2 hours, 4 hours, half a day or a full production? How much time do you actually need when renting a studio? Spoiler: there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
A quick social content shoot requires something completely different from your studio hire than a full fashion campaign with multiple looks, models, hair and make-up. That’s why good planning isn’t just about how many photos you want to create, but about everything that needs to happen to get those images. At Atelier Oost Amsterdam, you can hire The Livingroom, The Loft and The Playground for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 hours. But which time slot is right for your shoot?
Let’s break it down.
A quick social content shoot requires something completely different from your studio hire than a full fashion campaign with multiple looks, models, hair and make-up. That’s why good planning isn’t just about how many photos you want to create, but about everything that needs to happen to get those images. At Atelier Oost Amsterdam, you can hire The Livingroom, The Loft and The Playground for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 hours. But which time slot is right for your shoot?
Let’s break it down.
How many hours do you need for a photoshoot?
Here’s a handy starting point:
2 hours: Social content, small product shoot, quick branding shoot 4 hours: Lookbook, personal branding, small campaign 6 hours: Content production, lookbook + social 8 hours: Campaign, e-commerce + branding 10–12 hours: Full production with multiple looks, teams and content formats
Think of this as a starting point. An experienced photographer can create a huge amount in two hours, while a complex campaign might need a full day or even several days.
Think of this as a starting point. An experienced photographer can create a huge amount in two hours, while a complex campaign might need a full day or even several days.
2 hours in a photo studio: perfect for a quick content shoot
Hiring a photo studio for 2 hours can actually get you surprisingly far.. if you come prepared. Think social media content, a small product shoot, personal branding with one or two outfits, Reels and short-form video, or a quick campaign refresh. The golden rule? Come prepared. Have your mood board, shot list, outfits and styling ready before you arrive. That way, you’re not spending valuable studio time figuring out what you actually want to create. For a short shoot, less is more. Choose two strong settings and create plenty of different images within them, rather than trying to finish four different settings and ending up rushing through all of them.
Hiring a photo studio for 2 hours can actually get you surprisingly far.. if you come prepared. Think social media content, a small product shoot, personal branding with one or two outfits, Reels and short-form video, or a quick campaign refresh. The golden rule? Come prepared. Have your mood board, shot list, outfits and styling ready before you arrive. That way, you’re not spending valuable studio time figuring out what you actually want to create. For a short shoot, less is more. Choose two strong settings and create plenty of different images within them, rather than trying to finish four different settings and ending up rushing through all of them.
4 to 6 hours: the sweet spot for many shoots
For a lookbook, fashion shoot, personal branding shoot or more extensive content production, 4 to 6 hours is often the sweet spot. You’ll have enough time for multiple looks, different settings and a combination of photography and video . (Psst: we’ve also written a blog all about combining photo and video production.) You’ll also have more room to experiment. A different pose, a new perspective, a change in lighting; those extra few minutes can make all the difference. When planning your shoot, don’t only account for taking photos. Think about styling, hair and make-up, outfit changes, lighting tests, video, BTS content and breaks too. A four-hour shoot doesn’t mean four hours of non-stop photography.
For a lookbook, fashion shoot, personal branding shoot or more extensive content production, 4 to 6 hours is often the sweet spot. You’ll have enough time for multiple looks, different settings and a combination of photography and video . (Psst: we’ve also written a blog all about combining photo and video production.) You’ll also have more room to experiment. A different pose, a new perspective, a change in lighting; those extra few minutes can make all the difference. When planning your shoot, don’t only account for taking photos. Think about styling, hair and make-up, outfit changes, lighting tests, video, BTS content and breaks too. A four-hour shoot doesn’t mean four hours of non-stop photography.
6 to 8 hours: combine campaign and e-commerce
Want to create campaign imagery alongside e-commerce, social content or video? Then a half or full day starts to make more sense. An editorial campaign image, for example, usually takes considerably more time than a straightforward product shot. You’re working with styling, lighting, composition and creative direction. Then you might still need to photograph dozens of products or looks for your webshop. A longer studio hire allows you to combine different types of production within one shoot day. For example, shoot your campaign and editorial looks in the morning, then move into e-commerce and product details in the afternoon. Finish the day with social content, video and behind-the-scenes footage. More content, one production day, and a consistent visual identity across everything. Win-win.
