At long last, I can finally use this little spare room as a real live photo studio!
This area resides under our back patio that was closed in to create an extra room. With loads of windows, it had great bones but just needed to find a useful existence rather than a messy office.
As luck (?) would have it, a power surge knocked out a computer in this room, making it available for whatever I desired.
This area is beautifully BARE for whatever I wish to bring in and shoot. I’ll deal with the pile of wires still attached to the wall soon. 🙂
The tongue and groove pine covered ceiling was started 7 years ago and finally wears a beautiful white coat of paint to give it the treatment it deserved.
The simple window treatments are gauzy thin twin sized sheets. They make the perfect sun break yet still allow light in.
They are just long enough to slightly puddle onto the floor. They are perfect, thrifty, non fussy and so light and pretty.
The curtain brackets are real outfitted pipe fittings. And the strings holding up the sheets are from… I’m going to keep you in suspense until I do up the tutorial… you’ll never believe it! 🙂
The treatments have a very lazy casual beachy styled appearance and are totally washable.
This old farm table once in someone’s garage workshop is the perfect place to stage whatever my heart desires. The rustic wood top is the perfect matte rustic neutral backdrop for most anything. I’ll show you how I change out the table top in a moment.
The legs received some wheels outfitted with a peg, found from the thrift store. A hole was predrilled into each leg, then the castor slipped in. Done in seconds. This makes the table a dream to move in whichever location desired.
This side of the room houses backgrounds and larger props. If I desire a bead board table top, I simply plop the panel on the table and call it done.
I ran out of sheets, otherwise the french doors leading into the house would have been treated as well. Will slip in that photo here when it’s complete.
I’m just thrilled with the light. The room seems to handle photography nearly any time of day in any weather. Here’s an example of how well this room performs light wise.
This shot was taken with no lights on in the room.
The white curtains are providing the perfect white backdrop.
And that table is just all too perfect for my own style of things I like to shoot.
If the sun is out, it’s easy to pull the curtains closed and continue. However the odd time it’s nice to incorporate direct sun for certain looks as well.
The floor is amazing. The day ‘my cat pulled up the carpet’, I fell in love with what I saw as is, just a skim coat over concrete. Lovely neutral texture which always looks awesome in photos.
The main window looks out into my vegetable garden and mountain back drop view. It’s a really pleasant place to spend some time! So pleasant in fact… I’d love to add a cushy club styled chair on wheels so I can read here on a rainy day too if desired. My very own girly room. 🙂
My oh so light and bright little photo studio… it’s really done!
All the makings of the photo studio are HERE
Part 2 – pipe curtain rods and sheet curtain tutorial and video HERE
It looks amazing, so fresh and clean! I’m gonna guess those window treatments are made from a string mop:)
That’s fantastic. I’m thoroughly jealous of your amazing light-filled room. Have fun creating loads of gorgeous photos!
Donna your studio is gorgeous, I would never want to leave. You have given new meaning to the idea of covering your windows with sheets.
Traci
I think Laura’s guess at a string mop is a good one. I was thinking it might be clothesline.
I would have to guess the string is from a mop?!?! Love it, wish I had a space full of light like that.
I love the light that comes in that room! The casters on the table are perfect too!
Oh my gosh. I love it! I need one! I am so jaelous!! And so proud of you to finish this room just for you. And yes do put a comfy chair in there with a food stool and make sure you use it to get some rest too.
Did I say I love it, and that I want one too!!!!!
Oh! Beautiful … ♥
We’re in the middle of a substantial refurbishment. The painted ceiling looks so neat. I think I will treat the ceiling in our basemant like this … makes it so more friendly!
Have a good day with lots of love,
Petra
dying of jealousy here Donna. it looks amazing. can’t wait to see more of your beautiful photography now you have your own studio!
It looks incredible, Donna! You definitely need a comfy chair in there, because that view of your yard and the mountains beyond is gorgeous! Actually, I’d put a hanging hammock-style swing in there – it would almost seem like you were swinging from a tree branch outdoors!
Blessings,
Angie @ Knick of Time
I love your blog! Funny ideas and beautiful results.
Regards from Finland
Minna
It turned out AMAZING Donna! Excuse me while I have a tiny bit of photo studio envy. 😀 Enjoy your new space. It is beautiful.
Mary @ athomeonthebay
Love the room and the light! I’d be putting a comfy chair in there too if I had that view! I think the ceiling is my favourite part…. well, that and the windows, and the view. 🙂
It’s airy, light, and completely gorgeous! I’m sooo jealous and happy for your too! You deserve this lovely room for your art/craft finales! xo wendy
Nice!
So I am pretty much in love with your room!! I love every single detail!!
Oh my goodness your yard is so beautiful too! I am thinking I would never want to leave 🙂
It is too stinkin’ hot in Texas to even think about having such beautiful green plants ~ All of my flowers are already dying from the heat and it makes me so sad ~
Donna that room is amazing! Your shots will come out beautiful in there (as if they don’t already!)….
