Dusty’s Dream Photography Studio

As professional photographers, Dusty and Amy are always chasing that perfect studio setup. They’ve shot at countless venues and studios, but nothing was ever quite right for their photography needs. So, this power couple took a different approach: instead of finding the perfect studio, they made one. They worked with Tuff Shed to build their dream photography studio in a custom barn. How did they do it? Keep reading to find out. Lots of natural light? Check. The perfect blend of light from each cardinal direction? Quadruple check. Dusty and Amy thought long and hard about where to place the windows and sliding doors on their 16x37’ Premier Pro Tall Barn. On the north side, they’ve got a bay of sliding doors for all-day diffused light. On the east side of the building, they customized their barn to have a big slider and a gable window for morning light. On the west side, they’ve got one window for just a bit of afternoon light. And on the south side of their barn, they chose to add a sliding door complete with blackout curtains if the light gets too intense. Their pro-tip about window and door placement is to think about where the sun is relative to your building. It’s a good idea to consider both time of day and time of year. The sheer amount of customizability in creating a DIY photo studio is one of the reasons Dusty and Amy chose Tuff Shed. Our sales team was able to help them put windows exactly where they wanted, as well as recommend other features and ideas. (Plus, our team handled the permitting.) Photography studio kits on the market come with a lot of specs that can’t be changed, so it just made sense to work with Tuff Shed. In addition to their ideal light situation, Dusty and Amy also added a loft for storage. You accumulate lots of gear and equipment as a photographer (from light stands to backdrops and so much more), so a space to store it all is essential. Two mini-splits keep the space comfortable all year round, and the interior is finished out with drywall, flooring, and electricity. Tuff Shed buildings are built tough—and Dusty’s studio is no exception. Northern California’s storms and winds can be brutal, but the quality construction of the building is clearly evident. Dusty and Amy have started many businesses together: a wedding photography business, a lavender farm, and even a board game company. The board game business took off, and their Premier Pro Tall Barn is where they shoot all their product photography for Dox Somnium Games . They make non-traditional board games with beautiful art courtesy of Amy’s art history background. Working out of their Tuff Shed, their games are now sold in 87 countries, and you can find them in Barnes and Noble. Are you thinking about getting your own Tuff Shed photo studio or backyard office space? We asked Dusty and Amy what their advice is for folks who are thinking about investing in their dream studio. Their advice: think about your goals for the space first and foremost. Then, design around that. For them, that was their epic lighting situation. Erin, who runs her crochet business out of her shed, recently told us the same thing about designing for light. Check out Dux Somnium Games on Instagram to see the amazing work Dusty and Amy are creating out of their Tuff Shed. You can also check out Tuff Shed’s buildings to see which might be the right one for making your creative vision come to life. Make sure to check out the handy online tools to start customizing your backyard studio. Give our team a call or visit your nearest show room if you have any questions. We are here and happy to help.

Dusty’s Dream Photography Studio

Designing the Photography Studio

Dusty’s Dream Photography Studio

Designing the Photography Studio

The Dream Photo Studio

Photo Studio and Game Empire

Dusty and Amy’s Advice

Build Your Own Dream Studio

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