My New Photo Studio!

Good morning! Today I'm sharing my newest photography contraption with you! Woo-hoo! This is my new set-up for taking card pictures, and YOU can set one up just like it for yourself!

I was in sore need of a new setup for taking pictures of my cards, and one day I was cruisin' the blogs when I came across someone who used a plastic crate and a clip on light to take pictures. I've modified it just a bit. Here's how I made mine...

I bought a plain, wooden crate at Joann's recently for $6.00. They were on sale. It was part of the back-to-school stuff, so be sure and go to your Joann's to try and find one just like it. Otherwise, I think a plastic crate would work just as well, it just won't be as tall like mine. My crate dimensions are 18" long, 12" wide and 9.5" inches deep. I stood my crate on the end, so it's nice and tall!

The next thing I did is cut a piece of tag board so that it would fit the sides of the crate. I did this so it would reflect the light shining into the crate from the clip on light, which I placed at the top of the crate.

The fun part of this whole contraption is that I made my cloth backgrounds interchangeable! I placed a piece of sticky velcrose at the top back panel of the crate. Then I sewed the other piece of the velcro to the backs of three different patterned fabric pieces, which I cut to fit the width of the crate and cut extra long to cover the base I place my cards on (does that make sense? I'm rushing getting this post done because I have to run my son to marching band practice....). Now, whenever I want to change the background, I rip the fabric off via the velcro and replace it with a new fabric pattern! Do you not love this idea?????!!!! Right now, I have only three different fabric designs, but I am on the lookout for more mellow ones. When I was at Joann's I found these fabrics already cut and bundled in 1/2 yard allowances, for really cheap.

I think they do this for the quilters! Anyways, it's SO easy to change up my background colors now, and I have no problem getting enough lighting for the cards. So cool, so affordable. I calculate the total cost of this at: crate: $6.00, fabric (3 panels): $4.00, tagboard: free (I already had it in my office), velcro: $3.00, clip light: $10.00. That brings it to a grand total of $23! For less than $25 bucks, I made myself a top notch photo studio for my cards!

Here is a picture of today's card using my batik background....isn't it fun? It's a little busy, but I think it will look cool with certain cards!

Here is another similar card using the rust colored background.



See all the fun things you can do with your photos that you never thought possible? I hope to start seeing some new photo studios on YOUR blogs!

Hugs,

Amy