Studio versus Remote Photo Shoots
To book a studio or to shoot remotely? For a lot of clients since COVID-19, that has been a key question. Since I work through this question with lots of potential clients, I wanted to write a longer post detailing the pros and cons in case you were wondering the same thing!
What is a remote photo shoot?
A remote photo shoot takes place online. When I do photo shoots, I shoot tethered, which means that each photo I take shows up on my computer screen. You can learn more about tethered shooting here. By setting up a Zoom or Google Meet and sharing my screen, I can host clients remotely in my studio so they see everything that I am seeing during the course of the photo shoot without having to be in the room with me.
What are the advantages of a remote photo shoot?
The first and probably most important advantage is the cost. With me shooting from home, we save the expense of renting a studio and the additional costs that transporting equipment, people, and supplies add to the project total. Clients don’t need to travel for the shoot or even take the day off the same way they might need to to be on set. Often, this makes for a lighter, more flexible day.
What are the disadvantages of a remote photo shoot?
First, there’s always the possibility that technology might not be at its best that day. I’ve had wifi go out, tethering ports break, and any other number of near disasters. There’s usually a work-around, but when you’re relying on technology to make the day go smoothly, it can be frustrating to contend with.
Working remotely, as everyone knows, isn’t the same as being in the same room. Though technology can always get us close, some clients really prefer to be there and see it all unfolding in real time.
Lastly, it can be less exciting to participate in a remote shoot. Instead of watching me set the scene, prep the food, and play with lighting, clients only get pinged if I have a question or when I need them to approve a shot. It’s not as glamorous, but it gets the job done.
What is a studio shoot?
A studio shoot is when I find and rent out a studio space in which to produce the photo shoot. Typically, the client attends the shoot and brings with them anyone else who needs to weigh in, including art directors, culinary directors, or marketing executives.
This photo was the result of a remote shoot.
What are the advantages of a studio shoot?
There’s something incredibly exciting and energizing about being in a space with a client and creating something together. It’s always faster to get approval and sign-off and to communicate ideas back and forth when we’re standing next to each other.
I especially like hosting clients in a studio shoot if they’ve never seen the behind-the-scenes of a photo shoot before. It’s always fun to see them get a grasp of everything that goes into bringing photos to life.
What are the disadvantages of a studio shoot?
Because I shoot at home, I require clients to rent out a studio space in which to shoot if they want to attend the photo shoot or if models are a part of the shoot. While this does add significant cost to the project, it just can’t be helped: my house is my house, and not only do my two nosey cats live there but so does my partner, who also works from home.
It takes time, effort, and gas money to transport my equipment to another space and to figure out how to set it up to fit our needs. I’ve never met a studio space I didn’t make work, but it can add time to the day when we’re playing around to get our set-up exactly right.
Lastly, it does cut back on flexibility when you have to book a studio space. There’s often a fee to cancel a space rental or swap dates around, so dates and timelines can’t be moved around as easily.