wabbag Loc: New Boston ,MI.

I’m thinking of adding a 1400 sq.foot all glass 4 season room to my house with 12 foot walls and all glass ceiling to be used as a portrait studio . Can. Anyone advise me if this would be a problem , I’m concerned with reflection problems . I was thinking of using white cloth material to soften and control unwanted light . Any positive or negative feedback would be appreciated . Thank you for any suggestions.

Wabbag

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

With due respect waggag, I wonder how many have added a 1400 foot room for their photography?

My experience might suggest that a room with a single big window on the North side would provide great natural portrait light.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

Might that be a 140 sf room?

SkyKing Loc: Thompson Ridge, NY

…all glass rooms get hot…even in Michigan…your first priority would be controlling the temperature of the room…

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Seems like you are talking about a green house for growing shrubs, not a photo studio. What is the day light like there when you have cloud cover. Usually a photo studio is for artificial light for year round 24/7 use. Olden day painters used window light long before the invention of artificial light. I would want a more or less empty room with the walls and ceiling painted neutral white.

Where I am it would be completely a crazy idea. 12 foot high walls in California with all the Earthquakes, LOL.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

All that glass would make controlling light almost impossible. Frosted glass on the roof would help with the heat and soften the light.
I have seen muslin tents used outdoors mostly in the southwest and even they had dark(er) roofs.

MrPhotog

A glass ceiling is impractical. Besides the expense, you’ll need to block off large portions to control your lighting. Hanging drapes cuts down on the ceiling height.

North light is generally preferred, with the studio arranged in an east-to -west direction. Depending on season, though, south light can be effective.

The look of north light comes from paintings made 300 or more years ago, when they didn’t have bright artificial light. If you want that look, great. But if you lock yourself into JUST that look, then you will be missing everything that has evolved since gaslights.

Consider just two glass walls, those on the north and south sides, and drapes or folding walls to cover them completely, and opaquely, for when you need complete darkness for maximum light control.

East and west walls can be built as backgrounds. One side white with a curved floor to wall junction to eliminate a hard line.
If you do the same wall to floor treatment on other side, you can paint it a medium gray, or anything else.

On a space this size, if it is at ground level, put in a wide door to allow vehicles inside.

Enjoy the planning. I had a similar sized space years ago and it had space for a display and sales office, file room, changing rooms, bathroom and darkroom, as well as 4 shooting bays.
A higher ceiling is nice. If you were planning on 12’, see if you can go above that into attic space for hanging overhead lighting.

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

I justfitted out a studio in my house. I did not want any windows as I felt I wanted to control the light based on my timing and lighting needs. I use some Stella lighting, along with some cheaper led panels to control amount, direction and color temp. If I want a window, I can move to another room.
I am another Michigander.
RL

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

the best natural light for portraiture comes from a window on the north side of the building. Side lighting with light reflected back from the other side.

Photec

This new room design seems to me you are trying to recreate outdoor photography. I think this will create many more problems than it will solve and will be very expensive, while providing no useable benefit over taking outdoor location shots.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Architecturally it would be far more intelligent if using the room as a studio to have NO windows.
You then provide the lights where you need them.
At least that is how the professional studios I have done are.
A north light window is a second choice for exterior natural light. And is done in some situations after study and discussion about anticipated work to be done.
What you describe is a nightmare for lighting, changes by the minute as sun and clouds move. HVAC also will be difficult as glass has 0 R value thus you are struggling to heat and cool and solar gain would be nearly impossible to easily control.
Even greenhouses have big fans and openings to control solar gain.
Go for it, but I would recommend you get a licensed professional with studio design experience to do the design.
Do NOT just talk with a contractor as they are not licensed Architects with the proper training.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

Bill is right. Artists through the ages have used North light in their endeavors. An all glass room would be a nightmare to keep comfortable in any season.

Stan

KiwiRuss

Check out https://www.photoimagesbycarl.net/ Incredible photographer and teacher - when he built his house he included a large studio and it has only one wall of glass - a lot of glass. The other walls are white. He uses many modifiers to direct/shield the sunlight light. His books with images of set-ups for his photos has some great ideas on what could be done.

His book is and includes details about his studio design:
Portraiture Unplugged: Natural Light Photography

KiwiRuss

Check out https://www.photoimagesbycarl.net/ Incredible photographer and teacher - when he built his house he included a large studio and it has only one wall of glass - a lot of glass. The other walls are white. He uses many modifiers to direct/shield the sunlight light. His books with images of set-ups for his photos has some great ideas on what could be done.

M1911 Loc: DFW Metromess

A north window with both a white curtain to soften the light and a blackout curtain would be my choice.