Rent a photo studio in Chicago, IL

The city of Chicago was incorporated all the way back in 1837, and it’s been a critical center of industry and culture for the Midwest (and the United States as a whole!) ever since. It offers stunning examples of architecture across styles and time periods, including many spaces that are available to rent by the hour as photo studios.
For instance, this photo studio is situated inside the historic Bridgeport Art Center, which was formerly the Speigel Catalog Warehouse, was built in the 1930s, and offers six stories’ worth of high ceilings, original wood beams and exposed brick, and large windows with city views. Meanwhile, this photo studio is located on the top floor of the Flat Iron Arts Building in Wicker Park, which dates back to the 20s and has been an artists’ colony since the 80s.
Chicago also offers its fair share of modern and contemporary architecture containing photo studios for rent. Examples include this ultra modern photo studio with natural light from sunrise to sunset, as well as this trendy Pilsen loft apartment with skyline views, among many other options.
With the Peerspace platform offering over 1,000 photoshoot spaces to choose from in and around Chicago, you might feel somewhat overwhelmed trying to navigate all your options. That’s why we’ll provide four examples of photo studios in Chicago that are available for rent by the hour to help get you started in your search. But when you do search Peerspace for yourself, don’t forget to use the site’s many intuitive filters (including price, attendees, date/time, and more) to ensure your search results are a good fit for your photography needs.

There are a number of different kinds of Chicago photo studio rentals that you can expect to find in the area. Many of them are natural light photo studios (otherwise known as “daylight studios”) which use sunlight as their main light source. This is in part because they’re taking advantage of the Chicago area’s numerous historic buildings, which offer stunning architectural features like large windows, skylights, and high ceilings.
You can also find artificial light photography studios in Chicago, which use artificial light sources like soft boxes, umbrellas, and flash units to give photographers full control over their lighting—perfect for editorial, product, and portrait photoshoots. Some spaces also offer the best of both worlds, with the option of using natural light or blocking it out to control lighting completely.
Many photo studios work just as well for video purposes, but if needed, there are also dedicated video studios in Chicago that you can rent by the hour. Whether you’re filming an ad or promo, an interview, or a music video, you’ll be able to find a space that should work well for your needs. For instance, Spectrum Studios in West Town has five different music video sets in one room, while this combined photography/video loft studio in East Garfield Park includes a range of amenities and is suited to all kinds of photography and videography.

Chicago’s cost of living is roughly 20 percent higher than the United States’ average, but that’s less surprising when you remember that we’re talking about a city—within a given area, cities are virtually always more expensive than suburban and rural locations. In general, Chicago is much less pricey than Boston, New York City, or Los Angeles, and for the most part, that rule extends to the cost of its photo studio rentals. But this depends on the location and size of the studio, as well as the photography equipment included in the rental, among other factors.
For those on a budget, there are numerous photo studios that you can rent for less than $70 per hour (like this bright and spacious Bridgeport studio, or this sunny cyclorama studio). On the other end of the spectrum are the high-end studios that can also cost $500 or more per hour, such as this South Loop Loft or this unique experiential art exhibit space. On average, though, expect a photo studio in Chicago to cost you about $65 per hour, unless you need those higher end features like a prime location, amazing views, and high-quality equipment included with the rental.

One of Chicago’s greatest features is its array of neighborhoods, each of which has something different to offer in terms of culture, vibes, local businesses, architectural features, and more. Chicago’s best known neighborhood is probably its downtown central business district, the Loop, which has some of the most famous architecture in the city as well as cultural destinations like the Art Institute of Chicago. Public transport options abound here, and include the Metra, buses, and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train lines.
Visit Lincoln Park for cool boutiques and restaurants, as well as green spaces like the zoo and the park the neighborhood is named after—to get there, take the bus or the Red, Brown, or Purple CTA line. And for high-end dining, galleries, and some of the city’s most exciting nightlife options, take the Brown or Red CTA line to River North. Or take the Blue CTA line to reach Wicker Park and Bucktown, which have a more eclectic and funky feel, including lots of cool music venues and independent shops and cafes.

When it comes to hourly photo studio rental in Chicago, your options abound. Here are some examples of Chicago residents’ favorite options that you can rent through Peerspace:
- For a simple and affordable option that’s incredibly popular among Chicagoans, consider renting out one of the spaces at Unique Studios, an all-inclusive studio in the River North area of downtown Chicago. This one is an artificial light photo studio that happens to be only $50 per hour, accommodating up to ten people in its 600 square feet and offering a variety of equipment, including various colorful backdrops, professional lighting, customizable LED lights with special effects options, props, and other photography accessories to help you bring your vision to life. Additional amenities at these studios include a vanity, wardrobe racks, a public lounge area, and even a small arcade. There are also other props, equipment, furniture, etc. that you can request with your rental depending on your needs. It’s no wonder that more than 1,200 renters have left glowing reviews for this studio.
- Find the rustic, industrial aesthetic you’re seeking for your photoshoot at these loft studios on the Lower West Side. A Peerspace Open Door Award Winner, their upscale vibe belies their affordable cost of just $65 per hour—there are tasteful features like exposed brick walls, high vaulted ceilings, and hardwood floors, as well as unbelievable views of the city skyline and the Chicago River through the space’s four large windows. The studios measure about 500 square feet and can accommodate up to ten people at a time, and they come with quite a bit of photography equipment included in your rental: backdrops in various colors, clamps, C stands, a beauty dish, an octagon light, sandbags, and more, plus complimentary water, coffee, and tea. And there is a garage and industrial elevator to make loading and unloading any equipment you might be bringing as easy as possible.
- Rent out this modern minimalist studio on the South Side if you have a higher budget and you’re searching for the opposite of a little photo studio in Chicago. At 6,000 square feet, you may have more space than you know what to do with—the one guarantee is that you won’t run out of room. In terms of features and amenities, this studio offers up to ten-person capacity, long dining/conference tables, a Sonos speaker system, a full kitchen (note that you must get permission in advance of the rental before using it), a driveway that can hold up to seven cars, a small courtyard with a cabana, plenty of restrooms, easy loading in/out, and more. And the loft space itself is absolutely stunning, with modern finishes and designs, tons of natural light (including skylights to let even more sunlight in), and unique artwork throughout.
- One of the most impressive hourly photo studio rentals in Chicago is MAB Studios, which is located in the city’s ultra hip West Loop neighborhood. This studio is stocked with tons of useful photography equipment that’s included with your rental: a variety of lights and light stands, paper backdrops and stands, a steamer, high-powered fans, a clothing rack, and more. The bright and beautiful space sets you up for a seamless, successful photography experience. Note that about six to eight people can fit in the 398 square foot space, and there’s plenty of free street parking to make your transportation experience easier. Be sure to check out the numerous glowing reviews from past renters to get a sense of whether it’ll be a good fit for your needs.