How to make a small home studio work: Studio L | London Portrait Photographer

I’ve recently moved into a new house that enabled me to use some of the space as a home studio. Nothing fancy and nothing big. My vision was to achieve something that is not just functional as a professional studio space but homey, welcoming, and warm.

I tend to go for a classic, simple style with a touch of vintage and perhaps a pattern or two for accent. I also love homemade things. These all helped towards keeping within budget when decorating and accessorising my studio. Some of these items especially the smaller accessories {like frames, old singer sewing machine, vintage suitcase} are items I already had.

The sideboard, winged armchair with footstool, and sheepskin rug are from Ikea. I changed the sideboard knobs and used ceramic knobs instead with different patterns on them. The little loveseat is from made.com. I bagged the leather rug from Zara Home’s wonderful sale. The wooden footstool and beaded pendant light shade are from ebay. Three small cushions are from John Lewis’ half-price sale. For photography backdrop, I installed some curtain roller blinds that can be rolled up and away when not in use.

I made the button cushion and the newborn nest. My lovely friend Ellena made the cover for the newborn nest, complete with a side-handle! Now to the smaller and bargain options…from Wilkinson’s: fox doorstop, ball-knot doorstop, tripod lamp. The big L sign is something I found discarded on the roadside a few years ago and it just so happened to be the letter L. I did splash out on the feature wallpaper – it’s a William Morris classic – the golden lily.

It was a bit of a surprise when unpacking boxes from the house move to find well over 150 framed family photos that I had to find space for. So instead of books {which are still in boxes}, they found their place on the shelves. These and a couple of my paintings on the wall complete the homespun studio feel that I was after. All in all, I’m really happy with how everything came together. Click here {creative headshots} and here {9 month old baby girl} and here {newborn baby} and here {formal family portraits} to see some sessions held in my home studio so far…

Email me at lily@lilysawyer.com to book your portrait session.