Photographer Desk Setup with a Custom PC in Wroclaw, Poland
“Everything started when a power surge toasted my laptop and I decided to put my first ever custom PC together”
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Name: Kacper Gluszczenko
Location: Wroclaw, Poland
Occupation: Corporate employee/Photographer
Room size: “My living room is about 25–30 m² (269–323 ft²), but the desk itself occupies just a corner of it, so it’s quite difficult to assess”
Cost of setup: ~$4,1K (all tech and furniture included)
Social media: Instagram №1, Instagram №2
Hello! Tell us a bit about yourself
As mentioned above, I do work for a corporation, specifically a big American investment bank, and this is the place where I spend my 9-5 on weekdays.
On the side, I’m doing a bit of photography, but I treat it more like a hobby with a chance of earning some additional cash.
I shoot mainly portraits and boudoirs when it comes to paid gigs, but I also love landscape photography for pure pleasure.
Besides that, I ride MTB, game, and try to spend time outside with my wife and dog.
Editorial Team
Take us through your setup
| Item | Model |
|---|---|
| Monitor | LG UltraFine 32UN880-B Ergo | Monitor mount | Included with the monitor |
| Monitor light bar | Xiaomi Mi Computer Monitor Light Bar |
| Computer | Custom-built PC |
| Headphones | HyperX Cloud Alpha |
| Speakers | Logitech Z200 |
| Keyboard | Epomaker TH80 |
| Mouse | Logitech G305 |
| Chair | IKEA LÅNGFJÄLL |
| Desk mat | Grey felt mat |
| Card reader | UGREEN 4-in-1 USB 3.0 SD/TF Card Reader |
What you can see today took me almost five years to put together.
Everything started when a power surge toasted my laptop and I decided to put my first ever custom PC together.
Hours spent on researching led me straight into the rabbit hole of PC and desk setup profiles on Instagram, YouTube, and X.
Our apartment is not huge (61 m² in total), so we had to manage space as efficiently as possible.
After some planning and discussions between me and my wife, we decided to make some room for my desk in the corner of our living room.
The solution is not ideal as I have no quiet place for myself, but the room is very spacious with a lot of natural light, so it’s working for me just fine.
I don’t like flashy RGB and over-the-top setups, so I was aiming for a more or less elegant and minimal look.
The main struggle was, obviously, space.
As I have a balcony entrance right to my right and a dining table on the left, I had to have the desk custom-made to fit in the corner nicely.
As a result, I wish it had been a bit longer and deeper, but it’s the minimum workable size for me, and I had to get used to it.
It was custom-made by a local carpenter a few years back.
It’s not the best quality piece of furniture, but it gets the job done, so I’m happy with it.
Powering the whole thing is my custom-built PC, which I have recently put together.
It’s more than powerful enough for my needs, and I absolutely love it.
The monitor I use is an LG UltraFine Display Ergo 32UN880-B, which is great for content creation due to high colour accuracy and its nice 32″ 4K display.
On top of it, I’ve mounted a Xiaomi light bar, and I have also stuck cheap LED strip behind the monitor for nice ambient lighting to ease eye strain, especially after dark.
Under the monitor, you can find a UGREEN memory card reader and a remote from the screen light.
My audio gear is simple and very entry-level. I have a pair of Logitech Z200 speakers and a HyperX Cloud Alpha headset for occasional gaming and listening to music.
My keyboard is an Epomaker TH80 with Olivia clones, and I paired it with a Logitech G305 mouse. Both lay nicely on a felt deskmat.
My chair is from IKEA; LÅNGFJÄLL is the model name.
Despite its looks, it’s one of the most comfortable chairs I have ever used.
On the wall above the monitor, I’ve hung a few of my favourite photos I’ve taken during the years, and that’s basically it.
What’s your favourite item on your desk?
My PC hands down.
It’s a $2,5K Intel/AMD build which took me a long time to put together.
It’s equipped with an Intel i7-13700K CPU, Sapphire RX 7900 XT GPU and 32 GB of fast DDR5 RAM from Corsair.
It’s a beast and I love it.
I also like my mechanical keyboard and, for sure, it’s the best one I ever had, despite the fact it still stays within budget territory.
What apps or tools do you use to get things done?
Adobe Suite, basically, when it comes to software.
Mainly Lightroom and Photoshop for editing pictures, but I also use DaVinci Resolve to occasionally edit videos for personal use.
For my photography, I use a Canon EOS RP with Canon RF 24-105 𝑓/4 and Canon EF 50 𝑓/1.8 lenses.
I film with my iPhone 13 Pro.
What books, blogs, or podcasts recently caught your attention?
I like Tips from the Top Floor but I’m not a huge fan of podcasts to be honest.
I also don’t read any industry books; sticking with fiction is my preference.
James Islington’s Licanius Trilogy is very good if any of you would like to check it out.
Licanius Trilogy by James Islington
James Islington was born and raised in southern Victoria, Australia. An avid fantasy reader for many years, it was only when he read Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series that he was finally inspired to write something of his own.
Any tips for other makers who want to improve their workspaces?
Don’t go overboard.
Editorial Team
Prioritise function over form, especially in the beginning.
Start by choosing the right gear for the job and don’t worry about the aesthetics.
It will come with time, as long as you’re happy with the space you’re using.
If you go the other way around, you may end up with absolutely gorgeous items which are crap when it comes to doing their job.
The choice is yours.
What does your typical day look like?
I usually get up at 6:00-6:30 and, depending on the day, I’m either taking my dog for a walk or starting to prepare myself to leave for work.
I work from the office three times a week, so this is the main deciding factor when it comes to my morning routine.
If I have to commute, a bicycle is my preferred way of transport, and it takes me about 30 minutes to get to the office.
Unfortunately, during winter and when the weather is particularly bad, I have to choose public transport, which increases commuting time to over an hour one way.
I work 9-5, Monday to Friday, so after finishing, I prefer to spend time with my family and work on photos during the evenings.
Around 11 pm, my day finishes, and I’m going to sleep.
Your tips for working from home?
I still prefer going to the office for my 9-5, but having a space I like at home certainly helps on those days when I have to stay in.
Plus, it’s definitely helping with staying productive for my creative work.
Unfortunately, there are so many things to do, other than working, when you are at home.
It’s harder for me to stay focused when there are no people around and my dog is running around like crazy.
Editorial Team
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