Guide to DIY soft box and light stands

The other day I was sitting at my computer poring over other photographers pictures on Flickr when I thought to myself, ‘you know what Michael, you want to start doing some more serious photography and to do that you’re going to need some more serious lighting.’  I pulled up my trusty bookmarks, selected B&H, and began my search.  The results, while not too shocking, definitely put the brakes on some of the ideas I had brewing in my skull.  Then I had another idea and began another search, this time on YouTube.

In the end for about $60 I put together a pair of soft boxes and stands that would have cost at least $200 if bought at a store.  Admittedly PVC and Styrofoam isn’t the most classy of materials and some clients might give you a strange look (or two) but it gets the job done.

Remember, it’s not the tools, it’s the photographer.  Better tools help make better pictures but at the core of everything still lies you, the one behind the camera.

I used a combination of two different videos to create the soft boxes and light stands, taking the best from both of them and doing my own modifications.  The video for the soft box was here and the video for the light stand was here.  Both excellent examples of DIY with awesome explanations.

The materials you’ll need to put together these soft boxes and lights are pretty simple:

2 x 10ft sections of 1 inch PVC pipe

8 x 1 inch PVC t-joints

4 x 1 inch PVC pipe connectors

1 x Epoxy for plastic

4 x 100watt daylight type light bulbs

4 x light bulb to outlet plugs

2 x small surge protectors

2 or 3 sheets of black construction paper

2 x Styrofoam coolers

The tools you’ll need are also pretty simple:

Hacksaw (for cutting PVC)

Clamp (for cutting PVC)

Glue gun + glue (for gluing surge protector and construction paper)

Marker (for marking PVC to cut)

Tape measure (for measuring PVC)

Scissors (for cutting construction paper)

Sharp knife (for cutting Styrofoam)

So, with all of that in your possession its time to go through the steps to put those lights together.

Part 1: Light stand

1. Cut PVC into 6, 12 inch sections.  These pieces are for the stand.  You can adjust this length up or down depending on how wide and sturdy you want your base stand to be.
2. Cut 1, 3 inch section of PVC.  This piece will be the connection between the stand and the pole holding the light(s).
3. Cut the remaining section into two pieces.  These pieces will make up the pole that holds your light(s).  I made one piece longer then the other so I could put the lights at variable heights.
4. Assemble those 6 pieces of PVC cut to 12 inches using 3 of the T-connectors so that they look like the picture below.
5. Place 3 inch cut piece of PVC in T-connector that is facing upwards so you can attach the light pole later.
6. Take the remaining pieces of cut PVC (should be 2), and attach the PVC pipe connectors to them.

Part 2: Soft box

1. Take Styrofoam cooler and find the center line of the bottom using a tape measure.  Place the surge protector along that center line and trace it with a marker.  Remember to have the power cable for the surge protector pointed towards what you want to be the bottom side of the box.
2. Use a sharp knife to cut along the line you just made until you have cut out the shape of the surge protector.
3. Gently place the surge protector into the hole you just cut trimming the edges as necessary to assure a snug fit.
4. Use a hot glue gun to secure the surge protector in the hole you have cut.  Apply glue to both the inside and outside seam for the best results.
5. Allow glue to dry.
6. Prepare Epoxy for application.  It is not necessary to use the whole bottle for one light, half should be enough.
7. On one side of the T-joint apply epoxy.  It is not necessary to put Epoxy on the bottom of the section that is perpendicular to the other two openings.  Instead, focus on the long side of the T-joint.
8. Place the T-joint with the Epoxy coated side down on the surge protect near the top.  Make sure the T-joint is straight.  Also, on the second soft box remember to place the T-joint in a fashion so that at a later date if you so wish you can put both lights on one stand.  Like this:  Light 1: ||- -|| :Light 2
9. Lather remaining Epoxy to make bond between the T-joint and surge protector stronger.  Do not get Epoxy into any of the holes.
10. Allow the Epoxy to cure overnight (or whatever package says).

Note: The picture of the back of the soft box shows a PVC pipe coming from the bottom of the T-joint.  The pipe is not Epoxied on to the surge protector.  Only the T-joint is permanently affixed to the surge protector. The pipe was inserted in to the T-joint after the Epoxy had cured.

Part 3: Finishing touches

1. Cut black construction paper to size in order to cover bottom, top and sides of soft boxes to prevent ambient and untargeted light from escaping.  If you are really ambitious and have paper left over you can do the backs as well.
2. Use glue gun to attach cut pieces of black construction paper to soft lights.
3. Allow glue to dry.
4. Screw light bulbs into socket to plug connectors and plug 2 lights into each surge protector.  Do not plug lights in in a way that allows the bulbs to touch.
5. If plug feels loose and light moves around I recommend using glue gun to secure socket.  If you need to go down to one light in a box you can still unscrew the bulb.  Never use the glue gun on the surge protector when the surge protector is plugged in…
6. Attach soft boxes to assembled light stands.
7. Stand back and admire your handiwork.

A cool this about these boxes are that you can adjust the height to whatever just using custom cut pieces of PVC.  You can also make the lights horizontal or vertical with the T-joint, change the bulbs to whatever color/strength you want, and change the character of the light by using different covers pinned over front of the lights.

At the beginning I said you can make these soft boxes and light stands for around $60, but depending on the season (Styrofoam coolers are expensive in winter) and how clumsy you are (I dropped a light bulb during the construction) you can probably shave things down to $45.  Not bad for some awesome lighting, right?

I was amazed at what you can build for yourself and how easy it is to do.  All it took was a little motivation, knowing where to look, and patience.  If you want to know how to do something there’s bound to be a video on YouTube or a guide on Google.

Next project: a backdrop for portraits.

Yeah PVC!

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

Related posts:

1. Basic photo tips: Catching that awesome light
2. Out of the darkness a spot of light
3. First try at head shots