STUDIO FOCUS: KYLE GALVIN
Fashion photography expert Kyle Galvin (kylegalvin.com) on using multiple hired studio spaces
For the big commercial shoots we use
Big Sky, however for testing and smaller editorial work one of my favourite studios is Studio Photo Gallery (studiophotogallery. com), located at The Biscuit Factory in London on 100 Clements Road. It’s an affordable studio that uses Elinchrom kit included in the price, which is fantastic for any photographers on a budget or for students who want to get to know simple studio lighting.
WHAT ARE YOUR MOST-USED/FAVOURITE ITEMS OF STUDIO EQUIPMENT?
When on location on smaller budget shoots, I use an Elinchrom D-Lite RX 2/2 with an umbrella, as I find it gives a clean, naturallooking light – perfect for most small location shoots that are poorly lit but where I want a crisp image. Light spills out of the umbrella giving a wide spread of light. On a recent shoot we used a Profoto zoom spot with gobos to create some film noir lighting for a campaign, and that was really fun to play around with. There were so many light shapes and they created so much character. Otherwise when shooting, I’ll use a Profoto head with a softbox octa modifier, for a natural, soft finish.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANY PHOTOGRAPHERS LOOKING TO SET UP A NEW STUDIO OR GET A SUCCESSFUL STUDIO SHOT?
Think economically and whether it’s more viable to rent spaces. For me it’s far more economical to rent, because of the travelling and variety of my job. It can be a big overhead cost, so think about the work you create and, when renting, consider sharing the space, so you use it for half the time and another photographer uses it for the second half, if you’re on a tight budget.
Successful studio images don’t always need to have every light on in the room; you can create amazing work with one light. I tried many different light setups and once I felt confident with my range with one light, I then moved on to adding more fill lights and modifiers.
The studio scares many people, but talk to someone who works there, or a tutor. Knowledge of how to use a flash will help you tenfold, because photography is all about the use of light. I find a lot of people who say they prefer natural light because they’re perhaps scared of flash. Fear will limit you creatively. Flash can be essential in indoor scenarios or bad weather, so it will just add another solution to your belt, to ensure you get a successful shot.