Digital Camera Lighting on the Cheap | DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY DAILY

Home Studio Lighting on the Cheap

If you don’t have studio lighting equipment, or a set of 2 or three speedlights for your digital camera (either way, you’re looking at a few thousand dollars worth of gear), but you want to do some cool indoor still life or portrait photography, here is a good way to approach it.

I am an advocate of simplicity. I just don’t like a lot of stuff laying around, especially expensive stuff. Over the years, I’ve tried to “simplify” my camera bag. The less lenses, gadgets and do-dads to weigh me down the better. Heck, if I had it my way, I’d get rid of my DSLRs in favor of two compact digital cameras (one for regular shooting, one converted to infrared), a circular polarizer spare batteries (2, one for each camera), and just a photo vest to hold it all.

The same concept goes for my lighting equipment. At any one time, I’ll have an assortment of Nikon and Canon speedlights, and a whole bunch of photographic backgrounds, lighting stands, umbrellas, and a heck of a lot of gadgets in addition to my digital camera collection. Thank goodness I’m no longer doing studio and location portraits! I’ve used different types of lighting for my still life images and portraits in the past, primarily flowers. As of late, I discovered a way to simplify my setup.

If you don’t have studio lighting equipment, or a set of 2 or three speedlights for your digital camera (either way, you’re looking at a few thousand dollars worth of gear), but you want to do some cool indoor still life or portrait photography, here is a good way to approach it. Buy a couple of aluminum light reflectors and daylight balanced fluorescent lights from your local hardware store. Lets splurge! How about 3 reflectors and 3 daylight balanced light bulbs?

Here’s the cost breakdown (I got the hardware prices from Home Depot):

Aluminum Reflector: at $8.97/each U.S., these are a bargain that can be found at any hardware store. Easily clamped onto a chair, or even modified to attach to inexpensive studio light stands, these reflectors do the job of distributing lighting. I like the 10” models. All you’ll need at the most is 3.

100 Watt Daylight Balanced Florescent Light Bulbs: At about $4/each, we’re looking at a total of $12 for three bulbs that kick out 1750 Lumens worth of daylight balanced light. Perfect for digital cameras! Make sure you get daylight balanced as these provide accurate color rendition that is equal to sunlight, or about 5,500 degree’s on your Camera Raw temperature slider.

20” X 30” Black Foamcore Backing Board: Available at any art supply store, pick up a black foamcoar backing board, about $5/each. Pick up a white one too. These make for great still life backgrounds for headshots, flowers or other still life images. Total cost, approximately $10 U.S.

Total cost for your indoor studio lighting and background setup? About $40 U.S.

The Setup

Tape, or stand up the foamcore board being used as your backdrop against a wall or piece of furniture.
On a table, floor, or other flat surface, place your subject matter. Make sure you leave a distance of two feet or more between your subject and the backdrop.
Place one light 45° to the left of the object, and 45° to the right of the object.
Place your camera, on a tripod, directly in front of the object at the same height as the object.
Compose your shot, and adjust the lights as needed.
Set your desired aperture setting while in Aperture Priority mode on your camera.
Set your white balance to “Auto”. Your digital camera will evaluate your white balance close to daylight, or approximately 5,500° Kelvin (Color Temperature) .
Shoot away!