Studio photography takes place in a controlled environment, most often with the help of well-controlled flashlights. Flexible but sturdy equipment with shift and tilt capabilities or control is needed.

Macro photography can also be included in studio photography. It is extreme close-up photography, usually of tiny subjects. The subject's size in the photograph is exceeding life-size (though macrophotography technically refers to the art of making huge photographs). By some definitions, a macro photograph is when the subject's size on the negative or image sensor is life-size or beyond. However, in other uses, it refers to a finished photograph of a subject at greater than life-size.

The ratio of the subject size on the film plane (or sensor plane) to the actual subject size is known as the reproduction ratio. Likewise, a macro lens is classically a lens capable of reproduction ratios greater than 1:1, although it often refers to any lens with a large reproduction ratio, despite rarely exceeding 1:1.

ALPA offers unique solutions also for the very demanding photography like focus stacking and image scales beyond life-size.