When showcasing products on an online store or social media, capturing their photos at the correct angle makes all the difference. That’s where the photo light boxes with portable setups come into play and reduce the harsh shadows to make sure your product pictures are clear and detailed while you take them. In this article, we’ll explore the 10 best options, their features, pros, and cons so you can select the right one for your DIY product photography.
Are Light Boxes Good for Product Photography?
Light boxes work very well for DIY photography to highlight details of the products without distracting reflections or shadows.
Consistent Lighting
Natural lighting changes all day, which decreases the quality of the photos you capture. The best thing about a light box is the consistency it offers. It provides steady, diffused light to make sure the outcome is astounding, regardless of the time of day.
Ease of Use
If you are a beginner, a photo light box is incredibly user-friendly for DIY. You can set it up quickly, usually without the need for any other equipment, as lights are often included. Most of the time, you can simply place your product inside, turn on the lights, and start shooting!
Versatility
Photo light boxes are not just for e-commerce; they’re also perfect for adapting to different subjects and styles for creative projects, like capturing handmade crafts, food photography, or even pet products, and they come in a wide variety of sizes.
Top Photo Light Boxes for DIY Product Photography in 2024
It’s 2024, and DIY product photography is at an all-time high for small businesses. While some larger scale projects might require, or at least benefit from hiring a professional service, many projects can run on a low budget to make room for more profit. Even if you don’t own professional camera gear, you probably have a smart phone, which provides a decent quality camera and access to photo editing apps. As a small business owner, it makes sense to invest a small amount of money in a good quality photo light box that will help you take clear and detailed pictures of your products to stand out in the online marketplace.
To help you with this, we’ve listed our 10 best choices below, separated into small, medium, and large sizes:
Small Photo Light Boxes for DIY Product Photography
1. PULUZ Mini Photo Studio Light Box
You’re not going to find a lot of bells and whistles with the PULUZ mini photo studio light box, but considering the size and price, as well as the box’s basic functionality, you’ll still find value, especially if you snage one on sale. With its built-in 96-piece LED light beads, this tiny box provides big enough light for capturing small products, including everything from jewelry and toys to other small objects. You can set it up in seconds and quickly switch out the available backdrops to suit your needs.
Features:
- 10″ x 10″ light box with a foldable design
- 6 double-sided color backgrounds (12 colors total)
- Top-side and front-side shooting angles
- Light diffuser
- Carry bag
Pros:
- Excellent value for the price
- Quick assembly
- Ideal size for small products
Cons:
- Limited space for larger products
Find the PULUZ Mini Photo Studio Light Box here.
2. DUCLUS Mini Photo Studio Box
DUCLUS offers a range of lighting kits and softboxes for product photographers, and their 12×12 Photo Studio Box Light Box provides a solid option for photographing small to medium-sized products like jewelry, toys, food, and more. This particular kit will give you flexibility with light power and colors, with 10 brightness levels and a color range from 6500K white light to soft light or a tungsten-style 3200K warm light. The latter option will come in handy if you go back and forth between shooting indoors and outdoors, day or night.
Features:
- 88 SMD LEDs and a ring light strip
- Adjustable brightness from 0% to 100%
- Stepless dimming USB cable
Pros:
- Small foldable design
- USB port for easy connection on the go
- 6 color backdrops for photography
- 1 carry bag
- Two openings for multi-angle images (top and front)
Cons:
- The structure is a bit flimsy
Find the DUCLUS Mini Photo Studio Box here. Other sizing options are available
3. Glendan Portable Photo Studio Light Box
If you are on a budget and only need to photograph smaller products like jewelry, kid shoes, watches, and other items, then the Glenden Portable Photo Studio Light Box might be the one you want to try. The compact 12 x 12 inch size and the lightweight of 2.2 Pounds make this box highly portable and a breeze to set up and use.
Features:
- High CRI of 95+ and no strobe
- Light diffuser and special inner reflection board
- 64 pcs of high-quality LED lights
- 3200k to 6500k color temperature
Pros:
- Thick PVC backdrops in six colors
- Multiple-angle shooting design
- 5 seconds assembly and set up process
Cons:
- Some have reported a switch failure after a brief use
- Less durable PVC material
Find the Glendan Portable Photo Studio Light Box here. Other sizes are also available.
