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How to Make Your Own #DIY Lightbox

How to Build a Lightbox

As I’ve become more proficient with my food photography, I’ve been learning how to use light to better enhance my photos. It’s made such a difference. One thing that’s been on my to-do list is to create a lightbox so I can have more control over the background and setting for my photos. I currently have lights propped up in my dining room (it’s super attractive, let me tell you!!) but the backdrop is whatever happens to be sitting around at the time. It’s one reason I crop my photos so close! LOL.

Once, ages ago, my husband created a lightbox for me, but it eventually fell apart. Recreating that is on my list of things to-do. If you’re looking to improve your photography, this is definitely something to consider. Today Natasha Woloschuk is going to show us how!

Hi everyone! I’m Natasha Woloschuk, author of the ebook Fun and Simple Crafts for Kids, and long-time crafter and certified foodie. I love food and food photography, which is why I love blogs and websites like Musings of a Housewife where the photos take centre stage in each recipe post.

Unfortunately taking pretty pictures of delicious dishes can be an expensive hobby, but it doesn’t have to be. I can’t teach you how to make a lens at home using tools in your kitchen drawers, but I can teach you how to make a lightbox using some stuff in your store room. Not only will it be cheaper than the lightbox you’ll find at a store, it will also be bigger and you can adjust it based on what you’re photographing.

Supplies:

  • 1 large box
  • 2-3 lamps
  • White tissue paper
  • Simple, pattern-free fabric
  • 2 thumbtacks

step-by-step-lightbox

Instructions:

Remove the top folds of your box (the folds that would normally be taped closed).

Lay the box on its side and cut large rectangles out of three of the four side walls. Be sure to leave about an inch of cardboard left for the frame.

Take your white tissue paper and cut it into pieces that will cover the holes in the three sides of the box. Tape the tissue paper over the holes, then lay the box on its side on a table.

Take the two thumbtacks and use them to hold up the fabric at the back of the box.

Set up your lamps outside each of the holes in the box, turn them on, and use your lightbox to take some pictures.

Happy photographing!

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6 Responses

  1. Love this. Luckily I have two counters that get great lighting if I shoot my food photos during the middle part of the day (10-5ish) but on those days when I don’t get the photos shot during that time I need something like this! Definitely going to be trying it! 🙂

  2. Wow, this looks so useful and easy to make. I can definitely see myself using this on rainy days or in winter when we don’t see much natural light. Thank you so much for sharing this!

  3. Wow!! Thank you!! Definitely trying this before investing in an expensive lightbox! Luckily I just got a large shipment of toilet paper, so I have the perfect box! haha!

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