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How to Create Professional Photography Studio Lighting

The cost of professional studio lighting can get expensive and, as a new photographer, you may not be able to purchase all the lights you need. So, create your own professional lighting setup in your studio inexpensively to produce high-quality photographs and portraits. Make light boxes by hand for shooting product shots or small items for magazines and sales ads. Set up larger lighting using basic household lights to shoot portraits of larger items, such as people, pets and furniture.

Things You'll Need

Square packing box
White spray paint
Desk lamp
Scissors
Ruler
White fabric
White poster board
Heavy-duty tape
Table
Floor lamps
Fishing line

Instructions

Light Box
- 1
  Assemble the packing box by taping only the bottom closed.
- 2
  Cut out a square in the center of each side of the box, leaving a 2-inch border around the edge. Cut off the flaps on the top of the box. The holes in the sides of the box will act as a window to allow additional light to shine on the subject or alternate shooting angles.
- 3
  Spray paint the entire box, inside and out, with the white spray paint. Let it completely dry.
- 4
  Cut the sides off of the white poster board so it fits in the box and is large enough to cover the bottom and back side of the box. Tape one end of the poster board to the front bottom of the box, then fold a crease in the poster board and secure it with tape at the top of the back side of the box.
- 5
  Cut three pieces of fabric large enough to cover holes that have been cut in the sides of the box. Tape the fabric along the top of each hole.
- 6
  Place a desk lamp over the top of the box so it lights up the inside. Place subjects inside the box and the camera in the front on a tripod.
Portrait Lighting
- 7
  Hang large pieces of white poster board around the subject you are shooting. Poster board can be hung from the ceiling using fishing line or can be held by someone off to the side.
- 8
  Use large floor lamps without the shades to light up the subject. Set one lamp off to the side of the subject, and two others behind the photographer pointing toward the subject at a 45-degree angle.
- 9
  Hang a floor lamp from the ceiling just in front of the subject pointing down at a 45-degree angle.

Photography