Building A Studio For Only $10.00!
Today I want to share with how I built my inexpensive food photography studio. This is for our new series: Learn About Food Photography, Equipment & Props. Without the tabletop lighting unit, this project cost right around $10 and I use it all the time! Would you believe me if I told you that my studio is in my garage? I wanted to find an area that was close to the kitchen but out of the way. I needed an area that I could get indirect natural light (I just open the garage door and there it is) and also an area that I could create the right lighting in the evening hours. I was getting tired of lugging everything in and out of the house so I decided to make my garage my permanent location and it has worked out great!
This studio is very versatile. You can change the backdrop and the tabletop unit and your studio has a fresh new look again. The possibilities are endless with creating new looks!
So lets get started on this easy project that will take you no time at all to put together. The first thing you want to get is a large square box. I had an end table delivered to me so I saved the box for this project. Simply cut out 3 sides and the top leaving only the bottom and one side standing.
Notice that I left a little bit of the sides and angled it to help support the side that stands alone. This is important so that the box stands alone.
Now simply put your box on an elevated surface. I used a freezer box that I don’t use very often. I just set a towel underneath of it so if there ever was any condensation, the box wouldn’t get wet. I also liked it because it was white which helps bounce light when needed.
Now add your tabletop unit to the bottom of the box. Mine is a two sided 2’x2′ table top. This side is a cream color and the other side is a rustic gray blue. I will be showing you next week how to build your own tabletop unit. It really is an easy project.
Once you have your tabletop unit in then you put your backdrop in. Now I like to use fleece for several reasons. One, it is seamless and doesn’t get many wrinkles in it. If it does, you simply brush them out with your hand. It also washes very nicely and doesn’t need ironing. There is no sheen to it which is something you don’t want when shooting photos. You also have a great assortment of colors at any fabric store and it is very inexpensive. The only downfall I see is that is that it picks up lint easily so I keep a lint brush by.
Use wood clamps to hold the fleece in place. Tuck the fleece under the tabletop unit.
That’s it! There is your very own food photography studio! Now you may need to play around with where you put your lighting unit and bounce light board depending on your light (click here to see where to purchase this lighting unit). Here is my messy garage the night I was getting ready to shoot my Roasted Rosemary Chicken & Potatoes for my upcoming meal plan. It was 7 PM at night and very dark. With all of the white that I had for the shoot (white background, white plate and white tabletop), I had to put my lighting unit on the ladder so I didn’t have to much light. I just turned on my lighting unit and began shooting.
The Final Results & Camera Details
Here is the photo that was shot in this shoot. Who knew you could produce such a nice picture in such little space and light? I shot this picture on manual mode with no flash (I rarely ever use a flash), an ISO 800, aperture f/3.5 and shutter speed 1/50. I did not use a tripod for this particular photo and did use my tabletop lighting unit on the ladder and the bounce light board.
I hope you all have found this informative. If you should have any questions, ask away in the comment section below. Until next week…
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Do you have a mini photography studio?What do you use for light when natural light is not available? |
Grabbed an old box and am in process of cutting it up. Did you take all your recipe photos with this current setup? They are so clear and have perfect lighting. Many have advised to use a 50mm 1.8 (1.4 if you can afford it), but do you also use a Macro lens? Some of the shots are close ups and look great. Awesome job, and you are an inspiration to new bloggers such as myself.
I have several cameras now and 4 different lenses as well. I started out with a Canon 3ti with a Tamaron lens linked in this post. I just upgraded my camera to a Canon 6D and bought 2 more lenses but I have yet to post any pictures with my new camera. So all of the photos on my site (with the exception of a few) were shot with the Canon t3i and the lens I describe in this post. Around the holidays I bring out the 50 mm 1.8 fixed lens (I love bokeh with the Christmas tree lights), but I can not get use to a fixed lens and prefer to have the capabilities to zoom in and out.
Thanks for this tutorial. As newbie food blogger this is perfect!
Happy you found it helpful! 🙂
Thanks a lot Halle!
Happy to help! 🙂
Thanks for such a nice DIY studio tip.I don’t have a food blog but your idea is very nicely customizable
So helpful!
Great post! Thank you! I ended up using this idea in my basement where my workshop is next to a window. Still playing around with the lighting and learning but this was a great start for me. Thanks again ??
Happy to help. Your set up sounds perfect!
Hello
I was very glad of your idea, It’s so helpful and simple . Thank you so much for sharing.
Good Luck
If I wanted a black background would I simply replace the white card for black or do have other tips that you cold share? Bill
Yes, I’d find a black board and use that. It will create a more moody look (which is a totally cool look for photos).
This is a wonderful idea. I am just starting to put props together and starting to set up a space for food photography. So far it has only been on my smartphone and my kitchen counter or dining table. 🙁
This is so informative and sooo helpful! I’m just starting out and never knew all the tricks of the trade that food bloggers use for lighting, boards, angles etc – and it’s great to find out more about these things!! Now my next project is to make a number of those wooden boards! ? i might like to see a post like this but on food presentation and your advice for that maybe?
Fantastic website you have here but I was wanting to know if you knew of any discussion boards that cover the
same topics talked about here? I’d really like to be
a part of community where I can get comments from other experienced people
that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me
know. Thank you!
Helpful post. Thanks for sharing