How to build a home photography studio — here's everything you'll need

How to build a home photography studio
(Image credit: Getty)

Having access to a decent photography studio can be an expensive undertaking, but if your home is spacious enough, you can build your own from the ground up. Thanks to all the awesome visual and audio tech available today — not to mention some kickass home-office accessories we’ve found — you can start your own miniature production company in no time. Below, you’ll find some of our favorite picks for the best photography and videography tech, along with some practical gadgets to help you on your artistic journey.

The best laptops for your home photography studio

A laptop is arguably the most expensive part of any photography studio setup. No matter how you slice it, subpar audio and video equal a subpar product, and the equipment you use will make a tremendous difference in the quality of your work. If you’re going to cut corners, don’t do it with your tech. 

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020)

The gold standard for photo and video editing laptops

Specifications

CPU: Apple M1
GPU: Apple M1 GPU
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB
Display: 13.3-inch, 2560 x 1600-pixel
Battery: 16:32
Size: 12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
Weight: 3 pounds

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Let’s start with the big guns. Armed with top-of-the-line overall performance, outstanding battery life, lightning-fast SSD speeds, a solid webcam, and that signature Apple keyboard, the latest MacBook Pro is always at the top of our list when it comes to video, audio, and photo editing capabilities. Apple’s new M1 chip brings performance to the forefront, and when it comes to content creation, there’s not much this machine can’t handle. 

See our full Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020) review.

(Image credit: Future)

Dell XPS 13 (2020)

The best non-Apple laptop for media-centric work

Specifications

CPU: 3.0-GHz Intel Core i7-1185G7
GPU: Intel Iris Xe
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB
Display: 13.4-inch, 1920 x 1200-pixel
Battery: 7:32
Size: 11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches
Weight: 2.8 pounds

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If you’re more of a Windows fan, you can’t go wrong with the Dell XPS 13, another longtime favorite of ours in the world of portable multimedia. The XPS 13’s lightweight, elegant design is just as eye-catching as anything Apple has to offer, and to top it all off, its internals are exceptional: the 3.0-GHz Intel Core i7-1185G7, 16GB of RAM, and gorgeous 4K display are perfect for most video- and audio-editing chores. 

See our full Dell XPS 13 review.

The best Chromebook for your home photography studio 

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

Asus Chromebook Flip C434

The ideal home office Chromebook companion

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core m3-8100Y
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB eMMC
Display: 14-inch, 1080p touch screen
Dimensions: 12.6 x 8 x 0.6 inches
Weight: 3.1 pounds

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If you’ve already got your primary laptop covered, consider snagging a Chromebook for subsidiary productivity chores. The Asus Chromebook Flip C434 is perfect for reading scripts, taking notes, or keeping open web browsers handy as you flow from one project to the next. Trust me: having that extra screen real estate is worth the extra money, and if you’re an Android user, the additional compatibility with everything Google is an additional boon. 

Of course, you can’t use this machine for intensive photo or video editing sessions, but it’s a budget-friendly sidekick that’s useful during content-creation productivity. (Chromebooks are getting more and more powerful with every iteration. Some of the best Chromebooks are already capable of hi-res gaming.)

See our full Asus Chromebook Flip C434 review.

The best drawing tablets for your home photography studio

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

Wacom Intuos Pro S

The ideal tool for content creators everywhere

Specifications

Active Area: 6.3 x 3.9 inches
Battery Life: 12 hours
Size: 10.6 x 6.7 x 0.3 inches
Weight: 1 pound

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The Wacom Intuos Pro S is a fantastic companion for any digital artist, and its compact size is easy to migrate from studio to project site (and back again) in a pinch. The Intuos Pro S is also a great collaboration tool for on-the-spot photo editing, and thanks to its built-in Bluetooth, there aren’t any annoying cords to worry about. The bundled stylus (with 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity) is fantastic for Photoshop and it feels extremely comfortable in the hand. In short, the Intuos Pro S is ideal for mobile artists across the board.  

See our full Wacom Intuos Pro S review.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

reMarkable 2

A super-simple tablet for on-the-fly notes and sketches

Specifications

CPU: 1.2-GHz dual-core ARM
RAM: 1GB
Storage: 8GB
Display: 10.3-inch, 1872 x 1404
Size: 9.7 x 7.4 x 0.2 inches
Weight: 14.2 ounces

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Not every artist needs a cutting-edge drawing tablet, and the reMarkable 2 slab takes a different approach. Classified as the world’s thinnest tablet as of this writing, think of the reMarkable 2 as a blank 100,000-page notebook that organically eliminates other distractions. There are no downloadable apps to install nor any social media integration to speak of. It’s an extraneous note-taking tool that’s more useful than you might think and far more efficient than cluttering your office with errant moleskins. 

