ROBERT CARTER PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO PROJECT

So, after years of being a photographer and primarily concentrating on wedding photography, I decided to branch out and dive into portrait photography. I had done many portrait sessions before, but it was always either on location or in our family conservatory/home made studio.

I always knew this was never going to be enough. It was great for a time, but once your daughter starts growing up, you realise that everything you have is now theirs. This was exactly the same when it came to the conservatory. It began to grow a life of its own. Storage boxes upon storage boxes, filled with toys and games that as adults, know they'll never play with ever again.

It was time to branch out, or should I say "move out". If I wanted people to take me seriously (which they still don't), then I'd have to have a studio of my own.

Its what I've always dreamt about. Ever since I took up photography 14 years ago, I've always wanted my own studio. In fact going back to my college days in the photography dark room, I've always wanted this for myself.

This was always going to be a massive project. We'd never really done anything with our garden ever since we moved in.

This was all going to change. I was having to turn this upside down, to make sure it was an awesome space for people to come and have fun and relaxed photo session.

So, starting with the driveway (which must have been laid by a blind badger), I started to break up all the concrete and getting it so it didn't look like the Pennines. This was a bigger job than I thought, but luckily enough, the people who had the house before us left a pick in their shed.

So with the ground all level, I started on the framework for my path. I'd only laid decking once before and it was a nightmare. I had to make sure I made a better job this time. Luckily enough, we have Youtube this time around so I made use of it. Around 4 hours of tutorials and a few cups of tea later I made a start. Up until around 6 months ago, Id say it was my best bit of DIY id ever completed. Flat. Straight. solid. A perfect way to enter the back garden and my soon to be Studio.

After doing such a good job on the side of the house, I was in higher spirits about making a masterpiece in the back.

We visited a couple of studio showrooms and finally decided on Garden Shed UK. They seemed to be the best at what they do in the Yorkshire area.

……..Whoa...I know what you're thinking. But I wasn't even gonna start and put a studio together myself. There's no amount of YouTube videos that would have been able to help me. I think laying decking is the peak of my DIY ability.

So, once we had a date for the installation, I knew what time I had to get the back done. At first, I thought 6 weeks was gonna be ample time to get things done. But the fact I chose November of all months to do this was a bad idea. With more wet days than dry days, it seems 6 weeks was just enough time to get it done.

The old shed was the first thing to go, god knows how it was still standing. Then I knew what room I had for my next little project.

I had to build a frame on 3 different levels with 2 steps leading down to where the studio would be. It was a hard job, but I enjoyed the whole thing. Maybe if I get bored of photography, I might take to being a landscape artist.

The Studio, Built on the 10th of December 2019, will always be one of my proudest days. I had always wanted to make something of my life and never thought I would. This studio stands on 14 years of hard work as a photographer and may it stand long after I am gone.

So all the hard work is done. Now comes the fun bit, getting to fill it with all of my stuff and none of my daughters stuff. A brand new desk where I can work in peace, away from the chaos of home life. The little oddities that make the studio personal to me and a space to hang some of my best work.

After the official opening, I had a few shoots with clients before madness hit.

Covid-19 had to come along and ruin it for me, like I'm sure its ruined 2020 for many others.

Its been a strange year so far and the studio still isn't getting used to its full potential. Hopefully when this all settles down, my studio will get used like its supposed to. With lots of fun and relaxed photo sessions and me, doing the job I love doing the most (no, not more decking).