If there is one thing I need after I master this camera that is a place to photograph. I always seem to have something weird in the background… you have a great space Donna! Enjoy your photo time!
Susan
it looks wonderful – I am so jealous because I know what a challenge it can be to shoot with natural light here in our neck of the world – you have made yourself the perfect workspace/retreat – enjoy
Congrats on the great studio. Your photos will be even better, (if that’s possible)!
It looks amazing Donna! It will make the hours of photo shooting so enjoyable, and editing will probably be simpler, too, with the perfect light coming into that room.
<3 Christina
Amazing. So bright & inviting. Can’t wait to see all the future photos. Thanks for sharing. Have a great day.
Wow – it looks fantastic. What an amazing light filled space – I would do anything for a view like that too!
LOVE this post and love what you’ve done with your studio, gorgeous!
It’s just fabulous, Donna! Your photos are great from that room and so is your view. You really DO need to have a reading spot in there.
Oh my gosh, that is simply spectacular. So beautiful. I would just sit in there all day and do nothing. Perhaps you should add a napping nook. 😉
What a fantastic space!
My guess is that you used a mop to tie things up. Can’t wait to see if I’m right. 🙂
OVER.
THE.
TOP.
FOREVER.
=>
~K
sigh – oh my – this is absolutely STUNNING! what a wonderful, beautiful and oh so functional space you’ve created! well well done my friend!
Wow! What a great space. I could spend all day in that room. My favorite thing is the curtain rods.
oooo Donna I loooove it!!! It is gorgeous, bright, cheery, comfy, inviting!! I seriously could go on foreverrrrrr!!! The view of your garden, shed and mountains are breathtaking!!
xoxo
Jeri
It looks wonderful Donna. I love the long windows, the ‘drapes’ and that old farm table. Of course the million dollar view is great too! Blessings, Pamela
Donna I love your new room, it is awesome for photographs. Beautiful view too. Love your curtains and I bet your mop is a little thinner now, but your curtains look
great. Good job girl as usual.
Very nice. I’m guessing the curtain strings are a basketball net.
At last…. May I come up and you can take Glamour Shots of me if I lose twenty pounds? The misty northern light and your skills might make me look better. How about a shot of me ironing linen on your old ironing board? Ann
I cannot get over how fabulous this room is. I love it and everything you have chosen to go inside…not to mention the views. Oh, Girl, you are so very talented and so very lucky to have had this room to work into an over the moon and back photography/reading/ whatever you want kind of room. I love the idea of changing out the table top for shoots! Lovely, Just lovely.
Sooo cozy! Great job and what a nice place to work in!
Very, very nice. Love everything about it.
My guess for the strings would be a hacked up hammock???
Is there anything as beautiful as an all white room with natural light coming in? I love it! The ceiling adds so much character and what a nice view you have.
What a great and bright space. I love the ceiling! Not sure what is happening, but for the past while your blog has been slow loading, maybe it’s all the great traffic coming your way 🙂
Sorry about that Elizabeth. I’m due for a blog upgrade soon so I hope it doesn’t completely break before that happens! 🙂
wow Donna, so very beautiful!! I think my favorite feature is the curtains and of course those nifty ‘rods’..!
Truly amazing! And I’m with the others who guessed your strings are from a mop. That was my guess as soon as I saw them. Wanna know how I know? A couple of weeks ago at a yard sale I bought what I thought was a package of rustic looking string, but it turned out to be a mop head, lol! Oh well, I threw it in the crafting stash anyways. : )
The room is so light and airy looking..
I like the idea of the curtain rod..
It’s DREAMY!!! Love every single detail! Enjoy 🙂 Laurel
how beautiful is this?? you do good work girl!
♥ much loves
A room with a view. And what a view it is! Your room is the perfect mix of industrial, farmhouse, and a little girly-girl thrown in for fun. Love the curtain rods!
Congrats on being featured with your creative headboards on BH&G Ezine! I have been following you forEVER! It is so nice to see you get the recognition you deserve! I know I have taken some major inspiration from you! (Especially during the holidays!)
Hey Amanda, thank-you! And if you see this, could you please let me know how to find this article? Thanks so much! signmakergirl@hotmail.com
Oh this is just fabulous! I am so happy that you have been able to make yourself a place for shooting photos. I have a perfect spot on my front porch that almost always has great lighting and it makes it so easy to get a good picture. Good for you! It’s wonderful. Lisa~
Perfect light and a perfectly beautiful studio! What gorgeous photos will be made here!
Oh, i bet you can hear my tongue waging! Beautiful!…and your yard is to die for as well!
Donna, your studio is fabulous! I would love a room like that with the view to go with it:) Another knock out transformation ~ you’re too much!! Great job, Shelly
Before I read anyone else’s guess–I think the strings are from a mop, the great old fashioned string ones…? Love the studio; planning on copying your curtain rods soon. Congratulations on a beautiful job!
