How to Set Up a Studio for Photography

Choose the equipment you will be working with. Have stationary cameras on hand that will allow you to adjust the width, size and brightness for each shot. You'll likely need umbrella reflectors to spread light evenly on your subject and a light tent, which also allows soft, diffused light to reach all parts of the subject. A light panel may work for illuminating glass objects. You can cut out a hole in black paper and put the glass on that hole. On its side, a light panel can be used as background lighting.

Reflectors can include something simple, such as aluminum foil. Position reflectors on the shadow side of the subject.

Chose the background. Do not choose a background that will stand out more than your subject. Be especially careful with colored backgrounds. Always aim to support your subject with the background you choose. Avoid clashing colors. Neutrals are good to have as background colors, especially gray, since it reduces problems you may have with exposure. Try to use a curved background.

Position your subject. If you have more than one subject, position them on a parallel plane (same distance from the camera) to have the light hit them equally, or place them at different distances to make one subject stand out more than the other. Place subjects close to a wall if you want a shadow image behind them; move your subject further from walls if you don't.

Flat objects, like sheets of paper, should be lighted evenly over the entire surface. This usually requires two sets of lights placed at 45-degree angles.

Set up your lighting. Understand that there are four types of lighting. You usually want at least two of these types of lights. The main light should be slightly toward the side and above the object. This corresponds to the position of the sun in outdoor shots. Fill lights are placed opposite from the main light and are positioned nearly on the same level as the subject. They are not as bright as the main light (about half the strength). They help lighten shadows on the dark side of the subject caused by the main light.

A background light illuminates the background without lighting the subject. How dark or light the background is compared to your subject can help separate the subject from its background. If bright enough, it will silhouette your subject. Use a rim light in a position high up and behind the subject so that it highlights and separates the subject from the background. Edges of the subject will "glow." This effect is used a lot for highlighting the hair from behind. It needs to be completely blocked by the subject or out of the camera's viewing range since it is facing the camera.

Reduce light by moving it further away from the subject. This also makes the light harder and causes you to use larger apertures or slower shutter speeds.