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How to Make a Snoot for a Strobe

Photography is all about light and how to make the most of it. The best photographers learn how to work with what light is available naturally. They also learn how to create ideal lighting recipes with studio lights and tools to help direct the light. Umbrellas, softboxes and barndoors are all attachments that photographers use on their lights to control the direction or distribution. A snoot attaches directly to the flash or strobe unit and funnels the light in a precise direction. You can make a homemade snoot to experiment with light patterns.

Things You'll Need

Black foam paper
Gaffers or electrical tape

Instructions

- 1
  Fold your black foam paper around the end of your strobe light. A standard size is 8 1/2 by 11 inches. Trim the paper so it will fit around without an overlap.
- 2
  Tape the long ends of the paper together with gaffers or electrical tape. Use a longer piece of tape than you need and fold the ends of the tape in so that the inside of the snoot is secure.
- 3
  Slide the snoot around the end of the strobe and you have a new tool that will give you new portrait opportunities.
- 4
  Make a few strobes using a variety of materials such as white foam paper or aluminum foil. Cut a few sheets of aluminum foil and form them in to a cone shape. Attach the wide end to the strobe. You can adjust the size of the opening to suit your lighting needs.

Photography