Recently I have been fed up with chasing good light. It has been really gloomy, rainy, or cloudy during every second of my free/blogging time for the last few weeks and it has been hindering what I can review/write about. I finally got fed up and started researching lightboxes and some of them are really expensive. I found a few DIYs on the internet and decided to go for it… here is my tale!
More than likely you have everything you are going to need in your own home already, if not it is relatively cheap to purchase the main items.
What you will need:
1 box (I used 14x14x14), use the size you think you may need.
box cutter (be careful, I accidently nicked my thumb)
white tissue paper
tape
poster board
a light source (I used a table lamp with a bendy neck that I purchased for $6 at Target)
I sort of skip taking pictures of the middle steps because I am a ditz. When I get into something I tend not to stop until it is done, so reaching for the camera between steps slipped my mind. But it is super simple.
Step 1:
Tape one end of the box up like you would normally (unless it is already taped, then start at step 2).
Step 2:
Cut windows in 3 sides of the box. I guest-i-mated about an inch in on each side and used that as my general rule of thumb all the way around. Also cut top flap of box off because you don’t need that flap for any reason.
Step 3:
Apply the tissue paper over the windows and secure with tape.
TA-DA!!!!!!
I know that she is a little rough around the edges but it honestly is the first one I have ever made and I am super proud of it! The finishing touch would be to cut a strip the width of the inside of the box out of the poster board and tape that into the top part of the back wall of the box. It allows the background to look like the endless with no seams.
Finished result: macro studio lighting. I am still playing with the placement of the light source but it is coming along.
The above photo is the result of the bottom photo! I have since moved the light closer to the box by way of placing it on boxes on the ground BESIDE the lightbox. It resulted in brighter lighting inside the box itself.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the question below. I was inspired by a few different DIY tutorials but my favorite is definitely The Strobist‘s version. If you have made a lightbox or purchased one let me know what you think. If you decide to MAKE one let me know and send me pictures via my many social media accts!
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