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How to Make a DIY Photography Light Box

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Make a DIY Photography Light Box

How to Make a DIY Photography Light Box

If you like the T-Shirt necklace scarf in the photos visit www.monkeyteemonkeydo.com

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Step 1 of 9

Close-up photography requires great lighting. Sunlight is great but with a DIY light box you can take great photos anytime of the day...you know for those I can't sleep midnight projects!

Step 2 of 9
Find a cardboard box big enough to fit the items that you wish to photograph. Computer boxes are great - sturdy & come in large sizes (ahem...and you may be able to sneak one from the office).

Find a cardboard box big enough to fit the items that you wish to photograph. Computer boxes are great - sturdy & come in large sizes (ahem...and you may be able to sneak one from the office).

Step 3 of 9

Use your packing tape to keep the bottom of the box closed. Now lay the box on its side with the open end facing out & for now leave the cardboard flaps closed to help with stability while cutting.

Step 4 of 9
Measure and mark about 1inch inside each edge of the box on both sides and the top. Connect the marks with a sharpie to cut along with your box cutters, use a ruler to help get a straight edge.

Measure and mark about 1inch inside each edge of the box on both sides and the top. Connect the marks with a sharpie to cut along with your box cutters, use a ruler to help get a straight edge.

Step 5 of 9

Once you have cut your three holes out you can remove the cardboard flaps from the open side with your box cutters.

Step 6 of 9
Now cut your tissue paper a bit larger then your holes & use tape on the outside of the box to hold in place. Next insert your white poster board with a slight curve DO NOT CREASE & tape in place.

Now cut your tissue paper a bit larger then your holes & use tape on the outside of the box to hold in place. Next insert your white poster board with a slight curve DO NOT CREASE & tape in place.

Step 7 of 9

Set up three desk lamps to shine through the tissue paper filters. Use light bulbs that provide natural light rather then regular soft white light bulbs that give off yellow rays.

Step 8 of 9
Now take some test shots! Adjust lighting away from the box if you have shadows & add more tissue paper to filter light as needed. My poster board is a bit too short here :( but you get the idea :)

Now take some test shots! Adjust lighting away from the box if you have shadows & add more tissue paper to filter light as needed. My poster board is a bit too short here :( but you get the idea :)

Step 9 of 9
Finished Product! (unedited)

Finished Product! (unedited)

Start Over

1055
49 Comments
Supplies
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1 Cardboard box

3 Tissue paper (white)

1 Box cutter

1 Pencil or Sharpie

1 Poster/Bristol board (white)

1 Packing & masking tape

3 Desk lamps

3 Light bulbs

1 Camera

1 Ruler

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

Hi Andrew, no special camera just a point & shoot.

(author) 4 weeks ago

Andrew S.

What type of camera did u use?

Andrew S. 4 weeks ago

Aquiles Torres

What a tip!

Aquiles Torres 3 months ago

Mario Ramos

Thanks!

Mario Ramos 8 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

Lol awesome! Good luck with it : )

(author) 8 months ago

Mario Ramos

Yeah i'm making it right now, lol

Mario Ramos 8 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

Lol, hope it's still helpful now Mario! : )

(author) 8 months ago

Mario Ramos

I was looking for this months ago! Thanks

Mario Ramos 8 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

Thanks so much Debbie! I hope it works out great for you too : )

(author) 8 months ago

Debbie Skhow

This looks easy, fun, cheap, and very useful, you explained it well, thank you for posting it.

Debbie Skhow 8 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

Thanks Dian, hope it works well for you : )

(author) 9 months ago

Dian Hardiani

Nice project.. Will make it soon...

Dian Hardiani 9 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

Ah thanks so much Jim, I'm learning for sure!

(author) 9 months ago

Jim Kopf

Nice project but you're also a very good photographer too!

Jim Kopf 9 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

Thanks so much & you're very welcome Sam!

(author) 9 months ago

Sam Coghan

great idea! Thanks for sharing

Sam Coghan 9 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

Thanks Rad!

(author) 9 months ago

Rad Dissanayake

Nicee keep up the good word

Rad Dissanayake 9 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

Thanks!!

(author) 10 months ago

Cy Cox

Awesome

Cy Cox 10 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

That's great I hope they like it :)

(author) 10 months ago

Andy Cunningham

Great idea. Going to pass this on to my students. Thanks for taking the time to post this.

