Daylight vs. Artificial Light Studios

24th August 2023

Photography studios come in a huge variety of styles and features, and it's important to know what type of space will work best for your shoot. Whether it's for portraits, fashion or commercial photography, or filming creative visuals for projects, it's important to know that no one size fits all when it comes studio spaces. Broadley speaking, studios can be split into main categories; daylight and artifical light studios. 

Daylight studios are exactly what they say on the tin! They're photographic spaces that work with natural lighting from windows, skylights and open doors to create a soft, more natural looking and flattering ambiance. This type of studio is perfect for creating images without investing in additional props and lighting equipment. The primary benefit of choosing daylight studios, is that the additional light is free! There's no extra electricity charges to consider, and you'll be left with a soft, natural looking final result. The downside to daylight studios is that they can be potentially inconsistent. Natural light is much harder to manipulate than artificial light, meaning the results in the photography may not compltely consistent. 

Loft Studio in North West London is a great example of a daylight studio. It's flooded with natural light from the stunning industrial style windows, which is then reflected by the white tiled walls and light wooden flooring. 

Artificial light studios are the complete opposite. These shoot spaces are for photographers and filmmakers who want total control over the lighting. This studio type is ideal for capturing portraits, product shots and editorial content, as the photographer can tailor each image precisely with artificial light sources. When using these shoot locations, more equipment is needed such as soft boxes, umbrellas and flash units; however they do provide consistent shoot results. The primary benefit of using artificial lighting is that it is easier to control the light’s intensity than natural lighting. It is possible to create a more consistent setup with artificial lighting than natural lighting and you're not reliant on unpredictable weather! There is a downside to artificial light studios; photography results can appear harsher than daylight studios, and the need for additional lighting equipment can be costly. 

Hackney Studios in East London is full cove blackout studio, so a great example of an artifical light studio. The clean, minimal space allows photographers and filmmakers to fully adapt the lighting to achieve consistent results. 

There are many advantages associated with both daylight and artificial light studios; each style has its pros and cons that must be weighed when deciding which type best suits your needs. Daylight studios offer free lighting but can be harder to control than artificial lighting fixtures. In contrast, artificial light studios require additional equipment but provide greater control over the intensity of the light produced. Finally, various photography styles can be produced in a studio setting, from portraiture to fashion to commercial photography; so it is essential to consider what type of imagery you wish to produce when choosing your studio space.