CHEAP PHOTO BOX

[RodBurNeR]

This is sooo easy a caveman could do it , if they had this kind of stuff back then.....

This all can be done for just under $5.00 or even less, depends on where you go and how much you pay for stuff..

You will need as shown

30"x20" foam board

some kind of tape, preferably clear boxing tape

x-acto knife

ruler or straight edge w/ tape measure

pen or pencil

Second , you will need to mark the "bottom" side of the board with measurements and lines as shown.

Third , you need to start by placing your straight edge like shown and use your x-acto blade to cut "all the way through" to remove the squares as shown.

Fourth move is easy as well! Once you have removed both squares..... then take your straight edge and place it on the lines you drew and "score" , do NOT go all the way through! "score" the lines (as if you are cutting sheet rock). Once you have scored the lines, you will just bend each wall over and as long as you scored evenly, the walls will fold over EASY.....if they don't , go back and look where you need to cut deeper.

If you have scored nicely, when walls are folded it will look like this.

This is where the tape comes in! keep the walls up and tight together as you run tape on the "outside" of the box SEALING the cracks with the tape pulled snug. If you go around the box nice and evenly and keep the walls snug as you tape them.....you will keep gaps from forming. IMPORTANT....to pay attention to gaps!

If you have sealed the seams up, this is how the box will look ALMOST ready for photos!

Now that you are such a macho man, you wrestled foam board and boxing tape.....grab a lamp man! You NEED some friggen lighting when you take pics! The flash will NOT do the trick dudes! *you need both in most cases, flash & a lamp*

[HauntFreaks]

I love this... thanks for the great idea... do you have any shots you have taken in this box?.... if so would love to see them...

[RodBurNeR]

I love this... thanks for the great idea... do you have any shots you have taken in this box?.... if so would love to see them...

thanks!

I have taken pics of most of my models in it, but I have recently started using a different back drop.

[RodneyBad]

Excellent photo tips.

What is the light source you are using?

It seems to work very well.

[Foxer]

That's neat, Bob. Looks like the thin foam makes a great light box to reduce shadows. The lighting is also very even in your photos.

Edited August 8, 2009 by Foxer

[RodBurNeR]

The light was just an old desk lamp with a couple flourescent bulbs in it. I used the flash on top of the lamp and the other lights in the room also. I really haven't used it in a couple months or so. All I can say is it was cheap and have been using it for over two years, maybe three? I don't want to stray from this topic, but given a little time I could show you what I use now and it's even cheaper!

[plasticbutcher]

Thank you for posting this how-to, I sent our club Prez the link and he made one and brought it to the meeting yesterday---it was a big hit, we will be using it at our contest in March, again thank you for the info

[Dr. Cranky]

To make perfect you can cut a piece of light blue carboard or white and make a sweep . . . for those seamless background photos . . . EXCELLENT!

[F-16fun]

Good idea, if you don't want have this work, you can buy one of this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hama-Mini-Photo-St...3305&sr=8-1

It's no expensive...

[charlie8575]

Very good. You could even do one with a background, like a garage or something, for a different effect.

Great idea!

Charlie Larkin