This is the coolest photo studio ever! Love it!
Take care
Kristin
Love this project! Have you linked it up with me yet at Wow Us Wednesday?
OMG!! This is perfect for you! I can see why you love it You did a fantastic job!! Not sure I would ever want to come out of there and back to reality if I where you!!!
Great room and a great make over! I love it!
tot
I love the room! I especially love the pipe curtain rods, I’ve seen it done in restaurants and want to do that when I finish my basement!! Looks amazing!
I just love it! What a wonderful space!
Totally awesome…a photographer’s dream! Love your new space!
It’s beautiful & I love the idea of the sheets for curtains… hmmm, gives me an idea for my place! Thank you for that!!! =)
btw, GORGEOUS backyard view!
This studio is absolutely gorgeous! I would have no problems being inspired there! I love the ideas for the curtain rods – I am tucking that idea away to use in the future! Fabulous!!!
Absolutely stunning.
This space is absolutely awesome! Oh how I have photo studio envy! And I’m so curious about the curtain ties … what a tease! 🙂
Just found your site …oh boy I have some fun reads ahead of me! 🙂
I am a newbie blogger and new to the blogging world as well. Love this room ! : )
Joined your party / thank you for hosting!
Can you say Jealous? OMG I am so jealous of that room and views. I don’t know how much I would get done in there. I’d be staring out the windows all the time.
Beautiful
Haven’t stopped in for awhile – I remember when you were just starting this; it’s lovely Donna!
Perfect.
Just wondering where you find “gauzy thin” sheets.
What an absolutely gorgeous room! I’m taking over the whole top floor for my craft room and want to make half of it a photo studio. Love this for inspiration.
I love your new room! I want to add some white curtains to my sun room for pictures and you just convinced me it will work great!!! Now to learn how to make better pictures!!!
Lovely! Put all the wires into a metal bucket. I’m off to Better Homes and Gardens, to see you featured! Ann
Ah, Donna this looks GORGEOUS!! What a light, bright and happy space! Well done!
A life-size lightbox in your home!?!?! So jealous. Forget the club chair, I’d install a Murphy bed on the wall (in all white wood/bedding of course) and sleep in that room! Btw – my guess on the drapery ‘rings’ is that you repurposed pieces from a rug that was torn up. I found all kinds of uses for one after my pup thought it was an oversized rope toy. 🙂 ~ dee@deeconstructed.com
soooo awesome! I knew that was Mop String! How creative!!! Love it all! Soooo thrilled to have found your blog! I have been on it for the better part of the last 3 days! And yes, I like using a lot of !!!!!.. Especially when something lights that “excitement fire” in me, as your blog surely has! I soooo enjoyed your “story of hope” as well. God Bless you and your sweet boy and your journey. Praying your health is completely restored, as i could not find anything more on it on here. †<3
Absolutely gorgeous, Donna! Love, love, LOVE it all. And, the mop curtain ties, genius!
Hi Donna, What did you do about rethreading your pipe? Thanks
Hi Deb! I didn’t rethread any pipe, if you’re referring to the photo studio curtain rods. The pipe was cut to size and slipped into place as is. Easy!
Love the look of the curtains!! What kind of material were twin sheets made from?
Hey Dawn! They were a poly cotton blend, nothing fancy. In fact, rather on the cheap side, which worked in my favour as they were a little on the sheer side.
I love your blog! And your home looks amazing! Though it seems a lot of the woodwork might be difficult to make in an apartment.
I am so encouraged by your blog! I am a beginner-though-aspire-to-be-professional photographer sticking only to outdoor settings. A client’s request is forcing me to create an indoor “studio”. I have a dark room (no windows) and my favorite room in the house: a fairly large (17×14 feet) sunroom. For some reason it didn’t occur to me that I could somehow control all that crazy light and use it as a studio! If you wouldn’t mind responding with advise on how to successfully block super harsh light and esp shadows I would be forever grateful. Will just one layer of something similar to what you’re using suffice? I’ve tried using a white sheet and it didn’t work. Should I try doing double layers of different thickness on ALL windows? Any advice would be appreciated. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you in advance!
Hi Nadia, I’d try blocking all the windows with a sheet. The key is not having direct sunlight hit your subject. Diffused is the way to go! You may also discover different times of day are best. Since your room is a sunroom, maybe you can create a backdrop against some windows if you don’t have any other background to use. It really depends which way the sun is coming in. Sounds like a fun challenge!
Donna, what could I possibly add but more praise, I love all white rooms and once did one in a dark basement guest room. moving on, as a very practical person living through a deep freeze at the moment, how do you keep the room warm in this cold? ps Dimplex makes a wonderful little old fashioned electric fire stove, works great, heats well and looks so cool. (I have a black one bought at Home Hardware. ) ann