Simple Soft Lighting At Home On a Budget
/I’m often asked how to get really nice soft light while photographing in the home without needing a ton of space or hundreds of dollars in gear. In this article, I am going to give you a couple of options that are very inexpensive, and that anyone can use to get really nice soft light for photography.
We know that we get soft light by using a large source close to the subject. Thus our goal is to be able to create this source quickly and with a minimum of fuss. To do this we have two options. The first is to use ambient light through a window, and the second is to use the flash that you likely already own off camera.
The Window Option
To make this large soft source, you need three things;
A window that allows light in that you can get reasonably close to
A white shower curtain liner, about $5
Some gaffer tape, a large roll will last a while about $25
A pair of scissors that you already own
A tape measure or other measuring tool (optional)
White foamcore (optional) about $5
This one is really scary easy.
Take your white shower curtain liner and using some gaffer tape, attach one corner to one of the upper window corners just outside the window frame. Gaffer tape is ideal because it will hold the liner, but not remove paint or wallpaper when you take the curtain down.
Now gently extend the liner to the other upper corner and tape it in place.
Go back to the lower corner of the side where you started and tape the liner there.
Using your scissors, cut the excess off the bottom of the liner. Once this is done, use your scissors to cut the excess off the side that extends past the window frame. You now have a piece of white liner sized to fit your window. If you wanted to be particular you could have measured the window and then precut the liner to fit, hence the optional measuring tape.
Move your subject as close to the window as you can and voila a large soft beautiful source! If you feel the need to fill in the shadows a piece of white foamcore from the dollar store can be propped up opposite the window, keeping it as close to the subject as you can. You can use exposure compensation to lighten or darken the final image to taste.
The Flash Option
This one costs a little more money, but is not dependent on window light and is more portable and still delivers nice soft light as from a medium softbox.. Moreover the flash triggers and stands have a multitude of other applications.
Here’s what you will need
A cheap poster frame from the dollar store or wherever, usually 24” x 36” in a frame. Most times this is very light aluminum and that is easiest, between $10 and $20
A white shower curtain liner, about $5
Some gaffer tape, a large roll will last a while about $25
A pair of scissors that you already own
White foamcore (optional) about $5
Small flash stand, likely came with your flash
A kit of Godox TTL radio transmitter and receiver , about $100, useful for all off camera flash needs
Light stand with cold shoe mount (optional) about $60
Light stand with boom (optional) about $100
Lay the white liner over the frame. Cut it to size with the scissors. Tape the sized piece of liner to the edges of the frame. Prop the frame up or using gaffer tape, hang it from the boom on the light stand with the liner side on the same side as the flash will be. As a side note, a light stand with a boom is the most useful of all light stands. You are not hanging massive weight so there is no need for a C Stand complete, so one of the off brand boom stands is more than sufficient. Of course if you use flash or continuous lights already, you may already have one.
Move the frame as close to the subject as you can. Place the flash on its own stand (which may be able to screw onto the 1/4-20 fitting on any light stand itself if needed or worst case put it in a cold shoe mount on any light stand and place it behind the liner frame. Adjust the flash width to its widest setting and move the flash close enough so the coverage is that of the frame and no more. Now you have an evenly lit large source.
Set your camera for the depth of field you want, your desired flash sync shutter speed and ISO and take a test shot with the flash system in TTL mode. Use flash exposure compensation to make the light more intense or less so to suit your taste.
If you want some fill, prop a piece of white foamcore opposite your liner frame and move it close to the subject.
Cleaning Up
In either case, everything folds or collapses down to limited space demands. I keep these frames leaning against a wall for convenience but know lots of people with limited space who just store them behind a couch or in a closet. There’s nothing permanent about any of this stuff, so it is easy to set up and easy to tear down.
That’s It
There you have it folks, simple soft lighting at home on a budget. The flash option costs more but offers much more versatility. However if you are one of those folks who choose not to learn and use flash, the window option works a charm.
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I'm Ross Chevalier, thanks for reading, watching and listening and until next time, peace.
