Sand Room Budoir – Dramatic Light & Dreamy Textures in NYC Studio

The sand room at Mik Space in Brooklyn is easily one of my favorite spaces to shoot. Often times people are a little hesitant at first because they don’t want to get dirty, but it’s pretty easy to avoid. I’ve had plenty of folks roll around in the dirt and even glue it to themselves, but it’s not required.

The real draw of this space is the light, especially in the evening. It’s unreal. There’s something about the way it hits the textured walls and the sand that adds to the ambiance. Pair it with some haze and oh, so very cinematic.

My favorite time to shoot is between 4–6 PM (adjust depending on EST/EDT!), when the sun angles perfectly across the room—but honestly, even in full daylight, the space gives off this moody feel. It’s a hidden gem, and I keep going back and love taking people there.

Special Notes for photographers.

• Lighting: This room does not come with any additional lights, no curtains at least when I went. There are some you can rent, but making this space dark in the face of day - that might be tough

• Heat: This space doesn’t have AC - plan accordingly in the Summer

• Space: It’s small - likely a max of 4-5 people. This also means don’t bring a zoom lens unless you’re really trying to get those detail shots