"I would love to have real photos of our family, but a photographer... that is such a hassle." We hear it often. Posing for a stranger feels awkward, the kids do not cooperate on command, and the price of a professional shoot makes you hesitate. What many people do not know: you can simply rent a photo studio and do the photoshoot yourself. Without a photographer, without an expensive camera and without experience. You have the room entirely to yourself for two hours, with professional light, beautiful backgrounds and furniture. In this article we take you through it step by step, so the barrier disappears.
"Do I need to be able to do anything for that?"
No. That is the most important message right away. The studio works on a self-service basis: you book online, receive an access code and let yourself in. All the lamps are ready and switch on with a single button. There is nothing to install and nobody is watching. What you need is a smartphone or camera, an idea of which photos you want, and the willingness to experiment for half an hour. Nothing more.
If you are using your smartphone, first read our guide smartphone photography in the studio. It contains the one tip that changes everything (setting your own exposure) and which lamps to use. In short: the LED video lights, because flashes do not work with a phone.
Step 1: book two hours and pick your moment
For a family or couple shoot, two hours is plenty. Count on a quarter of an hour to arrive and settle in, an hour of shooting, and some margin for an outfit change. Choose a moment when everyone is fresh: with small children that is usually the morning, after breakfast and before the nap. The studio is open every day from 07:00 to 22:00, so Sunday morning works too. Check availability and book online right away; two hours cost 95 euro, everything included.
Step 2: make a small plan
The biggest pitfall of a do-it-yourself shoot is walking in with a blank page and having nothing after half an hour. Write down five images you definitely want beforehand. For example:
- The whole family together on the white infinity wall, standing and laughing.
- Everyone snuggled up on the sofa, with the kids on top.
- A portrait of each person on the black wall, lit a little more dramatically.
- A playful moment: jumping, tickling, dancing. That is where the real laughs come from.
- One "artistic" image on the wooden slat wall, with warm light.
That way you work through a list and leave the studio with a series that feels like a real shoot, instead of a hundred near-identical photos.
Step 3: put your phone or camera in place
If you are in the photo yourself, work with a tripod or phone holder and the timer or a remote. A cheap mini tripod is enough, and otherwise you simply put your phone on one of the white plinths or the edge of a crate. Set the timer to 10 seconds, or use a Bluetooth remote or your smartwatch to take the picture; that way you can calmly take your place. Take several photos in a row of every pose: in a family there is always someone blinking.
If you take turns photographing each other, just use your phone's main camera (1x) or the telephoto (2x). Avoid the ultra-wide for portraits, it distorts faces.
Step 4: one lamp, and you are off
Place one LED lamp in a softbox in front of and above you at an angle, about 45 degrees to the side. Put a white reflector on the other side. That is all. Look at your screen, move the lamp until it looks good and start. If you want more atmosphere, place the second lamp a little further behind you for a soft shine on the hair, or let the RGB spot gently colour the background. You will find more setups in portrait photography for beginners, but for your first shoot one lamp really is enough.
Step 5: posing without it looking posed
The secret of natural photos is not "say cheese", but doing something. A few prompts that always work:
- Couples: walk hand in hand towards the camera, whisper something silly in each other's ear, do a half-turn dance, look at each other and then together at the lens.
- Families: let the kids climb on dad's back, tickle, have everyone jump at the same time, (carefully) throw a child in the air, lie down on the sofa together as if it were Sunday morning.
- A portrait of yourself: turn your body slightly away from the camera, chin a touch down, shoulders relaxed. Move a little between each photo; standing still makes you stiff.
- Kids on their own: put them on a children's chair or in a wooden crate, give them something to hold and just talk to them. You take the photos in between.
Clothing tip: plain colours that go together, no big logos or busy prints. Soft colours and denim work on the white wall; on the black wall, bright or dark colours with warm light look stunning.
Step 6: use the space and the props
The studio is more than a white wall. Alternate between the infinity wall, the black wall, the wooden slat wall. Use the sofa, the white bench, the foldable bed, the crates and the children's chairs. Have a look at the furniture and props page beforehand so you know what is there. Everything is included, and you are welcome to move things around.
And afterwards?
At home, calmly select your ten favourites and have them printed or turn them into a photo book. If you compare the cost of two hours of studio with a professional family shoot, you usually have enough left over for a beautiful canvas print. And the best part: afterwards the kids ask when they can go "to the photo studio" again, because it was simply a fun morning.
Ready to give it a try? Book your slot online, or first read all about shooting in the studio with your smartphone. Still hesitant and want to see the space first? Email us for a no-obligation tour.
Feel like getting to work yourself? Discover everything about renting a photo studio in Aalst — or book your slot right away.
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