South Facing Windows

South Facing Windows is a 2,300-square-foot natural-light photo and video studio in the historic Spiegel building at 1010 West 35th Street in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood. Its south-facing windows bring sunlight into the studio all day, weather permitting, with the most intense direct sun from October to February. The studio is booked for editorial and fashion shoots, portraits and headshots, music and album art, lookbooks and e-commerce, video and content days, and small workshops and events.

Studio

• 2,300 square feet of open floor with 12-foot ceilings and polished concrete floors.
• Blackout curtains to control the light.
• Room for up to 50 people.
• Sonos speakers with AirPlay and symmetrical WiFi.

Included grip and add-ons

Most grip comes with every booking: C-stands and sandbags, V-flats, power distribution, a rolling clothing rack and tables, and Bowens-mount light modifiers. Seamless paper rolls, hand-painted canvas backdrops and Aputure and Fotodiox LED lights are available to rent.

Access and hours

The building has a loading dock, two elevators serving the studio’s floor, wheelchair access and an attached parking lot. The studio is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on weekends by booking, and photo and video bookings have a two-hour minimum.

Artist in residence

Each month South Facing Windows gives one artist 20 hours of free studio time with access to the equipment on hand.