Any salesperson will tell you that the key to selling a product lies in its presentation. With countless vendors moving their marketplaces online, this makes the need for crisp, clean product photography greater than ever. For some, this means renting out expensive studios for extensive product cataloging. For those lacking resources, it means getting a bit creative:
As it turns out, making a lightbox of your own is easy, inexpensive, and incredibly valuable for small product shots. Photographer Chris Kuga shares how it’s done:
Lightbox Supplies
- 2 clamp lamps
- a large cardboard box
- white poster board
- transparent paper or interfacing fabric
- scissors
- tape
- a box cutter
- a Sharpie
How to Make a Lightbox
Start by taping one end of the box neatly together.
On two opposite sides of the box, measure out and mark up where your fabric will lay. Use the box cutter to remove the area you’ve designated for the fabric.
Measure out the poster board so that it will fit snug against the back of the box. Use the tape to secure one end of the poster board, allowing the opposite end to drape down.
Tape the fabric or transparency paper over the cut outs on the sides of the box.
Arrange the box so that the fabric covers the openings in the sides. Clamp the lamps to nearby chairs or tables, then beam the light in through the diffused sides.
And that’s all there is to it!
As this zero-stress setup proves, lighting doesn’t always have to be clumsy and arduous. For under $50 and with a little bit of craftiness, preparing for a shoot can become as simple as turning on a pair of lamps and setting your subject in the perfect position.
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Excellent and simple and very useful.
Now, about how to open your bottle of wine in your cellar. :)