DIY Product Photography | Independent Study
My studio was built from a medium-sized cardboard box, parchment paper, and a few basic tools, with two Home Depot work lights serving as my only light source. To improve upon the original assignment, I swapped the standard black-and-white backgrounds for a variety of colored backdrops, giving each product its own personality while creating a more polished and cohesive final series.
This project started as a product photography assignment for one of my classes, but I later expanded on it as part of an independent study. The goal was to see how far I could push the idea of creating professional-looking product images using an inexpensive, DIY studio setup instead of traditional studio equipment.
For the products themselves, I intentionally kept costs low by using affordable items or things I already had around the house, from kitchen essentials to items in my closet. This allowed me to focus on what mattered most: lighting, composition, styling, and creating images that looked far more expensive than the setup behind them.
Throughout the project, I also captured behind-the-scenes photos and videos to document the process. I enjoy showing not only the finished images, but also the creative problem-solving that goes into making them. These behind-the-scenes moments highlight how a simple DIY setup can produce professional-quality results with the right techniques and attention to detail.
After photographing several different product sets, I carefully selected a final series of ten images that best represented the project. That collection was printed and displayed at Central Arizona College's Coolidge campus from Fall 2022 through Spring 2023, where it remained on exhibit for approximately six months.
