Thursday, August 30, 2007

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

42 comments:

  1. great idea! I love it and think I'll have to try doing it myself sometime.

    Question - what is tag board? Thanks!

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  2. LOVE THIS! I am headed to Joann's tonight to get this crate and get going on this! I have been looking for a new way to take pics, and this is right up my alley!

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  3. LOVE THIS! Thanks so much for the tips! I will get to making one of these this weekend!

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  4. Hey Amy, cute card! I wondered yesterday about the background on that photo...I just LOVED it and wondered how you did it. I have a "photo studio" from the store with the same sort of pull off backgrounds, but I only have grey and blue...I really like the idea of using patterned ones...very cool! Thanks for sharing.

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  5. Your new studio is awesome! Thanks for all of the information!

    I love your card as well! Wonderful, Amy!!

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  6. Anonymous12:46 PM

    You're wonderful! Always sharing your beautiful ideas with us. What a good soul you are. :o)

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  7. Great idea. I have been looking at buying something similar and they are a bit pricey. Now, I'll just make my own!!

    tina

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  8. Cool! Love the velcro idea. Your pics look amazing in there:)

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  9. Ingenious! You are sooooo clever! I already have one of those crates, so I'm definitely going to have to try this. But what is tag board?

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  10. Anonymous2:48 PM

    This is awesome! I noticed the cloth background behind the card you did for *Julee's sketch* when you posted it on SCS and my jaw dropped - the card and bg are so beautiful and now you've shared your secret! Thank you!

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  11. Anonymous3:48 PM

    this idea is amazing!! and to think it can be done for such a relatively small amount of money makes it even more amazing! Thank you so very much for sharing this with us! BTW, what is tagboard? is that similar to foamboard? I'm sorry, I've never heard of tagboard before. Your cards are just lovely and I enjoy seeing all that you post :)

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  12. Anonymous5:51 PM

    what a fabulous idea - I am so inspired!

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  13. Awesome studio idea. I will have to copy it as soon as I can find the time to go to Joanns.

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  14. Anonymous8:36 PM

    Oh, this is brilliant! I made myself one out of a cardboard box, but this is a much better way!
    I'm curious about tag board too! Please tell us. ;o)

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  15. Wow this is such a neat idea! One of these days I am going to have to do this, thanks so much for sharing how you did it!! (and cute card, as always!!!)

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  16. Anonymous10:27 PM

    Great idea. I'll have to try it. Too often, I spend too little focus on making a good photo and just plunk it down on the floor with bad light.

    Thanks for the inspiration.. again.

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  17. Thanks for the inspiration...I really need to come up with something like this! :0)

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  18. I love the idea!! Thanks so much for sharing. Can you tell me what wattage your light is? I know that seems silly but I have 2 lights I bought from Ikea and even with both of them shining on the card they don't seem bright enough.

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  19. Thanks for sharing this brilliant idea! What did you use under the cloth to 'prop' up your card? And why type of bulb does your clip on light use? (wattage and it just a regular bulb or halogen?) thanks!

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  20. Very clever! You pictures always look so nice! Thanks for sharing such a good tip!

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  21. Anonymous4:06 AM

    Oh Amy I like this!!!! I like that you can put different BG fabrics in there and it is totally SELF CONTAINED!!!

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  22. Fantastic idea - may I ask what wattage bulb you recommend? I am afraid of going too bright on mine and causing my cards to go all white.

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  23. Anonymous11:40 AM

    This is so great!!! I found some clip on lights in the dollar bins at Target for $2.50! Thanks for sharing! Love your blog!

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  24. Anonymous4:54 PM

    Girl, what a great contraption! LOVE it!

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  25. These cards are just so fabulous. I love those birdies - and the sentiment. We don't call it tag board here on the west coast - but I do know what poster board is! LOL

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  26. Anonymous9:12 PM

    This looks like exactly what I need. Thanks.

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  27. Anonymous8:56 AM

    What a great idea! Love your card, it is too cute!!!

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  28. Thanks so much for the tips Amy! I was trying to figure something like this out ut never thought of a crate! Can't wait to get on it now that I know!

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  29. Amy, your cards and art are always such an inspiration to me. Thank you for sharing your studio. I have a similar set up and it helps so much to have proper lighting.

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  30. thanks for sharing, but I gotta ask - what stamp set is that bird and sentiment? :D

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  31. Thanks for the instructions! What kind of bulb do you use? And... do you only need one?

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  32. Thank you so so much, i don't know what tag board is either but i'm guessing it's just thick white card, I was wondering if kitchen foil might work well as it would reflect the light nicely. I'm off to have a go (i've pinched DD's reading light, do you think she'll notice? lol)

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  33. this IS a super idea...i think i'm gonna have to make me one o'those! :)

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  34. Wow - what a cool idea! I'm gonna have to try one of these!

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  35. I love this idea and have had it bookmarked for a couple of weeks. I purchased a crate at IKEA while traveling just for this purpose. Thank you SO MUCH for the recommendation! :)

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  36. Amy thanks for posting a link on my blog! This is so helpful! I think I'll head out this afternoon to pick up one of those cliplights...I have a few different boxes I can use for this.Thanks so much for sharing your tips with us!!!

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  37. do you think poster board would work?

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  38. Anonymous7:02 AM

    Amy, great idea! I'm going to make one of these this weekend! I always have trouble finding a place to photograph my cards and really didn't want to purchase a light tent!

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  39. What a wonderful idea, thanks for sharing!!!

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  40. this is such a fab idea Amy. I am new to all this crafting and blogging and all the little tips are so great !
    Thanks fro sharing. I'm off to find a crate sale!

    oh and a decent camera!

    hugs
    Julie

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  41. this is great, Amy! I can save a lot of $ since I was wanting to get a light box. what is tag board, though and where do you get it??

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