DIY - Portable Mini Photo Studio

For publish my project on instructables, I need to take lots of photos and needed a handy place to quickly take the step-by-step project shots that has a plain background and lots of light. I always work in my bedroom, that have a minimal lighting and just a have a little space. When I took photos of projects that I made, especially for electronic project that have a lot of small components – there was always a distracting background and became blur because of the lighting. So I think, it will really helpful if I have my own photo studio.

There are Mini Photo Studio tent and lighting kit that you can buy from eBay or other online shop, it is compact, portable and easy to set up, Mini Kit Photo Photography Studio . But the price are not friendly for me. So I could make that, from cheap materials and it cost me just about $1.



OK, let's get started!!

Step 1: Parts and Tools

So, here is all you will need :

(1) Carton Box (the size is up to you)
(6) LED 5mm Super Bright (White)
(6) Resistors 100 Ohm
(1) DIP switch 8 pin
(1) 16 Pin DIP IC Socket (optional)
(1) PCB Matriks / Perfboard
(1) Batteries 9V
(1) Battery box with on-off switch
- Jumper Wire
- A lot of white paper
- Breadboard (optional)
- Shrink tubing (optional)

Tools:
- Soldering iron
- Solder
- Scissors
- Cutter Pen
- PVAc Glue
- Duct tape

Step 2: Making the Circuit on Breadboard

Let's build it on breadboard first. First, lets put the components on a breadboard so we could see how it worked and how to fit it onto the perfboard. The circuit diagram was made with Fritzing.

Step 1
Put the LEDs on breadboard. Add 100 Ohm resistor and put it inline with the cathode (-) to the top section of the breadboard. It will be connect to the ground.

Step 2
Connect the anode (+) to the pin of DIP switch. And other lead of the DIP switch pin connect to positive (9V). You can turn ON/OFF the LED as you want.

Test everything out and make sure that you're circuit is going to work before you start soldering.

Step 3: Build the Studio

Let's build the studio first, before we attach the circuit onto it.

Step 1
Use a duct tape to make a sturdy box. (see image 1)

Step 2
Cut the front side of the box. (see image 2)
And cut some piece of it. It will be an additional to put the LEDs. (see image 3)

Step 3
Take a lot of white paper and paste them onto the carton box with the help of glue. (see image 4)

Step 4
You can repeat step 3 to get the better result.

Step 4: Move to Perfboard

Step 1
Cut the perfboard about 7 cm x 4 cm.

Step 2
Arrange the component, I usually place all components in before starting to solder. But if you want to do soldering one by one,  you can mark on the perfboard which legs of your component will be placed.

Step 3
Arrange the resistors. Put the 16 pin sockets IC. (it's optional, you can just solder the DIP switch without the sockets) (see image 1)

Step 4
Solder the resistors. (see image 2)

Step 5
Solder anode and cathode of LED with jumper wire and shrink tubing is essential to prevent shorting. Make 6 of these. (see image 3)

Step 5: Complete the Circuit on Perfboard

Step 1
Solder all the wire from cathode (-) of LED with resistors. Using shrink tubing is essential to prevent shorting. (see image 1)

Step 2
Solder all the wire from anode (+) of LED with pin of DIP switch or socket IC. (see image 2 & 3)

Step 6: The Power!!

Step 1
Put together the other lead of resistor, to be connected to ground. (see image 1)

Step 2
Put together the other lead of DIP switch / socket IC, to be connected to positive (9v). (see image 2)

Step 3
Solder two wires for power. (see image 3)

Step 7: Put Them All Together

Step 1
Put them all together. And let's check with 9V battery. (see image 1&2)

Step 2
Put the circuit onto the box. Draw the position of LEDs with marker. (see image 3)

Step 3
Make a hole in the box. Make sure the LEDs can in and out easily.

Step 8: Finishing!!

Step 1
Cover the outside of the box with white paper too. (see image 1)

Step 2
Make an additional cardboard that you can pull and push. (see image 2, 3 & 4)

Step 3
Put the circuit onto the box. (see image 6)

Step 4
Try to pull the additional card for LEDs . Just make sure it works. (see image 7)

Step 9: Let's Take the Photo!

You can see the difference of my photo before-after using mini photo studio.



Now you have your own Portable Mini Photo Studio. It's quite easy to make and very cheap.

Have fun :D


Greetings from Indonesia!!