Renting a Photography Studio is a Non-negotiable for Winter Minneapolis Sessions!

It’s October. It’s getting colder. We’re headed (super fast) toward the dark of winter. And in Minneapolis, you know what that means. The outside gets pretty quickly inhospitable, and definitely not the ideal for a photo shoot. Or at least not the ideal if you don’t want to wear a big puffy coat, or absolutely freeze, because those are pretty much your options if you wanted an outdoor session.

But luckily for you, outdoors isn’t the only option for photo sessions, and that fact applies whether you’re a human looking for a photo session (Hi, I’m Jessie, nice to meet you!), or a photographer who needs to rent a studio for a session that’s coming up.

My Studio is Available – but you’ve got Options!

My Minneapolis studio has been available to rent for ages, and you’re absolutely welcome to use it! But I’m not the only person with a commercial space in the city that can be used for photography sessions, whether it’s just asking a café owner nicely, or using one of the many other studio spaces available to secure. So when it comes to choosing the “where” – there are some questions I’d recommend you ask yourself, that will make your life easier in the long run!

When you’re choosing the “where” – here’s what to think about!

The weather is absolutely one thing to think about when you’re choosing your Minneapolis photo session location, but there are more. And believe it or not, there are a lot of marks in the “pro” column for in-studio sessions, that you might not have thought about!

1 – How is it located for your clients?

The first question you want to ask before you rent a studio – and arguably before you get attached to the idea of any specific studio in the first place – is about the address. If it’s not listed prominently on their website, and you DO like the look of things, then reach out, and ask for clarification. Sometimes studio owners keep the exact address under wraps until you reach out to them personally, in the same way bnbs on booking sites will. It’s a security precaution, and sometimes, it’s even included in THEIR rental agreement, so it’s not really something the studio operator has complete control over either.

But you at least want to get the street or locale that it’s in, so you can get a clear idea of whether it’s going to be convenient and effective for you and your clients to get to.

2 – When you’re renting a studio, ask about the amenities!

Then once you have an idea of where it is, it’s time to talk amenities! Now this is going to be different across the different types of space you can use for photo sessions, and it can vary pretty widely. Not every amenity that would be “nice” is necessarily a requirement for photoshoots, so this isn’t something that has a one-size-fits-all approach.

But if you need the studio for a newborn session, for example, you’re going to want to be able to control the temperature in the space more than just “this is the temperature it is in here”, because you know as well as I do that those little toes need to be kept warm. If you’re working with a family that has kids coming into the studio with them, it might be good to make sure that parking is included and they’re not going to have to drive around looking for street parking, then walk there with their kiddos. On the other end of the spectrum, for a lengthy branding photoshoot, it might be good to make sure there’s enough space to set up multiple sets to use when your clients arrive! So consider your needs, and line that up against what’s available to help you narrow your search.

3 – What are you allowed and not allowed to use?

What you can and can’t use in a rented studio space is HUGE, and can make or break choosing a space! Now, if you’re repurposing a space that doesn’t usually function as a photography studio, or that isn’t rented by a photographer, then it might be a little light on the resources available. Which is fair.

But if you’re renting from a photographer, or renting a space that is primarily used as a photography studio on a day to day basis, then there are probably going to be resources for you to use. Those can range from backdrops, to props, to lighting arrays and spots – some photography studios even have an in-studio client closet you can borrow from for your sessions. So make sure you talk to the rental coordinator, and get clarity on what you can and can’t use, if it’s not listed easily on their rental page.

There may also be other limitations, if you’re using a location that isn’t regularly used as a photography studio. For example, some historical spaces have limitations on flash usage and/or lighting setups, and if you’re hoping to use one of those… then you’ll need to be really clear about what you’re allowed to use of your OWN equipment too!

4 – Is it going to be convenient to get your equipment there?

Then after you’ve discussed what you can and can’t use… it’s time to consider how you’re going to get your own equipment there, if needed! From a logistical standpoint, it might not be the best plan ever to take complex lighting to a third floor walk-up space in a main city. And that only gets MORE complicated if you’re using a space that doesn’t have convenient parking! So just like with everything else, this is another aspect of studio rental that doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s all about your needs, your photography style, the type of space, and your vision for the session!

If you’re looking for a studio in the Minneapolis area… reach out!

If you’re looking for a studio space to rent for a session here in Minneapolis, especially as we head toward winter… let me know! I’d love to talk about whether my studio here will meet your needs, and whether the amenities and resources I provide can fill the holes in things like “prop management” for your upcoming session.

I’m just a contact-form-submission away!