Andy Cunningham 10 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

You're welcome Alice, hope it works well for you : )

(author) 10 months ago

Alice Ryan

A great inexpensive way to get the job done! Thanks!

Alice Ryan 10 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

Hope it works well for you Geri!

(author) 10 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

You're welcome Deana

(author) 10 months ago

Deana Arellano

Excellent!! thanks!!

Deana Arellano 10 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

You're welcome Debbie, glad you like it : )

(author) 10 months ago

Debbie Holt

Thanks for the great idea!

Debbie Holt 10 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

Hi Someshwar, Glad you liked the guide. Yes I have made one using white cotton t-shirt material and it works great!

(author) 10 months ago

Someshwar Bupelli

Thank you Wendy. That was pretty cool. Instead of tissue paper can we try thin cloth may be ? Anyway I got the idea, thanks again !

Someshwar Bupelli 10 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

You are very welcome Federico :)

(author) 10 months ago

Federico A

Thank you!

Federico A 10 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

Haha thanks so much, glad you like it!

(author) 10 months ago

Dawoud Alqatari

Love it , love it , love it . Great & simple idea

Dawoud Alqatari 10 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

You're welcome Rima!

(author) 10 months ago

Rima Mathewson

super thank you

Rima Mathewson 10 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

You are very welcome David!

(author) 10 months ago

David Mile

Thanks Wendy :)

David Mile 10 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

Hi Chelsea, Glad it worked for you...don't ya just love a cheap DIY!

(author) 10 months ago

Chelsea Lyon 🍡

I can't even explain how perfect timing it was to see this. Perfect solution for photographing my portfolio pieces! They turned out great. Add a little photo touch up, and they look very professional. I had no idea I could get that great of lighting on the cheap.

Chelsea Lyon 🍡 10 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

You are very welcome!

(author) 10 months ago

Sara Sara

Amazingg thank you so much for sharing! This will help me a lot with my projects! :):)

Sara Sara 10 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

Thanks glad you like the idea! I'm no photographer but need to take photos for my Etsy Shop of the items that I make & was told by some photographer friends to try this out :)

(author) 10 months ago

Follow Tarm

Love the idea! Im a photographer student and this is a superb idea!!!

Follow Tarm 10 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

I'm just getting started so your tips are much appreciated thanks :)

(author) 10 months ago

Taylor Price

As a photographer myself, I can tell you that this is good but to have a better light surface you should get higher powered bulbs and move them a little further back. There's spots of light which it should be fluid and soft. What you have are three hot spots which aren't evenly giving light. I was excited to see the final project only to see what I didn't want to. Great idea but needs a few adjustments.

Taylor Price 10 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

Glad you like! Hope it works well for him :)

(author) 10 months ago

Carolyn Contreras

Omg this is great! My dad was going to buy one but he will love this!

Carolyn Contreras 10 months ago

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Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

Ahh I gotcha, thx for the tip :)

(author) 10 months ago

Rane Body Decor

Maybe you've misunderstood, they act as doors or shutters controlling how much light bends around the box and coming in from the front. You don't keep them closed you adjust them to block or allow light from the side where you have your camera.

Rane Body Decor 10 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

I haven't tried this, my current set up works for me..but you could cut sections of matte black poster board to cover your tissue paper allowing you to block light from certain directions if you wish.

(author) 10 months ago

Hussain Kadhim

@Rane yeah but we want a white background, you cant take a picture with these flaps.

Hussain Kadhim 10 months ago

Rane Body Decor

I have found that if you leave the flaps on you can use them to additionally help control the light

Rane Body Decor 10 months ago

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Tairalyn Ciulla

Love this so much but think I might love the scarf a wee bit more! LoL I went to your site and I don't see how I can make this :( I am dying to DIY this its perfect for a mama on the go accessory! LittleMissMama need this on the site. Www.LittleMissMama.com is my site and I'd love to feature this piece! Email me!

Tairalyn Ciulla 10 months ago

Wendy {MonkeyTeeMonkeyDo.com}

Thanks to Taylor Price for her comment! I moved my lamps back a bit from my box to get a better shot! Thanks so much :D

(author) 10 months ago

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