DIY: How to make a light box and take great photos

Hi guys!

I've just bought myself a light box - and I absolutely love it! But before I threw money after a semi-pro light box, I made one myself out of an old parcel box.

It was very easy and the quality of the pictures that I took for my Danish blog was improved by far.

Perhaps there's some of you out there who'd like to know how to make such a light box?

If so, keep on reading. I will guide you through the very simple method.

This is what you need: 

• A cardboard box
• Rulers
• A pen
• Scissors (not in the picture)
• A piece of bed linnen - or something else that's white and thin in fabric
• Scotch tape
• A knife

Step 1:

Make meazurements and draw a line so that you can cut out the sides of the box.
I used the rulers to decide how far from the edge I should make the cutting. The width of the rulers seem like the appropriate size, no matter how small the box...

 

 

Step 2:

Cut out the three sides - right, left and top - and also cut off three of the flappers, excluding the bottom one (for support. It doesn't have to be there if you prefer them all off).

Step 4:

Cover the backside of the box with a piece of white linnen or paper. If you use paper, be careful not to dent it. Fasten with scotch tape on the back or top of the box.

Step 5:

Place the linnen on the box to make marks of where to cut. It should cover the three holes that you've cut out from the left and right side and the top.

 

 

 

Step 6:

Finally tape the linnen to the box - make sure it's tight with as little windings as possible.

Step 7:

Let there be light! The right light's crutial to how the pictures will turn out. Here I'm only using a small lamp, which is not nearly enough.

Preferably you want three lamps with a good amount of light in them - one on each side and one on top. That way your item inside will be lit at every angle and the light box will be able to work it's wonders with reflecting the lights.

When you take pictures:

As mentioned above, lights are the crutial matter of the case. And also you should try and find the light and make the most of it. It's almost like hearing Tyra Banks, isn't it? "Work with the light, girl!"

Picture taken with only one lamp. Preferably three lamps are better to avoid shadows - like the ones you see in this picture. Still it's better than just shooting the pen at a table under the dining room lamp :)

And that's it - easy, right?