My Collapsible Lightbox

ByDiana Hansen Posted on Updated on

I’ve seen a lot of posts over the past few months showing people’s homemade lightboxes. I created my own collapsible version about 5 months ago but I took it down for the holidays. I recently took it out for these posts. It’s not pretty, but it was really inexpensive to make. Less than $10! When I researched lightboxes online the reviews were critical of the lights. I modeled mine off of this one and this one. I love how mine collapses. It is portable and stores flat.

DIY inexensive light box
DIY cheap light box


I got the foam core board from a local eco-art recycling shop, hence the print on the outside. I used parchment paper for diffusion. I used (knock off) velcro strips to hold it all together. I could not find my original velcro strips when I went to put it up again so I had to cut new ones. I didn’t have much velcro on hand so they are very small pieces.

easy photography light box

I purchased some daylight bulbs to use in some clip on lamps.

daylight bulbs light box

Here it is collapsed. I store it on top of a cabinet out of the way.

collapsable portable light box

I haven’t spent a lot of time experimenting with it yet. I wish it were a little wider. It’s pretty deep. I wish it was as wide as it is deep. I was limited to size based on the scrap foam core I used. I spent $8 on the light bulbs and $1.50 on the foam core. I had the rest on hand.

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53 Comments

  1. I'm so glad you shared this! I need one of these, and I keep looking at the ready made ones on eBay and thinking I can so make this cheaper, lol. I'm definitely going to try this in the next week.

  5. Oh!! LOVE IT DIANA!! What a great idea to make one that will store easily! GENIUS!!

    Thanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer… From Dream To Reality! I'm looking forward to seeing your next creation tomorrow evening! 🙂

  15. I seriously need to make one of these… thanks for the great links! And I love that yours is collapsible!

    -Peggy

  21. That is great for $10! And I love that it collapses! Great job! Thanks so much for partying with us at Time to Sparkle Tuesday : )

    xoxo Liz

  23. I've been wanting a lightbox but have no where to store it…then I saw this! Awesome Diana! Pinned! Thanks for sharing this at the You're Gonna Love It party this week. I have also featured it on my Facebook page 🙂

  24. This looks very nice and useful I made a home photo studio myself but I didn't thought about the lightbox. It's cool and easy, I might add this to my studio, great idea!!! Thank you so much.

    Xoxo
    Cami @ Titicrafty blogspot
    Saw you on Motivate me mondays

  26. This is a great idea, I am constantly agonizing over how to photograph my projects – I would love to see an example of a picture that you took of something inside your light box! Thanks for linking up at Sweet Treats & Swanky Stuff.

  30. Great idea, Diana! I made a light box a few months ago but it isn't collapsible. I need to make one like yours. Pinned for future reference!

  31. This is so great. First I pinned so I didn't forget and now I have to tell you this is AWESOME. I want a light box but don't have the space to keep it up (and I have little hands that will get into it). Thank you for sharing.

  32. I just made one of these myself out of a cardboard box. It doen't collapse so I'm going to take a look at your construction. Light, I'm finding, is so important to good pictures! Thanks for sharing this. Linda

  34. Hi Diana, just tweeted this to my daughter who also has her own lightbox! Most often she takes the photos I use for my blogs 🙂 I also found your story about the Rambles surname VERY funny!!!!

  39. I love this post! Thanks for sharing! I have a store bought light box but I don't like how deep it is since it is hard to get in there with the camera and the lights that came with it don't work well for food. They are great for objects but make food look shiny. I have to try the clip on lamps. I think that is genius! Also, often if there is a lot of sun I still need to put a white piece of paper in mine to filter the light more. I think your box would work a lot better – and for sure is so much more price effective. Great post!

  41. This is a great idea! I have been looking to create my own lightbox for taking photos of my cards and scrapbook pages and love the idea of something that can be stored when not in use. TFS.

  42. Thanks for sharing! I'm looking into the as an option until I can get a better camera. I'm just concerned about it being too small for a lot of projects. I guess I need to give it a go and see what's what! I pinned it.
    ~ Megin of VMG206

  43. I always used a small lightbox, but have since made one twice the size, it is not collapsible though .. at the moment it's {just about – permanent!} home is on the breakfast bar under 3 strong lights and then I use two side lights, when I remember 🙂 Think I'll change it to fold as well.

  45. Thank you so much for these tips! I started my food blog with the idea that my photos could be real snapshots and didn't have to be perfect. Then of course I wanted to make them a little better, and now I'm starting to look into light boxes and better cameras to make them much better. I have wondered where on Earth I would keep all this stuff, so a folding light box would be perfect.

  48. I have been researching light boxes the last two weeks and I love this one. I just so happened to see your link on the Freedom Fridays Blog Hop and I am so glad that I did! Thank you so much for sharing this and I love that it folds up for easy storage. I am your newest follower 🙂

    Justina @ http://justinawho.blogspot.com/

  49. Well I'm gonna pin it. I need something like that for Hairbows & things. I don't know where I'd store a really big one- even if its collapsible- but I'm gathering ideas! Thanks for sharing, & the links- helps me a lot.

  50. Great folding light box! Can't beat the price. I spent $38 just on the lighting. Most expensive part if you don't have some on hand to spare. Still worth the investment, since I will be able to reuse all the materials I bought. Thanks for sharing! The Velcro steps was a great idea.

  51. I don't have a light box, but have seen where so many people use them for amazing photos. I haven't wanted to invest lots of money in one, but this is a great idea for a frugal one! Thanks, Diana!

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