It doesn’t always take a big budget to create a strong visual impact. Sometimes, all you need is a garage and some creativity.https://y
My husband, David, and I form a creative duo specializing in set design and photography, handling both aspects in every shoot we undertake. A few years ago, when we first started, we devoted a full year to constructing 100 sets and conducting 100 photo shoots for what we named our 100 Set Project. Based on the East Coast, we built 99 of these sets in our studio, where we had ample space and access to a wide variety of tools. Building sets isn't easy, but having the right tools definitely helps.
My brother, who lives in Los Angeles, suggested we come visit and use his garage for a few photoshoots while we were there. We took him up on the offer and paid him a visit. The only issue was: we had no tools In Los Angeles for constructing the set, and the garage was smaller than expected. All the sets we were building at that time were at least eight feet tall, but we knew that wouldn’t work in the garage. So, we had to adjust and get really creative with our design while being very strategic with our tools.
David opted to purchase a circular saw because it was the most cost-effective tool, allowing for a wide variety of cuts. He also purchased a battery-powered nail gun. That was it. One circular saw and one nail gun were all our budget allowed, forcing us to think creatively.
With only a circular saw at our disposal, David aimed to minimize cuts as much as possible. Luckily, we stumbled upon pre-cut 4x4 pieces of wood, a perfect fit for the garage with ample space for lighting, eliminating the need for extra cuts.
From there, we conceptualized the idea of portraying confinement within an uncomfortably tiny space. We added more details by including a window and a light fixture, making the space feel like a room within a home.
We scheduled nine different people to model inside the tiny box. Our aim was to make each shoot feel different, even though the set was exactly the same, while encapsulating the general concept of feeling constricted and out of space.
We titled this series of images "Out Of Space," and they ended up becoming some of our favorites. It’s amazing how ideas can come to life so organically when you view your parameters as a way to foster creativity rather than as limitations.
This set was built with just a circular saw and a nail gun in a small garage, yet it ended up producing some of our favorite photos. Anything is possible with creativity and a willing heart.
We created a reel of this shoot that went viral on Instagram, gathering almost one million views. Since then, photographers all over the world have tagged us in posts attempting to recreate our tiny box set. Photography and creativity are powerful. It’s been incredible to witness this simple set, created under such limitations, have such a significant impact on people.
Watch the video above to see the behind-the-scenes of all the shoots!
Don't see how this is a How To video or anything other than a Timelapse of people posing in a set built in the garage of a person in LA. Not much else here to look at. Must be a slow day in the FStoppers Office for content.
Ever stop to think that maybe it was for inspiration rather than showing you exactly how to do something?
It was not even inspiring..... Then maybe just maybe don't title it as a How we did something
And yet, while they don't do the homework for you it is appropriately titled as it shows how it's done. How about you just not bitch and moan about it and keep it moving.