DIY Light Box

I love my blog. I hate my blog photos. I figured it might help if I just built myself a light box. So I did, and I love it!! And I'm gonna show you how I did it. After Googling, YouTubing & searching Pinterest, I came up with a plan. Here is what I used:

Cardboard Box

Tape

Box cutter/Scissors

White Tissue Paper

Ruler/Yardstick

Marker

White Poster Board

Lamps

Natural Light Bulbs

1. Outline 3 sides of the box using a ruler. Leave about an inch around each edge. Excuse my craft area. I'm having to use my guest room for now.

2. Cut out each side like this...

3. Remove the 3 coordinating flaps, leaving one flap along the bottom edge, like this...

4. Trim poster board to fit and place inside the box. Be sure to use your poster board matte side up to prevent glare and to not interfere with flash, if used.

4. Secure poster board to inside of box. Be careful not to crease.

5. Begin laying tissue paper over box opeings, secure with tape, and trim excess.

6. Continue taping tissue paper on all exposed sides, until your box looks like this...

That's it, you're done! You can add more tissue paper if it doesn't diffuse light how you want. Otherwise, add your light source and it's ready to use! I used 2 desk lamps with these light bulbs.

Here is my desk area with the light box. I'm using one of my custom hand poured candles to try this out.

Look at this...I love it!! 

First light box photo ever. It looks great!!

This is gonna be a valuable thing whenever I get around to opening my Etsy shop.

Here is the same candle without the light box. The color is missed and no matter how hard I try to focus, it doesn't help.

and again in the light box. It makes such a huge difference. I never changed any settings on my camera. I'm so amazed!

If you're taking photos of items that are shiny and you want less glare, you can add plain white paper or card stock to the inside of your box to filter more light like this

I only have two light sources, but I may use a 3rd on top of the box sometimes when I take photos of my nails. Adjust your light positions to minimize shadow and have fun playing with this. If you know of any other tips and tricks to using one of these, please pass them my way. I think it's probably the best thing I've ever blogged about! Remember, do not put your lamps directly against the tissue paper...fire hazard! I hope you try this out if you haven't already.

Thanks for reading!!