a shoot. Its not like a did alot because i was using my friends at that time but i wouldnt be comfortable doing it. Plus i have 2 dogs and is not really good for peoples with alergies.

[g-fi]

Do you live in a metro area that may have studio space to rent? I think renting space as you need it can be a good compromise between the expense of a studio and an in-home studio. I don't think that a studio is "necessary", but in terms of getting more clients, I think it helps. Having a presentation space to maximize print orders helps, and having your clients come to you rather than always going to them can be a positive as well. I think the only real question to ask when you're thinking about opening a studio is, can my business support it? If you aren't making twice of what your overhead is going to be for a studio space, there's no benefit to saddling yourself with a lease and all the bills that come with sq footage. If you don't like having clients come to your in-home studio, look into renting studio space by the session, or have a very careful map of indoor and outdoor all season locations to shoot at, or shoot at your clients homes.

[c.cloudwalker]

What kind of photography?

I think you can get away with an in-home studio with retail but it is much harder to be taken seriously when you are doing commercial.

[Joshonator]

One thing to consider would be that at home you will get little-no walk-in clients when compared to a studio in a retail area, so you would have to rely more on word of mouth or advertising to reel in customers at a home studio. But even having a very popular studio doesn't mean much if the cost of overhead exceeds your revenue.

[CCericola]

Depends on the type of photography you want to do. I worked for a studio that did not allow walk-ins so traffic really didn't matter. I would see if any studios in your area rent out space. Or try traditional office space for rent, although the ceilings are usually not high enough. Another opportunity you might want to look into is buying an existing studio complete with their book of business. You can then shape the business into want you want it to be.

[herrickphoto]

I think the biggest space you can get is probably the most important thing.
If you don't want to have the studio at home and aren't sure you can afford your own, you could always look into sharing a space or renting time in another established studio?
You also might want to think about whether you want a studio with a shopfront, where you have walk-ins. If so, you'll need to think about who can deal with potential clients while you're doing shoots.
Hope that helps!