The Studio is DEAD!
I recently had a former student e mail me about how jealous he was of Chase Jarvis’ studio and gear and set up. I wrote him back and said, something like, “If you have a studio, you feel like you have to go to work everyday. If you have a staff, you have to manage them the studio and staff OWN YOU, you don’t own it/them.” Then you have all this overhead and much less income in your pocket. You are not very free to do what you want. Every day you don’t go to the studio, if you aren’t shooting or doing something to get more business, you are loosing money. Annie L. gave up her studio as have many, many photographers in recent years. Would I like a 5000 sq ft mega studio with an amazing lobby and conference room? Sure, if it was free! But I don’t need a studio, I shoot on location and I don’t need it to store my gear (I have an office) so the studio just isn’t necessary. The majority of my work with clients is now done over e mail, not in person. Shoots are done on location and the buzz word “AUTHENTICITY” is everywhere… so shots that look like they’re done in the studio are not as popular with clients right now. The only photographers who really need studios are still life and food photographers…. otherwise, it is probably a waste of money.
One Response to “The Studio is DEAD!”
christine hall says:
August 17, 2010 at 5:26 am
I agree and disagree. Yes alot and I mean alot of overhead comes with a studio. But with certain kind of work like “portrait” work I think you can only grow so far in your house. Since it is our only income I can’t imagine having viewing sessions in my house. So I think their our some pros and cons. (plus I own my space and am building equity)