Best DIY Lighting for Photography

 

As any photographer knows, the right lighting can make or break a picture. Many amateur photographers, however, don’t know where to turn when it comes to finding great DIY lighting for photography. Fortunately, we’ve put together this list of top DIY lighting for photography tips that will help any beginner learn how to create great-looking photos without breaking the bank.

Scrim Lighting

Scrims are not only relatively inexpensive, but they can be used to produce a variety of different effects. Scrims typically come in square or rectangular shapes with a polyester or silk screen stretched across their surface. As you might expect, scrims are often used as backdrops; however, they can also serve a secondary purpose by making it easier to bounce light into certain areas of your shot. If you're trying to create a high contrast effect with your subject and background, scrims are an excellent way to achieve that goal.

Ring Light

A ring light, also known as a circle light or a beauty dish, is an invaluable tool in any photographer’s bag. A ring light is essentially a bunch of lights arranged in a circle around your lens to provide bright and soft lighting perfect for portraits. The circular shape works especially well with human faces because it provides even illumination all around. Ring lights are great not only as main photography lights but also as fill-in flash because they’re highly portable and can be set up virtually anywhere (meaning you don’t have to rely on studio lighting). They’re small enough to fit into purses and bags, so you can use them at parties, on vacation or whenever there’s no access to studio equipment.

DIY Bounce Lighting

The simplest and most affordable DIY light source is bounce lighting. Basically, all you have to do is set up a light-colored surface behind your subject (e.g., a wall or ceiling), and then point your camera in that direction, making sure there’s nothing—like a window—in between your subject and your background. This type of lighting works especially well when photographing small items like jewelry, so it’s best to keep things small when using bounce lighting. If you want to go more high-tech with DIY photography lighting, strobes are always an option. A strobe is essentially just a very bright light that plugs into an outlet, but if used correctly can really help improve photos in almost any situation.

DIY Softbox Lighting

Softbox lighting is popular among portrait photographers because it produces a very soft, flattering light. Here’s how to create your own DIY softbox: Grab a cardboard box and cut out one of its sides (you can use multiple layers of cardboard if you like). Fold back some of the top and bottom flaps to allow air to circulate inside. Then put in your light source (can be anything from a single bulb lamp to an LED strip), close up all but one flap, and voila! That’s all there is to it—this whole setup shouldn’t cost you more than $5 or $10. If you want extra softness, place something like fabric or foam behind your light source.

The beauty of off-camera lighting

There’s something special about taking photographs with your camera set up a few feet away from you, which is exactly why some photographers like to use off-camera lighting. It lets them capture images that wouldn’t be possible if they were right up against their camera lens. While it might seem intimidating, it’s surprisingly easy to set up and can even save you money in equipment costs down the road. The best part? These aren’t just great photography tips for those of us who shoot on-location, they can also make your photos stand out when you’re shooting from home or in a studio. Whether you choose continuous light or strobes (or maybe both), here are some tips to get started with DIY lighting for photography.