See our full reMarkable 2 review

The best monitor for your home photography studio

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Razer Raptor 27

On-the-clock productivity and off-the-clock gaming fun

Specifications

Display: 27-inch (2560 x 1440)
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Refresh Rate: 144 Hz
Response Time: 1ms
Panel Type: IPS
Adaptive Sync: Nvidia G-Sync, AMD FreeSync
Inputs: DisplayPort, HDMI

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If your medium is a visual one, you’ll want to edit (and appreciate) the finished product on a high-resolution display that leaves no pixel unturned. The Razer Raptor 27 is such a monitor, and though it’s aimed at the gaming sector, those fast response times and high-refresh rates are fantastic for resource-heavy video editing. Quite frankly, this isn’t just one of the best gaming monitors around, it’s one of the best monitors — period. 

See our full Razer Raptor 27 Monitor review.

The best docking station for your home photography studio

(Image credit: Plugable)

Plugable USB-C Triple Display Dock

High-speed data transfers when you need them most

Specifications

Compatibility: Chrome OS, Windocs, Mac
Power: up to 60W
Ports: USB 3.0 (4), USB-C (1), Gigabit Ethernet (1), 3.5mm Headphone Jack (1), 3.5mm Microphone Jack (1), HDMI 1.4 (1), HDMI 1.3 (1), DVI (1)

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The more dynamic your production studio setup, the more of a rat’s nest your cord situation can become on the back end. If your laptop station (i.e. home office desk) is starting to look like a garter snake den, perhaps a new docking station is in order. The Plugable USB-C Triple Display Dock fills the bill and its 4K output is powerful enough for lag-free multitasking on multiple monitors at once. This is a great way to futureproof your older laptop without replacing the whole damn thing. (Plus, if you follow any of the advice from this article, you’re gonna need more ports, my friend.) 

See our full Plugable USB-C Triple Display Dock review.

The best camera for your home photography studio 

(Image credit: Future)

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K

A cinema camera that takes content creation to the dark side

Specifications

Sensor: Super 35
Dynamic range: 13 stops
Resolution (Blackmagic RAW): (60fps) 6144 x 3456 (6K), 6144 x 2560 (6K 2.4:1), 5744 x 3024 (5.7K 17:9) (120fps) 2.8k, 1080p HD
Resolution (ProRes): 3840 x 2160 (Ultra HD), 2868 x 1512 (2.8K 17:9), 1920 x 1080 (HD)
Lens Mount: Canon EF
Display: 5-inch, 1920 x 1080 LCD touchscreen
Storage: Dual SD/CFast cards
Construction: Polycarbonate/carbon fiber composite
Battery: LP‑E6 Battery with USB-C charging
Power: Lockable DC port, Weipu 2-pin connector
Size: 9.1 x 9.1 x 9.1 inches
Weight: 1.98 pounds

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If you’ve got aspirations in the entertainment industry, the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema 6K is a cinema camera that boasts fantastic 6K footage and 120 frames per second in 2.6K. (It has myriad ports and storage options, too.) You can use the Pocket Cinema 6K like a regular DSLR camera, but documentarians, students, indie filmmakers and creators of all types will find something to like with this game-changing camera. If 6K is more resolution than you know what to do with (*ahem* raises hand), the 4K version of this camera is slightly less expensive. 

See our full Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K review.

See our full Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K review.

The best webcam for your home photography studio

(Image credit: Logitech)

Logitech StreamCam

A high-resolution webcam that’s ideal for streaming

Specifications

Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Size: 2.6 x 2.3 x 2
FPS: 60

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If you do a lot of live-streaming from your home studio, the built-in webcam on your laptop isn’t going to cut the mustard. The Logitech StreamCam, one of the best webcams, has a premium price tag to match its premium features, and this 1080p webcam is designed to work right out of the box with OBS, Twitch and XSplit. You can adjust the StreamCam for portrait or landscape mode and tweak the frame rates between 24 and 60 frames per second. (Just make sure you’ve got a USB-C port to spare.) For budding musicians and web personalities, the StreamCam will let ‘em see the whites of your eyes as you share your stories with the world. 

