My DIY Shooting Table.
This right here is my attempt at completely illuminating my small product photography shooting table all around in an even fashion. This particular table is a small version available at Calumet Photo, the lights and stands are also from Calumet. The rest of it are parts and pieces from around my studio. Materials: Old clothing rack, 2x4, clamps and some screws.
What I wanted to do was to completely suspend the shooting surface in the air and light it from underneath. But when I realized that wasn't possible, I asked myself; Can I raise this surface high enough from the ground so that I can fit a light underneath it? Then I remember I had an old broken clothing rack that I had saved, along with some 2x4's. I got my tools and got to work. Most of the work was done for me by the clothing rack, all I had to do was fashion some legs out of the 2x4s figure out how to attach them in with the screws, and voila! The whole thing was sturdy enough to hold a 10lb mono light and the table that I think weighs about 10lbs also. I placed the shooting table on top, hung a light directly underneath it and the rest was a matter of styling the products and moving and adjusting the light till I got it completely right. After controlling a few variables, and adjusting my lights I was able to show some results.
The rest of it was just cleaning things up in photoshop and the image was ready to go.
Now will I use this table again? I don't think so, it's not sustainable over time as it is and I think it would cost less to buy a larger shooting table than it is to customize this little one. I sure did have a lot of fun putting it together and I believe the photos came out great!
