What I learned starting a product photography studio at 23

I started Sunny East Side in Manila when I was 23. I didn't have a business plan that would impress anyone. I had a camera, a lot of opinions about colour, and a growing pile of props. If you're thinking about starting your own product photography or prop styling studio, here's what actually mattered.

Pick a lane

Early on I said yes to everything, and my portfolio looked like it belonged to five different people. Things changed when I leaned into what I loved: beauty and food, bold colour, and sets built from objects. Having a clear niche makes it easier for the right clients to find you, and easier for you to say no to the wrong ones.

Your portfolio is your sales pitch

Nobody hires you for what you say you can do. They hire you for what they can see. In the beginning, that meant shooting my own projects: buying products I liked and styling them the way I wished brands would. Those personal shoots brought in my first paying clients. Show only your best work, and only the kind of work you want more of.

Start with a small studio

You don't need a huge space. You need enough room for a table set, good control over light, and somewhere to store props. I started with a few lights, some backdrops, and surfaces I could swap around. A big window helps, but so does learning to light properly so you're not at the mercy of the weather.

Gear: buy what you'll use every week

A reliable camera, a couple of good lenses (a macro is worth it for products), solid lights, and a sturdy tripod. That's the core. Everything else can come later, when a real job needs it. And don't underestimate prop storage. A tidy prop library saves hours on every shoot.

Build a brand that looks like you

Name, logo, colours, website, Instagram. It doesn't need to be expensive, but it does need to be consistent. My studio's look was always loud, playful, and colourful, because that's what my work is. Clients should be able to tell from your brand what kind of photos they'll get.

Get your work in front of people

Post your work. Show the behind-the-scenes, because people love watching a set come together. Work with local businesses, go to events, and say yes to collaborations that fit. My early growth came almost entirely from Instagram and word of mouth.

Treat clients really well

The technical work is only half of it. Answer messages quickly, be clear about timelines, deliver when you said you would, and add a little extra when you can. Happy clients come back, and they tell their friends. Most of my best work came from referrals. You can read what some of them said in the reviews.

It's worth it

Running a studio is a lot of work, and it's also one of the best things I've done. You get to make things all day and see them out in the world. If you're thinking about it, start small, start now, and keep shooting.