Medium Photo Light Boxes for DIY Product Photography
4. Neewer Photo Light Box
Need to snap some killer product photos but don’t have a studio? Look no further than the Neewer Photo Light Box. This handy little gadget turns your tabletop into a professional-looking photo studio. The Neewer Photo Light Box comes in various sizes, but the most popular is around 24 x 24 inches square, and it won’t take up much space in your home.
Features:
- Built-in LED lights for soft, even illumination
- 4 different colored backgrounds to match your product’s vibe
- Control the intensity of the lights to get the perfect lighting for your shots
Pros:
- Waterproof design
- Set up is a breeze
- Foldable
- Perfect for jewelry, electronics, and more
Cons:
- Requires additional lighting for more complex shots
Find the Neewer Photo Light Box here.
5. LimoStudio 24-Inch Light Box
No matter you’re into product photography for an online store, social media, or just enjoy capturing crisp, detailed shots of your collection, the LimoStudio 24-inch Light Box is an excellent choice for smaller items. Its dimensions are 24 x 24 inches, and it includes a plethora of tools, including a mini tripod for your camera, to help set you up for success. Please note that some of the products pictured in the boxes are not actual size, so it’s important to pay attention to the dimensions.
Features:
- 24″ x 24″ Light Box
- 120 LED Bar
- Elastic Length Adjustable String Clip
- Poly Sticky Clay Sheet
- Steady Mini Tripod (7″)
- White/Black/Sky Blue/Light Orange PVC Background
- White Diffuser Cover
- 10 Adhesive Velcro Strips
- AC110-220V Power Adapter
- Product Instruction
Pros:
- Portable set up
- LED lights with adjustable brightness levels
- Quick to assemble and use
- Professional results at a low cost
Cons:
- Tripod is basic and low quality compared to one you’d buy for other purposes
- More light power may be required (from separate lights that you’ll need to add) and the light placement in the box is not the greatest
Find the LimoStudio 24-Inch Light Box here.
6. Foldio3 Portable Product Photo Studio Light Box (With Halo Bars)
In DIY photography, you always want your products to look sharp, serve you well, and operate without haveing to use extra equipment. The triple LED lighting system of Foldio3 Studio Light Box gives you just that with a uniquely designed and well-lit environment. This photo studio light box measures 25 x 25 x 22 inches and weighs 3.7 pounds, which you can quickly fold up into a briefcase with a carrying handle. While a smaller size is also available, the 25″ model works well to cover a wide range of products, many of which we’ve discussed for similarly sized boxes.
Features:
- Bluetooth turntable for capturing 360-degree images
- Magnetic halo bar as an add-on to create different lighting effects
- 96 LED 5700K chips with over 95+ color render index
Pros:
- Magnetic structure for 5-10 second setup
- Black and white background sheets
- Dimming lights with a controller
Cons:
- Hopefully, you won’t need it, but some have reported receiving terrible customer service when issues arise
Find the Foldio3 Portable Product Photo Studio Light Box (With Halo Bars) here. Also available with different lighting and accessory options.
7. Amazon Basics Portable Photo Studio
The Amazon Basics Foldable Photo Studio Box is a game-changer for a quick, easy, and professional DIY setup for product photography. At around 14 pounds, it’s designed to be portable, with a pop-up feature that gets you ready to shoot in seconds. The studio box measures 25 x 30 x 25 inches, making it spacious enough for medium to large items, such as electronics, shoes, or even home decor.
Features:
- Built-in white backdrop
- 5600K high output daylight-balanced LED lighting
- Front and top camera angles
Pros:
- Foldable design for portability
- Pops open in seconds
- Large enough for bigger items
- Top hole for overhead photography
Cons:
- More expensive
- Only comes with a white backdrop
- Wrinkles easily
Find the Amazon Basics Portable Photo Studio here.
Large Photo Light Boxes for DIY Product Photography
8. Travor Photo Box
Featuring a user-friendly velcro design and weight of just under 10 pounds, the Travor Photo Box Studio Light Box is your trusted travel buddy to capture product photos on the go. Measuring 32 x 32 x 32 inches, this photo box has enough space inside to take photos of bigger products like toys, cosmetics, or even cakes. Furthermore, with its adjustable LEDs, you can quickly change the angle of light bars and brightness to get the shot you need for your products.