Want to create campaign imagery alongside e-commerce, social content or video? Then a half or full day starts to make more sense. An editorial campaign image, for example, usually takes considerably more time than a straightforward product shot. You’re working with styling, lighting, composition and creative direction. Then you might still need to photograph dozens of products or looks for your webshop. A longer studio hire allows you to combine different types of production within one shoot day. For example, shoot your campaign and editorial looks in the morning, then move into e-commerce and product details in the afternoon. Finish the day with social content, video and behind-the-scenes footage. More content, one production day, and a consistent visual identity across everything. Win-win.
10 or 12 hours for full content productions
A full day in a photo studio might sound like a lot, but when you’re working on a bigger production, the hours disappear. Perhaps you’re planning a fashion campaign or a large e-commerce production. These often involve multiple models, plenty of different looks, and a full styling, hair and make-up team. And again: 12 hours doesn’t mean twelve hours of photography. You’ll also need time for set-up, styling, outfit changes, lighting adjustments, breaks, product changes, video and pack-down. That’s why, for larger shoots, giving yourself a little extra breathing room is often much smarter than trying to squeeze everything into a tight schedule.
A full day in a photo studio might sound like a lot, but when you’re working on a bigger production, the hours disappear. Perhaps you’re planning a fashion campaign or a large e-commerce production. These often involve multiple models, plenty of different looks, and a full styling, hair and make-up team. And again: 12 hours doesn’t mean twelve hours of photography. You’ll also need time for set-up, styling, outfit changes, lighting adjustments, breaks, product changes, video and pack-down. That’s why, for larger shoots, giving yourself a little extra breathing room is often much smarter than trying to squeeze everything into a tight schedule.
Pro tip: combine The Livingroom & The Loft
Our studios The Livingroom and The Loft are located in the same building, which means you can combine both spaces efficiently during one production. You don’t have to move your entire team and equipment across Amsterdam, but you can create two completely different visual worlds within the same shoot. Want to know how? We’ve previously written more about combining The Livingroom and The Loft for one production.
Our studios The Livingroom and The Loft are located in the same building, which means you can combine both spaces efficiently during one production. You don’t have to move your entire team and equipment across Amsterdam, but you can create two completely different visual worlds within the same shoot. Want to know how? We’ve previously written more about combining The Livingroom and The Loft for one production.
How can you get more out of your studio time?
A few simple tweaks can make a huge difference. Create a shot list beforehand. Not every image needs to be mapped out, but know which shots absolutely need to happen. Prepare your looks: have outfits and accessories organised by look before you arrive. Work in content batches. Within one setting, create your photography, video, Reels, detail shots and BTS content at the same time.
And make sure you actually use the studio. Move furniture, change your camera angle, mix and move our unique props, or experiment with reflective objects. A small adjustment can create an entirely new image. And finally: leave some breathing room. A shoot where every single minute is booked tends to run over. Give yourself space for styling, lighting and those unexpected creative moments that often end up becoming your favourite shots.
And make sure you actually use the studio. Move furniture, change your camera angle, mix and move our unique props, or experiment with reflective objects. A small adjustment can create an entirely new image. And finally: leave some breathing room. A shoot where every single minute is booked tends to run over. Give yourself space for styling, lighting and those unexpected creative moments that often end up becoming your favourite shots.
Hiring a photo studio regularly? Meet the hourly pass
Creating content several times a year or regularly booking a studio as a photographer? A photo studio hourly pass could be a smart option. We offer studio-specific passes of 20, 50 or 100 hours. Depending on the card, you can use your hours across different time slots and upgrades in The Livingroom, The Loft or The Playground. The benefit? You book at a lower rate while keeping your studio time flexible. It’s ideal for returning clients, photographers and brands planning multiple content shoots, campaigns or e-commerce productions throughout the year. And the budget you save? Put it towards an amazing stylist, make-up artist or another creative extra that takes your shoot to the next level.
So, how long should you hire a photo studio for?
Ultimately, it depends on your production.
2 hours → quick content or small product shoot 4 hours → lookbook, personal branding or small campaign 6 hours → extensive content production 8 hours → campaign + e-commerce + social 10–12 hours → full production with multiple looks and teams
So don’t plan your shoot based purely on how many photos you want to create. Think about everything that needs to happen during the production.
So don’t plan your shoot based purely on how many photos you want to create. Think about everything that needs to happen during the production.