How to Make Homemade Photography Lighting

If you're on a limited budge and need quality lighting for photography, here are some solutions using materials that can be found in home improvement outlets like Lowe's or Home Depot and many large hardware stores.

Things You'll Need

• Portable Lamp with adjustable clamp and reflector hood
• 100-watt full-spectrum light bulb
• Halogen work light
• Sunshade for car windshield (aluminized surface)
• White linen bedsheets

Instructions

1. 

   Purchase 100-watt incandescent light bulbs that are marked "Full Spectrum" or "Daylight." They are shaped just like the regular screw-in light bulbs. The difference is the bright white light that pulls out all the colors in the visible range. Place the bulbs in the portable lamp that comes with an adjustable clamp and an aluminum reflector hood. They can be clamped to a stable object, like a high-backed wooden chair.

2. 

   For a high-powered light source for larger areas, purchase a halogen work light, which emits a bright, white light. The lamp can be used with a simple diffuser.

3. 

   Create a light-diffusion filter by draping a white linen bed sheet over a framework or a line 3 feet in front of the halogen lamp. In this example, two high-backed wooden chairs were used. The halogen lamp was placed on the third chair. Two halogen lamps used in this type of setup provide a light bright enough to film digital video.

4. 

   Position the object, artwork or person 2 to 8 feet from the diffuser. Experiment with camera angles and settings.

5. 

   Make a sunlight reflector for illuminating shadowed areas when photographing subjects outdoors. Place the aluminum-surfaced windshield shade on a stable object. A hand-truck or dolly with wheels is great because it is easily set up or repositioned. Place the reflector to direct the sun's rays into areas of shadow on the subject's surface.

Tips & Warnings

• Electrical light sources generate high heat, and the metal surfaces of the fixtures can cause burns to skin or ignite flammable materials that come into contact with them. Use with caution.

• Do not allow the bed sheet to contact the halogen lamp at any time, to prevent a possible fire.

Resources

• How to use Fill Light in Outdoor Photography