Features:
- Diffuses light with a silver film reflective fabric
- Super bright 126 pcs LED light beads with 13000LM
- 95+ high color rendering index (CRI)
Pros:
- Multi-angle shooting
- 4 backdrops in white, black, red, and blue colors
- Foldable design
Cons:
- Some users report that the zipper quality is bad and breaks too quickly
Find the Travor Photo Box here. Like many other options on this list, other sizes are available to suit your particular needs.
9. Fositan Photo Box
The Fositan M90 Photo Box is like a small to medium-sized portable studio that comes packed with a number of features to help you capture better product photography. For instance, it has double 126 pieces of LED light beads with 12000-13000LM that gives you nice, even lighting. Weighing in at round 16-17 Pounds, the Fositan Photo Box dimensions are 35 x 35 x35 inches, which is big enough for most items you’d want to photograph, like shoes or small gadgets.
Features:
- Stepless dimming LED lights from 0%-100%
- 360-degree rotatable LED lighting boards
- Up to 5500k color temperature
- Light diffuser to spread or soften harsh lighting
Pros:
- Easy installation and four-angle photo shooting
- Foldable design with a carry bag
- Blue, orange, black, and white backdrops
Cons:
- Not durable enough
- The background falls quite often
Find the Fositan Photo Box here.
10. Sedgewin Photo Light Box Photography Studio
This photo light box from Sedgewin falls on the larger side and is a must if you are looking to capture big products like furniture, models, or props. The eight-light LED panels provide excellent brightness, and different background options (black, blue, and white) are great for creative experimentation. With dimensions of 47 x 39 x 78 inches and a weight of 36.5 pounds, this photo light box bigger and heavier than many others on this list, but it is still quite easy to transport and set up in different locations thanks to its convenient carry bag, simple design, and velcro fasteners.
Features:
- 8 movable light boards, each with 96 LED light beads
- Photo lights feature 5500K standard color temperature
- Stainless steel frame
- Silver reflective particle cloth on the interior
- 3 shooting angles (left, front, and right) with removable sides
- 3 anti-wrinkle backdrops
Pros:
- Durable steel structure and tear-resistant Oxford cloth
- Dimmable bright LEDs
- Easy assembly process
Cons:
- Some have reported that the LED lights stop working quickly
Find the Sedgewin Photo Light Box Photography Studio here.
What To Look for When Buying a Light Box?
Whenever you choose a light box, especially for DIY photography, you need to keep a few things in mind:
- Size: Most light boxes come in different dimensions, so consider the types of products you’ll be shooting, large or small, and then buy accordingly.
- Lighting Quality: Buy a light box with LED lights that provide even brightness. Some models have adjustable brightness, too, and that’s a huge plus. A Half-Lit Light box will do if you need to shoot your product in a dimly lit environment. Otherwise, a Full-Lit is the one worth your money.
- Backdrops: Many light boxes come with interchangeable backgrounds in various colors for different moods and aesthetics. So buy one with all the backdrops you need to drastically change the feel of your captured product.
- Portability: If you plan to take your light box some other place for DIY photography, purchase one that’s collapsible and weighs less.
How Do You Use Photo Light boxes Effectively?
To get the most out of your photo light box when doing product photography yourself, here are some simple tips:
- Don’t be afraid to move around and try different angles. A slight adjustment in position can significantly change the feel of the photo.
- Using a tripod helps stabilize your camera, preventing blurry images and allowing for longer exposures if needed.
- If your light box has adjustable brightness, experiment with different settings to see what works best for your products.
- Make sure the background is clean, i.e., free from wrinkles or distracting elements, so your products have a greater chance to shine and grab the attention of potential buyers.
- After shooting, use any photo editing software to adjust brightness, contrast, and saturation and make a world of difference.
Conclusion
Buying a quality photo light box can change your DIY product photography game. With so many options available in 2024, it’s easier than ever to find one that fits your needs and budget. All of the top choices in the list can get the job done with professional results.
