Creating a Light Box Effect For Under $2
Create a light box effect for brighter photos with simple inexpensive items you can find at your local dollar store.
Creating a Light Box Effect For Under $2
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After reading How to Blog For Profit: Without Losing Your Soul I know that if I want my blog to expand farther I need to produce better photos.
I was blessed to be able to purchase a great camera (I have an older version of this one) and am slowly learning the ins and outs of it. I will admit I am still not brave enough to switch over to manual mode but I am hoping to eventually figure it out with the help of a few different ebooks I have waiting to read in my Kindle App.
For now, though I just wanted to make the backdrop of my photos look as good as the “wow” pins I see on Pinterest. I showed my husband the type of photos I wanted to create and we both decided they must have light boxes.
My husband told me that he currently did not have time to help me make a light box but for now, why didn’t I purchase 2 pieces of white foam board from Dollar Tree tape them together and drag them outside to the table I was currently using to photograph all my items on (our house does not have good light so I provide entertainment for the neighbors by taking pictures of food and other random items outside in all kinds of temperatures).
When I got to Dollar Tree my daughter gave me an even better idea, she pointed out that science fair boards were white and that you could get two pieces of white poster board for just $1. So for $1.50 plus tax my light box effect was born.
Just last night I tried it out on a popular post of mine “Simplest Fudge Ever”
Here is my sad indoor photo that was taken with my iPod touch
Here is the new photo that was taken with my new camera and poster board
I think you will agree with me that the change is dramatic!
Please note: This post was written in 2013 and updated in 2020. Since I wrote the original post I have learned so much more about photography . These older photos kind of make me cringe. I know I could do better now using the same $2 lightbox if I were to redo the photos. But then I don’t think the post would be as genuine.
Smartphone cameras have vastly advanced since this post was first published and now think you can achieve great pictures for Instagram and Pinterest with your smartphone (no need for an expensive camera) but this lightbox tip still creates better photos than indoor lighting with no backdrop. I still use this tip to create great photos –with different boards since this post of course!