Home › Forums › Photography › I don't have access to natural light
Tagged: background, lighting
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aperture.
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08/04/2019 at 10:31 pm #65879
I work Monday through Saturday so I miss the natural light available. Also I would like to do my photos in my basement because I have a lot of open space down there. My goal is to do a couple listings a day so I need to supplement for lack of light and backround. Can anyone point me towards a lighting and backround solution?
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08/05/2019 at 8:30 am #65888
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08/05/2019 at 8:33 am #65890
Jordan:
Years ago, I started out in my basement. Down there you need to do a complete set-up. Here is a link to some of the cheapest sets around. Cowboy Studios. Several SL members have lighting and backdrops from them.https://www.cowboystudio.com/category_s/311.htm
Amazon also has these same types of kits and many times both Cowboy and Amazon run Sales. We have had posts here on SL by members who have gotten 4 light, quad bulb stands with out the backdrop pole for $70 to $90 bucks.
We now use 8 of their spiral fluorescent bulbs on tripod stands that are 5500 degrees kelvin. We use a wide “felt cloth” background we got at Hobby Lobby for $.99 a yard. We got several pieces at 60″ wide x 3 yards [9 ft.] long
Here is the basic set-up. Go to Home Depot and buy a 4′ x 4′ 3/8″ inch thick pc. of plywood. Only need it to be smooth one side [cheaper] and 2 plastic sawhorses.
Now go to whatever wall you want to make as your photo space. Place the two plastic sawhorses one against the wall and the other in front of it about 2-1/2 to 3 ft. Now lay the 4 x 4 sht. of plywood on top of that. You now have a 4×4 tabletop butted up against the wall.
Next, Tack, staple or Velcro, which is what we use because we can easily pull off the white and replace with a darker gray or blue piece for white, lighter or clear items. $ ft. above the table, then let it hang down and across the table and then hang off the front lip about a foot = 9″ +/-
Now place one light stand on each corner of the square table. the back two should be all the way back toward the wall and close to the table edge. These back two stands of either a 2-bulb ea. or 4 bulb ea. unit should only be used to light the back white felt and BEHIND your object. This will eliminate many shadows form your item, and still reflect softer light forward to your item.
Then place your last 2 [out of the four you bought] at the front two edges. These will light the item all around.
Now for placement, try to always place your item in the center of the 4×4 sq. about 2 feet away from the backdrop and about 2 feet back from the front lip. This set-up will allow for the best overall lighting, keep shadows in the crevices of your item well lighted and not cast shadows on the background. To eliminate tabletop shadows, have a clear plastic or make a wooden stand to hold your item about a foot off of and above the tabletop. We use a 12×12 white wood prop and have 3 various size clear acrylic stands.
Some here that photo clothes either take their mannequin off the stand and just set the torso up on a table, or do this exact same set up only have a longer back drop piece and let it roll out on the floor and shoot directly down from overhead by standing on a short ladder at the front edge.
But using felt you eliminate ugly creases; it has a soft texture. Raising your item eliminates cast shadows, and having light stands all the way around prevents the white balance being thrown off and producing “grey” back grounds and eliminates almost all after the shot photo editing from having to be done. You can go straight to uploading without extra work in most cases.
Also, we would recommend a chair in front of the table because sitting for a whole day of photography can be a strain on your back.
All in all this will run a few hundred bucks but will in essence provide the closest to a complete studio setup for the least amount and provide all the blanced lighting you will need for any type of item. If you ever quit you can always sell the complete setup online and recoup some of your money back.
Good luck
Mike at MDC Galleries and Fine Art in Atlanta
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08/05/2019 at 8:47 am #65891
Jordan I see Ryanne attached a photo from a previous members post. Yep , just like that but also include the ceap to make plywood and saw horse table underneath the part that is showing on the floor.
If you look closely you can see in the photo a tall piece of white material on the wall. Bet she uses that in conjunction with a table butted up to it with a white table cloth for hard goods.
If you check out YouTube videos their are several good ones under the search term basement photography studio setup.
One that I also really like uses a translucent table top with milky plexiglass for the top and adds an extra light under the table to direct light upwards. It makes the whole table top light a light box.
You can modify the above directions I gave by taking the plywood and cutting out the center and only leaving about an inch and half rim all around. Still set that on the saw horses and you will have to buy yourself an 1/8″ thick piece of milk white TRANSLUCENT plexiglass for the table top. You can still lay a thin white fabric sheet over the plex to give a nice texture and cut down on the glare from the underneath light stand.
There is a video somewhere of a set up like this but you will have to research it. And of course the extra light and stand for underneath and the plexiglass sheet will drive the costs up.
Are there chaeper ways, yes, hand work lights about but they get hot, throw the color and white balance way off and you will spend a ton of time adjusting your photos without having the proper balanced lighting.
mike at MDCGFA
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08/05/2019 at 7:00 pm #65935
Mike thank you so much, I really appreciate that fantastic information. I will definetly use your advice. Thank you!
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08/05/2019 at 9:02 pm #65945
Mike,
I’ve looked at so many sets of photography lights tonight and I just do not understand the differences between sets. I want a budget friendly quality set. Can you point me towards what set of 4 I should get? (Or set of two I can purchase twice) There’s so many to choose from it’s insane. Im going to stop at hobby lobby tomorrow and get the white and grey felt. I have the perfect spot in my basement to setup for pictures, very exciting!-
08/05/2019 at 9:49 pm #65948
Something like this is overkill, but a good deal for any eBay situation:
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08/06/2019 at 10:07 am #65968
I purchased the setup that Jay linked to. I actually don’t use the light stand in front because I kept bumping into it and breaking the light bulb. Those light bulbs aren’t cheap to replace!
I just use a TV table for items to sit on and poster board for the background. My basement is full of my inventory, so I don’t have an area to dedicate to photography. I have to set up in my hallway and then move it out of the way.
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08/06/2019 at 2:35 pm #65978
Great sounds good, thank you.
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08/06/2019 at 4:17 pm #65982
I have 3 of these bad boys mounted over my photography area:
I bought a big lot of stuff locally on facebook marketplace from a photographer who got out of the business. It also came with a boatload of the big photography CFL lamps.
I bought 5/8 dowel rod and made my own wall mount rods to mount the lights.
You could use the 100w daylight LED’s from Walmart with those and have plenty of light in your photo area.
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08/06/2019 at 7:39 pm #65985
I have a basement set up that i built with cheap materials. I bought a roll of photographic background paper that I hang from a PVC pipe on a wire suspended from my ceiling. It hangs down and creates a continuous background onto half a discarded ping-pong table. I have two large light stands made of 2×4 and florescent shop lights. I also have a shop light hanging from the ceiling. About 6 months ago I got a cheap florescent ring light (NEEWER) that I use in place of one of the light stands and for occasional close up work. For me, the secret of good photography is using a good camera and lens and then color correcting in Lightroom ($10/month).
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