How to Make a Photography Light Box on a Budget
So…I don’t know if you have noticed, but I am a blogger. 🙂 I take a ton of pictures, and I love to use natural light to do so. The thing is, there isn’t always quality natural light to take pictures. Whether it is storming, or night time or just cloudy outside it can affect how my photos turn out. Spending hundreds of dollars on fancy photography light boxes was not in my budget. So I am going to show you how to make a photography light box on a budget that works AMAZINGLY!
How to Make a Photography Light Box
I love to shop online for things I need but sometimes those things are just out of my reach financially. Take this Lowel Ego Light Box. $120 is a little steep for my budget. Plus, in order to take great photos, I would need 2 of them. Hello, $240 that I don’t have. LOL So like I do with all great problems, I googled for an answer. I found my answer on several websites that showed how to make a Photography light box for next to nothing. I figured if they can do it, so can I.
What you Need
- 1 – 20″ x 30″ Foam Core Poster Board (Try the Dollar Tree!)
- 1 Ikea Hemma Cord Set or similar
- 1 Light Bulb Socket Splitter
- (2) 23W 6500K “Daylight” Bulbs (must say daylight bulb or shine in the 5500-6500K range)
- 1 large piece of Parchment Paper
- 4 large binder clips
- Xacto Knife
- Yard Stick
How to
Lay out your piece of foam board horizontally. Measure and make a mark at 10 1/2 inches and the next at 19 1/2 inches. Do this on the top and the bottom.
Use a straight edge to connect your lines top to bottom. I used a small wooden board I had. Now, pull out your X-Acto knife and cut from top to bottom. You are not cutting all the way through the foam board, but just scoring it so it folds simply. Do this at the 10.5-inch mark and then again on the 19.5-inch mark.
When you are done your board will look like this.
- Now in the center section of the board trace around your light cord kit.
- Use your Xacto Knife to cut out the circle.
- Push your light kit through the hole.
- Screw on the Light Bulb Socket Splitter
- Screw on the lightbulbs.
- Clip on the parchment paper across the opening.
- Your light box is ready to use! Flip it on and get to snapping!
- I made 2 boxes and put them across from each other to really light up the area.
So here is an example. I took this with no other lights on in the house at 11pm at night. Not bad!
This Gluten Free Pizza Biscuit photo was also taken with the two light boxes that I made and no other light in the house on a dark and rainy afternoon. No one would ever know!
I was really just trying to find a way to take quality photos for my blog at anytime of the day. I am pretty sure I have done it and I am so excited!
Final Cost
Here is a rundown of what I spent. Keep in mind I could have spent less, but I ordered many of the items from Amazon just for the simplicity of it.
- 2 White Foam Boards $2 – Dollar Tree
- 2 Light Bulb Socket Splitter $4.51 Each – $9.02
- 4 Pack 23W 6500K “Daylight” Bulbs $9.94
- 2 Hanging Light Socket Cord with On/Off Switch, 5.9Ft $8.46
Didn’t need to purchase because I already had
- Xacto knife
- parchment paper
- binder clips
Grand Total – $29.42 for 2 Lightboxes or $14.71 a box.
Not too bad considering 1 Lowel Ego Light would have cost me $120! I am Extremely happy! If you are a photographer and you are looking for a low cost way to light your work, I highly suggest you follow these directions on how to make a photography light box on a budget. They definitely saved me a ton of money and aggravation!