See our full Logitech StreamCam review.

The best USB microphone for your home photography studio

(Image credit: Shure)

Shure MV7

Specifications

Recording modes: Cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, stereo
Compatibility: Windows 10, macOS
Size: 4.3 x 12.3 x 5 inches
Weight: 1.32 pounds

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Having a quality USB mic is paramount for quality audio, and nobody is going to take your next podcast seriously if it sounds like it was recorded underwater. The Shure MV7 is a professional studio mic that’s ideal for all your podcast and streaming needs, and the user-friendly design makes it one of our top picks. Rest assured, we’re positive the Shure MV7 is a surefire win when it comes to the best USB mics.

See our full Shure MV7 Review.

The best audio interface for your home photography studio

(Image credit: Focusrite)

Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 (3rd Gen)

Specifications

Connectivity: USB Type-C
Simultaneous I/O: 4 x 4
Resolution: 24-bit/192kHz
Preamps: 2
Line Inputs: 4
Analog Outputs: 4
Size: 7.3 x 4.7 x 1.9 inches
Weight: 1.8 pounds

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The Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 is a frequent recommendation among podcasters and solo artists of all genres; it has everything you need in a USB audio interface. Thanks to two high-performing preamps, two high-headroom instrument inputs (for guitar or bass), and two balanced line inputs, it’s also a top choice for musicians. Bonus: it comes bundled with ProTools First and Ableton Live Lite, so your DAW is already covered if you don’t have one already.  

Interested in building your own voiceover studio? It’s less expensive than you might think.

The best photo and video editing software for your home studio

The photo and video editing software you use makes a difference, too. Sure, there’s plenty of video and audio-editing freeware out there for snatching, but some software is simply worth the subscription in the long run. (It’s not easy to future-proof yourself as a creator, after all.) 

Adobe Lightroom CC/Classic

Best photo-editing software

Specifications

Type: Subscription
OS: Windows and Mac
Mobile App: Yes
HDR: Yes
Photo stitching: Yes
Cloud Storage: up to 1TB depending on plan
Builtin Content management system: Yes

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With the ability to edit RAW files alongside traditional Adobe Photoshop formats, Lightroom CC/Classic can become an all-encompassing workflow from import to print, allowing you to load print templates and customize them with your images. The streamlined feature set has an easy learning curve and it makes image correction a snap.  

See more of the best photo editing software here.

(Image credit: Adobe)

Adobe Premiere Pro

Best video-editing software

Specifications

Type: Subscription
OS: Windows and Mac
Mobile App: Yes
HDR: Yes
Cloud Storage: up to 1TB depending on plan
Built-in Content management system: Yes

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Adobe Premiere Pro has long been the top pick amongst industry professionals for TV shows, Hollywood movies, advertisements and other SAG-sponsored content. Available for both Windows and Mac, the software lets you edit in high definition, 4K, 8K and even virtual reality. Trimming footage, adding graphics and importing videos from multiple formats has never been easier. 

See more of the best video editing software here.

The best headphones and speakers for your home photography studio

You could lay down the best melodies on the planet, but that still means diddly squat for everyone’s earholes with the wrong speaker setup. Recording and editing with subpar headphones will inevitably affect your audio project since some frequencies will literally be lost on you. You can’t edit what you can’t hear, amiright?

(Image credit: Future)

Apple Airpods Pro

The best noise-cancelling buds all the cool kids are using

Specifications

Size and Weight: 2.4 x 1.7 x 0.9 inches, 8.8 ounces
Battery Life (Rated): 4.5 hours (NC on)
Bluetooth Range: 30 feet (10 meters)
Special Features: Active noise cancellation, "Hey Siri" voice activation, spatial audio

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Yes, these noise-cancelling buds aren’t meant for audio editing, but they’ve become the go-to Bluetooth headphones for folks in the entertainment business. If you're already an Apple user who does a lot of live streaming, these buds are tough to beat when it comes to active noise cancellation, audio quality and overall comfort. They’re great to have around your studio for hands-free productivity

See our full Apple AirPods Pro review.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

Bose 700

Quality cans for serious audio oomph

Specifications

Size and Weight: 8 x 6.5 x 2 inches, 8.8 ounces
Battery Life (Rated): 20 hours (NC on);40 hours (NC off)
Bluetooth Range: 30 feet (10 meters)
Special Features: Adjustable active noise cancellation and transparency modes, customizable EQ, charging case (optional)