Bedroom Photography Studio Setup

I wanted a photography studio. All i had was my bedroom, a couple of flashes and my DSLR camera.

The picture is one that i took using my setup.

Remove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1: Backdrop.

I realise there are a lot of ways of making a backdrop. I started out by hanging some bedding off my wardrobe. This worked well, until of course, i needed to access my wardrobe.

I wanted a more permanent, but yet still portable solution. It also needed to be cheap. I bought a load of PVC pipe and fittings for about £20. I then got into my lego mindset and assembled it into a frame like shape. I'm sure you can use your imaginations to create a stable design.

I then got a big piece of white fabric, this cost me about £3.

I sewed a pipe sized loop at the top off the piece of fabric, to loop it over the top of the frame.

81377 says: Dec 19, 2010. 7:36 AM

WARNING As flashes can get very hot I would avoid doing this. There is a very real chance of setting the tissue or any type of paper or most fabrics on FIRE.

If you do this be sure to monitor the temperature of any flash with this type of diffuser. There are many ibles on how to make a diffuser for low or no cost.

PerfectPantaloons in reply to 81377Dec 20, 2010. 12:19 PM

oh come on... i use pretty much the EXACT SAME SETUP... Flashes are only on for a fraction of a second... not enough to light anything on fire, if you were to use a continous light source for this then you would use a light diffuser.

81377 in reply to PerfectPantaloonsDec 20, 2010. 3:18 PM

For the sake of expedience you can probably do this without a problem. If your flashes has or develops a problem you can have a fire. Since it is cheap and ease to make a modifier for a flash without having a potential hazard, that is what I would do and what I would recommend.

I am sure if you ask a professional or check your flashes manual he/it will tell you flashes get very hot and can cause a fire. My warning was for everyone's protection.

The following Warning is from my Nikon SB800 Flash manual;

"Do not fire the unit while the flash head is touching a person or object. Such use can result in the person being burned, and/or their clothes igniting from the heat of the flash’s firing."

lemonie says: Apr 13, 2010. 3:30 PM

I've got a similar Kodak, I was thinking of pulling it apart for the prisms & lenses.

L

92033 in reply to lemonieOct 17, 2010. 4:32 AM

DON'T tear it apart. It's a Classic Collector Item. There are still roll film outlets for it if you search for them. If you just want prisms and lenses...go to Edmund Scientific Company catalog. You'll find them on search. They have stuff that will blow your young mind.
~ ED

lemonie in reply to 92033Oct 17, 2010. 4:57 AM

Maybe, but you can pick 'em up cheap. It's still on the shelf.

L

92033 in reply to lemonieOct 17, 2010. 1:19 PM

True...but you cannot replace an original. I had a better one and it sold for $50.00US. The lens is cheap quality compared to what you can get today if you intend to use it for any projects of your own.
~ ED

lemonie in reply to 92033Oct 18, 2010. 12:07 PM

That's possibly 10x what I could get for mine.

L

SomeRandomName says: Oct 13, 2010. 11:17 AM

Nice effect with the two flashes/shadows. Did you overexpose the backdrop intentionally so the object really stands out?

04mewm (author) in reply to SomeRandomNameOct 13, 2010. 1:34 PM

I like to overexpose the backdrop as the sheet is normally creased, due to the fact i don't like ironing. The creases only show up because of the shadows, so overexposing and taking away these shadows leaves the background crisp white.