• About Sewing Report
    • Editorials
    • Equipment List
  • Etsy Shop
  • Resources
    • Blogs
    • Events
    • Fabric Manufacturers
    • Free Tutorials
    • Online Shopping
    • Organizations
    • Patterns
    • Services
    • Sewing Machines
    • Sewlebrity List
    • Supplies
  • Work With Me

Sewing Report

Discover Your Love of Sewing, Crafts, DIY Projects

  • YouTube Videos
  • LIVE SHOWS
  • Blog
    • Original Reporting
    • VLOGS
    • Reviews
    • Haul Videos
    • Editorials
    • Quilting
    • Quiltonomics
    • QuiltCon
    • How To
    • Sewing
    • Sew Ya Know
    • Best of YouTube
    • Business
  • Etsy Shop
  • Resources
    • Blogs
    • Events
    • Fabric Manufacturers
    • Free Tutorials
    • Online Shopping
    • Organizations
    • Patterns
    • Services
    • Sewing Machines
    • Sewlebrity List
    • Supplies
  • About Sewing Report
You are here: Home / DIY / DIY Photography Light Box from a Cardboard Box, Walmart LED Desk Lamps

DIY Photography Light Box from a Cardboard Box, Walmart LED Desk Lamps

July 7, 2017 by Jennifer Moore Leave a Comment

After checking out a gazillion DIY tutorials to make your own photography light box, I finally followed through and made my own.

No idea why I was procrastinating, because this is a ridiculously easy project to DIY.

Took me about 20 minutes to execute and cost around $20 in materials, although some I already had on hand.

Want to take better photos for Instagram, Facebook, Etsy, blogging, YouTube thumbnails, social media, etc.?

Clean, well lit photography is a step in the right direction.

Besides the cardboard box, here is what I used:

Here’s what I did:

  1. With the box cutter, cut windows in 3 sides of the cardboard box (short sides and one long side). When in use, the box will lay on its side with the bottom serving as the back.
  2. From the inside, used clear packing tape to secure tracing paper overlapping each window
  3. Made small loops of tape (couple inches wide) to hold up the white poster board to the back of the box interior

Note: because the poster board is 22 x 28 inches, I’d recommend using a box at least 24 inches long so the entire piece can fit inside without cutting)

DIY Photography Light Box Empty

I bought two LED Mainstay desk lamps from Walmart for $5.97 each (love the GOLD!) and placed one on either side.

These things are seriously awesome! I want more!!!

Did I mention there are also clip-on versions?

DIY Photography Light Box Walmart LED Desk Lamp

Backing the box up to my night stand, I placed another desk lamp on top to be overhead.

DIY Photography Light Box Silver Desk Lamp

The tracing paper (you can also use any other translucent material) acts as a light diffuser.

DIY Photography Light Box Wide Shot

These photos shot on my craft table previously:
Art Gallery Fabrics Boardwalk Delight Knit Underwear Hipster Panty Free Pattern Folded Pile

These photos were taken using the new DIY photography light box:Baby Gift Set Anna Maria Horner Pretty Potent Green Knit 2 EDITED
Cloud 9 Organic Cotton Fabric Fat Quarter Bundle 1 EDITED

The 22 x 28 inch poster board came in a pack of 10 for $2.97, so I’ve got er, backups for the backdrop.

Was also thinking I could use Mod Podge to cover some of the other pieces with fabric to change out the looks.

DIY Photography Light Box Filled 2

Cost breakdown:

  • Cardboard box – FREE!
  • Tracing paper – nominal because it’s on a huge roll – but we’ll estimate 50 cents
  • Poster board – $2.97 / 10 sheets
  • Walmart Mainstays LED Desk Lamp – $11.94 for two (3rd lamp is one we’ve had forever)
  • Packing tape – already owned but we’ll go with another 50 cents
  • Box cutter – already owned but they are usually only a few dollars ($3-8) – for this example we’ll say it was $4

Total came to $19.91 – much less than an equivalent light box photograph kit you can purchase.

Hope you enjoyed this quick photography light box tutorial!

Jennifer

DIY Photo Light Box (1)

DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links for several different programs. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: DIY, How To Tagged With: blogging photography, cardboard box diy, cheap light box, diy light box, diy photo light box, diy photography light box, etsy photography, etsy photography tips, instagram photos, led light box, led lightbox, light box, light box diy, light box for photos, light box photography, light in the box, light tent, lightbox, lightbox for photography, lightbox photography, photo box, photo light box, photography light box, photography lightbox, product photography, product photography lighting, tabletop photography

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Editor-in-Chief

Helping you discover your love of sewing through videos, articles, and tutorials Read More…

Search Sewing Report

Sewing Report on YouTube

Navigate

Sewing Gear

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in