As a blogger, I have learned how important my pictures are for driving traffic to my site. But as a busy mom, I don’t always have dinner done before the natural light of the sun is gone. And of course, I take a picture of every recipe I make, so It’s important for me to have an alternative to the sun and my flash. DON’T EVER use your flash unless you really know how to use it and only when you have a diffuser. This is why I need this DIY Light Box for my blog photography.
This is what you’ll need:
- Milky (not clear) plastic storage box. I got mine at Wal-Mart. It’s a Sterilite 18 gallon for about $8 or $9.
- 2 clamp lights (Like this 8.5 Inch Clamp Light with Aluminum Reflector) I found mine at Wal-Mart down the light bulb isle. I think they were only about $6-$8.
- The RIGHT light bulbs are SO important: Make sure they are Daylight, 1600 Lumens, 100 watt bulbs. This is what gives the illusion of natural light, not yellow at all. And they are really bright, so perfect for shining through the cloudy plastic.
Now you can use any place mats, material, paper etc you want for a floor drop and back drop by leaning it right on the box. No more using your kids to hold up the backdrop, yay!
Here is a picture with the lights just on the side:
For these little guys it was just fine, but with my food I want to see more texture, so I bring one light around to the front:
Now, everyone needs to learn how to use their camera on Manual. That’s for a different tutorial coming up soon. It’s really easier than you think!
Let me know how this works out for you! Tag me in your social media posts when you use a picture will ya?
Thanks!
Annette
Die Kochpsychiater says
Dear Anette,
thank you so much for shareing use! Now, i hope my husband will help me :-). And than I hope that I can make such great photos like you.
Dear greetings from germany
Birgitt
Marie says
GREAT idea! Thanks for sharing! Best wishes from Austria! Marie
Jody W. says
I set my camera on manual…now what? Heh. I’ll keep checking back to see if you post a tutorial on that…
Audrey says
Bonjour, je vous félicite car c’est vraiment une super idée ! j’ai toujours ce problème de lumière et cela va beaucoup m’aider ! merci !
Audrey
Ile de la Réunion
Beth Shields says
Thanks so much. Looking forward to putting this together.