Create a mini popup studio

Alistair Campbell explains how you can achieve pro‑standard editorial images, even in a small space and on a limited budget

The difference between editorial photography and examples of photojournalism that you see in magazines can be unclear. Editorial photos are often created to support a story or a piece of text, rather than as a form of journalism. They are more subjective than photojournalism images, so you are able to compose them in a more creative way. When I first picked up a camera, I had very little money to hire studio spaces, but invested in some basic lights and a small popup backdrop. That grey fabric backdrop has remained with me ever since; it’s a bit worse for wear these days, but still comes in handy when I’m in a tight space. It’s small enough to carry to a client, or to pop up at home. You can then use some basic lighting, or shoot with natural light.

The key is not to feel restricted: even if your working space is limited you can still shoot images that are worthy of fashion magazines.