10 Ways to Find Cheap Photo Studio Rental Locations

In this guide, you’ll learn how to find cheap photo studio rental locations around you.

If you’re lucky, you may even discover some locations and photo studios are actually free!

After all, what is a successful business other than providing a high-quality product at the least cost?

Read ahead and prepare your studio for your next photo session.

10 Tips for Finding Cheap Photo Studio Rental Locations

1. Look for Photography Studio Spaces Online

In our modern connected world, the internet is the first place you need to find anything. This applies to finding your perfect photo studio as well.

For example, Craigslist is a good place to look for hourly or per day studio rentals. While some spaces will be advertised as studios for rent, many homeowners are willing to lease a spare room in their house as a photo studio for extra cash.

If you’re shooting in a room, remember to bring all your props and lighting equipment.

2. Use Social Media to Find Studios for Rent

In the last decade, you must have noticed that social media isn’t just for catching up with friends but also for advertising – buying and selling just about anything.

Today, most businesses have an online presence. Try searching “studio rental service” and see what happens on Facebook and Instagram.

Once you find a suitable photography studio, you can negotiate the hourly rate if you’re willing to rent it regularly or for a long time.

You may notice that some professional photographers on social media in your area don’t advertise that they rent out their space. If you reach out to them, you may find that they’re willing to let you use their studio at a lower price range.

3. Try Peerspace to Find Cheap Photo Studio Locations

Peerspace is an online marketplace for booking space for various uses based on your location. You can filter your search results by price to find a place within your budget.

Unfortunately, Peerspace is currently only found in large US and European cities. Other platforms that help you find photo studios are Giggster, Splacer, and Tagvenue.

4. Use Airbnb as a Photo Studio

Besides looking for photo studio ads, why don’t you think outside the box and expand your search? You can find various locations that offer some space to work and have good lighting.

For a start, you can browse through Airbnbs around you. This is a great option if you’re living in a touristic city with limited photo studios to rent but an abundance of rooms for low rental rates.

A big advantage of Airbnb is the availability of pictures in each flat. This way, you can skim through hundreds of photos to find unique views depending on your needs.

5. Talk to a Real Estate Agent

Apart from searching online, talking to a realtor will help you find the perfect location for your next photography studio.

While a property is looking for a long-term owner, the estate agent can make extra money by renting out rooms for a short time where you can set up your photo studio.

6. Use Your Client’s Home or Office as a Photo Studio

If your client is cool with it, using her home or office to take pictures is a free and convenient option.

However, you should have a backup atelier if your client is uncomfortable with the idea.

Shooting in the customer’s space works well with product photography and home lifestyle photography – which has become popular lately.

You can bring a portable backdrop along with your other photography equipment.

7. Use a Shared Studio Co-op for Photo Shoots

Studio co-ops are shared spaces that many artists use as workshops for reasonable prices. They offer a quiet atmosphere to work productively for those who don’t have offices.

If you can’t find co-ops in your area, you can earn some extra income by creating one with your friends and other local artists.

Head to the co-op when your colleagues aren’t around for better focus during studio sessions.

8. Create a Studio in Your Home

One of the main benefits of shooting indoors is the ability to keep things constant, specifically with lighting. So, you can achieve this by using a spare bedroom in your house as your photo studio.

If you have limited space in your apartment, you can temporarily turn a wall or a table into a photo shooting area. After the session is over, you can return your furniture to place.

Because sometimes, all you need is a white wall.

A good idea is to set up your photo studio near a light source too. Many food bloggers, for instance, like to shoot on a kitchen counter near the window for some soft natural light.

Here is a simple guide on how to build a home photo studio on a budget.

9. Shoot Outdoors

Photographing in the open is inexpensive and creative. You can use unique outdoor locations in your area as a background, like a graffiti wall, a brick wall or even the skyline.

Instead of shooting indoors, you should be prepared to adjust if there is a sudden change in weather. Sometimes, even a passing cloud can reduce the amount of light entering your lens. So, you’ll have to work quickly.

For example, during the 2020 COVID quarantine, movement was limited in my city. My neighbor, who owned an online shop for selling clothes, used our rooftop garden to photograph her products.

The results were stunning; she didn’t have to leave her apartment block to get decent pictures. To overcome the challenges related to daylight, my entrepreneur neighbor used her lighting equipment and always shot at night.

10. Work With a Professional Photographer

If you’re still a beginner in this industry, you can benefit a lot by working with a professional photographer who owns a studio.

This way, you can rent their equipment and use the studio for free.

An added advantage of working with an artist in the field is gaining hands-on experience in the professional world.

Factors to Consider When Renting a Photo Studio

Once you’ve secured a few potential locations for your photo studio, there are several factors to consider before making the payment:

Equipment

Is it a professional photo studio with all the necessary equipment, or will you have to bring your own? Some studios offer to rent their photography equipment, saving you some hassle.

Another option is to rent cameras and lenses yourself.

Proximity

You should consider the distance of the photo studio from your residence. You’ll have to factor in transportation costs before picking an affordable studio that lies at the other end of town.

Size

If you’re working with models, colleagues, props and costumes, the studio should be large enough to accommodate everyone comfortably.

As for the ceiling height, it should be at least ten feet to ensure perfect lighting and the proper installation of green screens.

Lighting

Depending on your niche and desired outcome, you may prefer a dark room with small windows or one with plenty of natural light.

Noise

If you’re going to do video shoots, it’s important to rent a quiet studio to avoid background noise.

Comfort

There should be available restrooms on site, access to drinking water, chairs, changing rooms, or whatever you consider necessary.

Food Availability

You can significantly cut costs on logistics if the photo studio you’re renting is close to restaurants or food vendors.

Accessibility

This is especially crucial when other colleagues or models need to reach your location in strange streets.

Extras

You should have a list of the essential items for your photography such as mirrors, hanging racks, irons, ironing boards for costumes, etc.

Also, you’ll have to bring your extension cords if there aren’t enough electrical outlets in the studio.

Costs and Rental Agreements

The cost of renting a photo studio ranges from less than $40 and up to $500 per hour for popular photo studios in big cities. This will vary depending on the size and location of the studio.

For example, the average rate to rent a photo studio in New York City and Los Angeles is $60 hourly, while it costs $93 in Houston.

Tips for a Successful Studio Rental Experience

Here are a few pro tips for a successful photo studio rental:

1. Determine your budget and time constraints.
2. Collect information on potential photo studios in a spreadsheet.
3. Contact several photo studio owners and check their availability.
4. Finally, bargain to get the best deal for all parties.

Alternatives to Traditional Photo Studio Rentals

If you’ve read this far, it must have crossed your mind that you can avoid the trouble of renting a photo studio if you have one of your own.

As you become more comfortable in the business, you should consider finding a nice one-bedroom apartment with white walls and setting it up as a photo studio.

Once your workplace is up and running, you can rent it out for some income.