Photography can be an expensive pursuit—or not, depending on how you look at things and how resourceful you are. If you love ordering things from the comfort of your home and want things to be perfect, this is not for you. But if you love to tweak things a bit and save a handsome amount of money in the process, this list is a treasure trove of ideas. From soft boxes to backdrops to a portable laptop hood, this two and a half minute video from Shootr has six cheap photo hacks all made from IKEA products:
1. Schottis
Schottis
Make a softbox with this paper pleated shade. It takes just a few seconds to set up and works absolutely fine.
Image captured using a Schottis
2. Glasholm
Glasholm
This black glass table makes for a beautiful effect. It’s excellent for shooting beverage bottles and other table-top photo assignments, especially with a low-key effect.
Shot using a ‘Glasholm’
3. Snudda
The Snudda provides a lazy Susan to improve your food videos. It works like a charm (read: turntable). Just spin it gently whilst recording food videos and the value it adds to your production goes way beyond the money you spent (which is negligible).
Snudda, a manual ‘turntable’
4. Blanda Blank
This serving bowl is cut to size for use as a beauty dish. It’s cheap, extremely effective, and durable, though takes a bit of work to get it right by the looks of it. A Blanda Blank is probably the best beauty dish you’ll ever have. The best thing is it’s made to order.
Blanda Blank
5. Tupplur
The Tupplur ia a block-out roller that you can use as a background. It’s perfect for grey or black backgrounds for your studio portraits.
A ‘Tupplur’ being set up
6. Drona
Try a laptop hood made out of a storage box. The Dröna, spelled almost like the mythical Indian hero Drona, is simple, effective and a real life saver when reviewing images in high resolution under the glaring sun.
Dröna
So which one of these hacks do you like the most? Which one will you try out first?
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Great article on the Ikea hacks. Just wondering what the circular black plastic mount is made from/or purchased. Thanks