PERSONAL BRANDING IN SMALL SPACES: PHOTOGRAPHY SETUPS FOR SMALL SPACES IN-STUDIO OR AT HOME
By Annie Marie
Are you confined to a small studio or limited space to shoot in? Have no fear… you still have plenty of options! Whether you're working in a cozy studio or a client’s home, there are countless creative photography setups for small spaces that can help you capture stunning personal branding images. I personally have a very small studio, so I work in a confined space all the time. You just have to learn to work with what you have and make thoughtful adjustments. In fact, small studios often have the advantage of feeling more “cozy,” which can help clients feel at ease and more comfortable. It’s all about embracing the positives. Here are some tips for making the most of tight spaces:
1. If your space is limited, use smaller or low-profile modifiers. This will allow you to get them farther out or higher up and still get amazing light.
2. Bouncing light is your friend. I love bouncing light—it takes barely any space. Use white walls, ceilings, white V-flats, foam core, or reflectors. You can get beautiful, soft light or fill this way and save so much room.
3. Lens choice is important here. You may not be able to throw on your long zoom lens, but lenses like a 35mm or 50mm for full-length shots, or an 85mm for close-ups, usually work well and still give your clients great variety.
4. Utilize the Varipole system to hang backdrops. It takes up basically zero footprint and is easily moveable to any spot. I use this in my small studio, and it’s been such a great way to maintain versatility in background placement without sacrificing space. If you can’t take it on location, a portable background stand or X-Drop system works great.
5. Use the beautiful natural light from a window or open door.
6. Get creative with your posing. Focus on close-ups or ¾ shots and experiment with different poses to give clients variety. If you don’t have space for full-length shots, putting your subject on a stool may allow you to capture more of the frame.
7. Be strategic with the furniture and props in your studio—make sure they’re multi-use and moveable. Most of the pieces I have in my studio serve multiple purposes; I use them for display, storage, and as props.
All of the setups I use can work with strobe, constant light, or natural light. I’ll go more in-depth with each one in the following section, featuring 3 unique small-space setups.
SETUP 1 – IN-HOME LED / NATURAL
I wanted to show that you can successfully capture headshots and personal branding images in a client’s home by getting creative with their space.For the first look, I brought a Westcott 8x8 X-Drop and my 8x8 backdrop made for the X-Drop stand from BGT. I set it up facing a glass sliding door to use natural light as fill. I clamped a blanket to one side of the backdrop to block some light coming in from behind. Then I set up a 36" parabolic umbrella with a Godox ML100Bi LED light. That was enough to illuminate the subject while using natural light for fill.I did two lighting options for this look. The first used the light positioned at a 45-degree angle, and the second placed the light directly in front for more of a beauty light effect.I used one of her furniture pieces as a prop, which had the same neutral tones I was aiming for in this setup.
SETUP 2 – IN-HOME NATURAL / GARAGE
For the second look, I took the X-Drop and backdrop setup into the garage and placed it directly facing the open garage doors to take advantage of the large natural light source.It’s important when working in spaces like this to place the backdrop and subject as close to the opening as possible to ensure even light spill. Pay attention to the direction of the light coming through the doorway and position your setup accordingly. As long as the subject is inside (to control the direction of light) but close to the opening (to get that beautiful soft light), you’ll get the quality of light you're looking for.For this set, I also used a chair for sitting poses, in addition to standing portraits.
SETUP 3 – IN-STUDIO CONSTANT
I used the same Classic Textured Sand backdrop in my small studio.For this setup, I had a bit more space, so I used a larger 48" umbrella with diffusion on my SmallRig constant light, positioned camera left. Then I bounced light onto a white V-flat using my Godox ML100Bi LED light, which gave a nice fill from the right.I wanted to capture some full-length shots, so I utilized my concrete floors, which paired well with the textured backdrop.
IN CONCLUSION
You don’t need a huge studio or space to successfully create headshots and personal branding photos for your clients. With creative decisions and thoughtful setup, you can make the most of any environment and still deliver high-quality, varied images your clients will love.And using Background Town's backdrops made for the Westcott X-Drop system is a great place to start.
THE TECHNICAL STUFF:
I’m not going to dive too deep into the specifics of equipment and settings—each of us puts together our own combination of cameras, lights, and modifiers, and there’s no one right answer. It’s all about what works for you. But for reference, here’s what I used for this article:
* Camera: Canon R6
* Lens: Canon 24-70mm RF
* Lights/Strobes:
*Godox ML100Bi (constant light)
* SmallRig constant light
* Modifiers:
* 36" parabolic umbrella with diffuser
* 48" umbrella with diffuser
* White V-flat for fill
* Backdrops:
* Classic Texture Sand from Background Town
* Westcott 8x8 X-Drop
MEET ANNIE
Annie is a Minneapolis-based photographer with nearly 30 years of experience behind the camera. An internationally award-winning artist, she is known for creating images that are rich in emotion, depth, and authenticity. Annie’s goal is to capture photographs that make people laugh, cry, and remember the simple, breathtaking moments they never want to forget. Her work is defined by connection, expression, and storytelling.