Homemade Photo Studio Equipment

Take photos using homemade equipment.

For photo enthusiasts, having a photo studio to take pictures is a dream come true. Setting up a studio might seem though like a daunting task due to the expense of professional studio equipment such as lights and backgrounds. However, homemade photo studio equipment can be made as an alternative to expensive ones and will get you started shooting studio-quality photos.

Things You'll Need

• 4-by-8-foot fabric
• Pushpins
• 3 100-watt photo flood bulbs
• 3 clip-on light reflectors
• Light stand
• Stool
• Tripod

Instructions

1. 

   Pin a fabric that is at least 4 feet by 8 feet wide, sold in general merchandise stores, on a wall to serve as your background. Use a solid color background for a plain and simple background. Use printed fabrics, such as a cartoon character, "clouds" background or fabrics with "mood" patterns, for a more distinct look.

2. Screw in a 100-watt photo flood bulb into a clamp light with reflector sold in hardware stores. Clamp this light assembly to a light stand. Use an old microphone boom stand or a free-standing floor lamp fixture as your light stand. Make three units of this light assembly to light the left and right side of your subject and to light the background.

3. 

   Posing on a stool.

   Place a kitchen stool or a bar stool in front of your background as your posing stool. Use a stool that has no back or low back support so that it will not show in head and shoulder portraits.

4. 

   A camera on a tripod.

   Mount your camera on a tripod for camera stabilization. This is the only item that is tough to improvise. You can buy a used tripod on the Internet to save money.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to plug in the photo flood bulbs in separate outlets to avoid electrical overloads.

References

• Lowes:Bayco Clamp Light