Opening my own studio in Budapest

I have opened my own studio around downtown Budapest with a friend a couple months ago (as in 2025. january) and it wasn't the easiest start. It's a studio for rent as well, but this article is about private use. Here's a quick incomplete summary of my main learnings.

Pros of having my own photostudio

I can shoot whenever I want

I can shoot when I want and as long as I want. I don't need to book a place, wait for a response or have to postpone if I decide on an ad-hoc shoot in a ridiculous time.

No time limit

I don't have to calculate how much time I need for a shoot and fit into the booked timeframe. It's also really nice for non-planned creative shoots where we just fuck around for half a day and generate ideas on the go.

Custom sets

I can build more complicated settings, the limit is really just how much effort and money I am willing to put in into building and teardown.

Better furniture

Most furnished photostudios in Budapest have a style that is not to my liking... fake baroque or cheap modern furniture. It's ok for one set, but it's not my favourite. I try to collect authentic and unique furniture that can be an eye-catching piece on a photoshoot.

Props, clothes and so on

The outfit doesn't have to be designed to the last piece because I collected a whole lot of props and accessories and even full outfits that I keep in the studio. Need a choker or some devil horns to complete the look? Just look in the drawer.

Pivoting the shoot

I keep all my equipment in the studio including a digital and many analogue and an instant camera and some film too. If I decide to use something other than planned for the shoot, it's there and I don't need to bring my entire household with me in a backpack.

The infrastructure

Coffee, tea and good sound system makes the shoot so much more enjoyable. Shower is also available if we have a messy shoot or an ironing board if I don't want to have messy clothes.

Cancellations

If someone cancels the shoot I am not loosing money on the booking. Although it's still almost as much annoying.

Cons of having my own photostudio

Cleaning

So I assume your home is not a total mess (hopefully), but most of the time it's not pristine either. When you have some guests coming over, you at least vacuum and put away the dirty dishes. Well, I am expecting guests every day... and a client coming over won't care if the studio was already cleaned yesterday if there is dog hair on the floor today from this mornings shoot.

Maintenance

I am constantly putting this back in their place. Just taking the trash out, putting out toilet paper and tissue paper, cleaning the mirrors from fingerprints and so on takes up most of my time, not actual anything photography related.

Cost

Needless to say, the whole operation is expensive and sadly some hungarians like to haggle a bit too. I am learning to be better at saying no withouth being afraid that I loose some customers.

Promotion

I have another website and another set of social media sites to manage. Great, who doesn't love that?

No help with the shoot

Ok, that's not entirely true, there is help if I call someone, but it isn't free (it's at least a favor). Most of the time I like to shoot alone without anyone lolligagging around me, so it's not really an issue that I don't have anyone bringing me coffee during the shoot (not like that's a thing in rental studios anyway), but I do have to set up everything myself and I do have to put away after myself too after every shoot.

To summarise I still really enjoy having my own creative space. Is it a good investment? No. Does it free up any time for me? Hell no. But it does allow me to create things that I couldn't any other way and for me that is worth the hassle.

the interior of my photo studio aka aether art space

If you want to check out my studio, you can do so on studioaether.com and even rent it out! And of course if you want to have a photoshoot there in Budapest, don't hesitate to drop me a message.