--- title: How A Skylight Can Improve Your Photography Studio description: Believe it or not, a photography studio is a perfect place to install a skylight. Here's why. image: https://blog.veluxusa.com/hubfs/Residential/VELUX%20USA/Blog/Professionals/Screen%20Shot%202018-05-01%20at%2012-31-50%20PM-1-1.png --- [Skip to Content](https://blog.veluxusa.com/homeowner/how-a-skylight-can-improve-your-photography-studio#body) --- [![velux-large-RGB](https://blog.veluxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Brand%20Assets/Logos/Residential%20Logos/velux-large-RGB.png?width=222&height=74&name=velux-large-RGB.png "velux-large-RGB")](https://blog.veluxusa.com/homeowner) [BONUS ROOM](https://blog.veluxusa.com/homeowner/topic/bonus-room) # How A Skylight Can Improve Your Photography Studio Read Time **3 mins** | Written by: VELUX Skylights [mailto:?subject=How%20A%20Skylight%20Can%20Improve%20Your%20Photography%20Studio&body=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.veluxusa.com%2Fhomeowner%2Fhow-a-skylight-can-improve-your-photography-studio](mailto:?subject=How%20A%20Skylight%20Can%20Improve%20Your%20Photography%20Studio&body=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.veluxusa.com%2Fhomeowner%2Fhow-a-skylight-can-improve-your-photography-studio) ![Screen Shot 2018-05-01 at 12-31-50 PM-1-1](https://blog.veluxusa.com/hubfs/Residential/VELUX%20USA/Blog/Professionals/Screen%20Shot%202018-05-01%20at%2012-31-50%20PM-1-1.png) Did you know that at the beginning of the 20th century, skylights were a common way for photographers to illuminate their subjects? In fact, Greta Garbo's portrait by famed glamour photographer George Hurrell in 1930 was lit exclusively with skylights.   Now, just imagine what you could do with a skylight and a camera today! But of course, while that may be a fun new fact, it's no surprise that light - especially natural daylight - is a powerful tool in photography. Whether you're an amateur shutterbug or portrait photographer to the stars, light isn't something you're going to throw into your space all willy nilly. So, how can a skylight, AKA a window on your roof that lets in *a lot *of light, benefit a photography studio?   ## All of the Light with a Lower Electric Bill Let's start off with the most practical reason for installing a skylight in your photography studio. Whether your studio is home to a full-fledged business or to your fun side-hustle, having all those extra (bright) lights plugged in and pointed at your subject isn't doing anything to help your overhead. With a skylight, you're not only getting more light than can come through normal, vertical windows, you're also getting cleaner light that automatically changes between warm, high contrast and cool, low contrast tones. And you're getting all that without paying for electricity to power it!   ## In the Right Spot, a Skylight Can Make All the Lighting Difference Our reasoning for this one is based more on painting studios, but hear us out: for centuries, North Light (or light coming in from the north) has helped produce some of the greatest paintings in history. This is because those artists understood the benefits of painting with North Light in their studios. But the benefits they've found from North Light aren't exclusive to painting - they're applicable to photography too, and a north-facing skylight can help bring in all the North Light you'll need. North Light is more commonly known as reflected light. This indirect light produces cool and controlled value shifts, basking your subject matter in the same cool atmosphere and giving you far greater control over values, contrasts, and subtle color changes. On the flip side of this coin, direct sunlight can lend itself to the subject or mood of your art. Think of Impressionists like Monet, Renoir, and Degas and how they could recreate the exact feeling of standing on a sunny beach or waking up to morning light streaming in through the bedroom window by using sunlight as a direct light source. When you have a consultation about adding a skylight to your studio, a VELUX installer will be able to help you figure out exactly where to place it so you can get the most out of this new light source.   ## Don't Forget the Shades One of the main hesitations when it comes to including a skylight in a photography studio is light control. It's true that a lot of direct sunlight can make your subject matter appear washed out, and it's also true that skylights bring in a lot of direct sunlight during certain times of the day. Because there are times that call for less light or no light at all, VELUX has a [wide range of skylight shades](https://velux.skylightblindshop.com/?__hstc=138046127.790d09244042d7bb913da495f827224e.1548767340623.1558440281628.1558445643619.167&__hssc=138046127.2.1558445643619&__hsfp=3968860563). From Venetian to light-filtering to blackout blinds, we have just the right shade for the exact amount of light control you need. And the Skylight System even comes with a room-darkening, double-pleated shade included! So, with a skylight *and *shades, you get all the benefits of natural lighting for your subject matter *plus* complete control over that light source. And, seriously, how many people can say they have control over the sun?   If you're interested in putting a skylight in your photography studio, [find your local VELUX installer](http://www.veluxusa.com/help/before-you-buy/find-installer) to get the process started! VELUX Skylight Systems ## Reimagine Your Home With Natural Light and Fresh Air Schedule a free 30-minute virtual consultation with our team of Design & Product Advisors to determine the perfect skylight system for your home. [Get Started ](https://www.veluxusa.com/ready-to-buy/trusted-advisors) ![](https://blog.veluxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Residential%20Files/Images/Before-After/bubble%20replacement.png?width=700&name=bubble%20replacement.png) SKYLIGHT INNOVATIONS ### [ Replace or Board Up? What to Do With That Old Skylight ](https://blog.veluxusa.com/homeowner/replace-or-board-up-what-to-do-with-that-old-skylight) Not sure what to do with that old skylight? Try the tarp trick to decide if you want to board it up ... Keep Reading ![](https://blog.veluxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Residential/VELUX%20USA/To%20Sort/Screen%20Shot%202018-09-13%20at%209-39-23%20AM-1.png?width=700&name=Screen%20Shot%202018-09-13%20at%209-39-23%20AM-1.png) SKYLIGHT INNOVATIONS ### [ How to Find Your VELUX Product ID ](https://blog.veluxusa.com/homeowner/how-to-find-your-velux-product-id) When ordering blinds or submitting a service request for your skylight, you'll need your Product ID.... Keep Reading ![](https://blog.veluxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Residential/VELUX%20USA/Products/Architectural%20Series/sacks-residence-1-2.png?width=700&name=sacks-residence-1-2.png) SKYLIGHT INNOVATIONS ### [ The Architectural Series: Innovative Custom Skylight Designs ](https://blog.veluxusa.com/homeowner/the-architectural-series-innovative-custom-skylight-designs) Introducing the award-winning Architectural Series, a line of completely customizable structural sky... Keep Reading ## About Us A passion for daylight, fresh air, and better living environments: it's what started our company over 75 years ago, and it's what drives us forward today. Our products help create bright, healthy, energy-efficient places in which to live, work, learn and play.   ## Contact Us [Email Us](https://www.veluxusa.com/help/email-customer-service)   [104 Ben Casey Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29708](https://maps.app.goo.gl/LVv5d3Qq5BuadF42A) 800-888-3589   ## Follow Us © 2026 VELUX ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "VELUX Skylights", "url" : "https://blog.veluxusa.com/homeowner/author/velux-skylights" }, "dateModified" : "2026-06-24T12:44:45.889Z", "datePublished" : "2024-07-16T12:16:41.000Z", "headline" : "How A Skylight Can Improve Your Photography Studio", "image" : [ "https://blog.veluxusa.com/hubfs/Residential/VELUX%20USA/Blog/Professionals/Screen%20Shot%202018-05-01%20at%2012-31-50%20PM-1-1.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.veluxusa.com/homeowner/how-a-skylight-can-improve-your-photography-studio", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.veluxusa.com/hubfs/image005%20copy-1.png" }, "name" : "VELUX USA" } } ```