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So I need to take pics now and then for things, mostly smallish objects so I was trying to think of how I could set up something to do this. It needs to be able to be dismantled and put away when not using it.

I have a large wooden easel. With holes. So first I was thinking of getting a wooden board and gluing some plugs onto it. This would make a good stand I think - and the board can be taken out and the easel folded up again.

But what to put at the back and over the board? Paper? Card? Fabric? Which works best so that I can have a “flat” background? (I’m thinking to attach with clips or pegs to easel and board.)

Lighting. How best (and cheaply) to do this? I have a plain lightbulb lamp but how best to reflect the light without getting the spot shine? I would prefer not to use flash and fiddling around with that afterwards in Photoshop.

Any clever suggestions?

• http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-make-a-inexpensive-light-tent/

  gen
  07/03/01 03:37 PM

• MAKE magazine has quite a bit of information on this. Hope things work out well.

  Ando
  07/03/01 03:45 PM

• I think Jeremy had a nice piece on how to set up the background for taking good photos for smaller things on his site a while back though I’m too lazy to go find it for you at the moment.  Good luck.

  UltraBob
  07/03/02 11:30 AM

• I have seen a portable light tent made from the same idea as the beach cabanas.  Ie springy metal circles that allows you to fold away to nothing but when open it is strong and stable.  Fabric is similar to tent fabric but with special light properties.  (Of course I have NO idea what these special light properties are as I am lucky if I ever use a camera other than my keitai one.)

  The Goddess
  07/03/02 03:05 PM

• We got some cheap lights from Outlet and from Donki. Had to buy white light bulbs though (Bic Camera), found that the cheap light fittings all came with yellow light - not nice for product photography.

  Although it is not space saving, our best mini light studio has been made out of thick white card taped together and using various shades of paper or felt as a back drop to mix it up a little.

  You can check out the pics we have been taking at http://www.tokyomade.com.

  Best of luck...always a fun project!

  sushi
  07/03/18 09:12 PM

• Thanks for all the tips guys!

  In the end I picked up a foldy up type nylon fabric on a bendy frame thingie from ebay. Folds away to nothing almost!

  (Well the Boy can fold it up to almost nothing - when I tried I nearly strangled myself with it)

  MJ
  07/03/25 03:37 PM