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Ever want to go behind the scenes of Briana-Thomas.com? Now’s your chance. Here it is: the good, the bad, and the downright strange. This is my very simple, very cheap photo studio. Is it different than you expected? Let me know in the comment section!
I decided to create this post as a sister post to go along with my photography tips post in my Blogging Success Series. Be sure to check that one out as well.
I guess this post is just to prove that you don’t have to have unlimited resources to take pictures. You can take good pictures very simply! I’m not sure whether I should call my pictures good or not, but I’m happy with the progress I’ve made since I started this blog a year and a half ago. I hope I’ll continue to improve, and I’m definitely working in that direction. So without further adieu, let me give you a tour.
I only started using this setup in the past few months. Before this, I kept my foam boards in the corner of our dining room and used the dining room table as a photo studio whenever I needed to photograph something (sometimes to my mother’s dismay). See, we live in the woods, and there really aren’t that many windows that actually get a lot of sunlight. Recently I decided that I was tired of always setting up my studio and wanted something more permanent, so I moved my operation downstairs to our unfinished basement. There’s a window there that is kind of off by itself in a storage room, and it gets fairly decent sunlight, especially in the afternoons.
My props are kind of strewn hither and yon and many different places. There is a method to the madness, I assure you. Even though I do have obsessive compulsive disorder, I’m not really an organization freak. I do like things to be in their places, and everything does have a place, but that place may not make sense to anyone other than me. On the top of the bookshelf below, you see my collection of scrapbook paper that I use for backgrounds and placemats. Also pictured are my awesome reindeer mug, one of my favorite soup bowls, and some of my old textbooks (no, those are not props, but I’m out of room on the bookshelf in my bedroom):
On a table, I have stacks of random dishes. Most of these are thrift store finds. In the plastic bags are some ingredients that will eventually find their way into recipes. Oh, check out the silver julep cup in the bottom right corner. I just found that at a thrift store and I was so excited because I’ve always wanted one of those cups. Even though I don’t drink alcohol. I think they’re so pretty, and I’m pretty sure this one is going to be holding ice cream at some point in time.
One of my favorite pink dishes, and some colored straws from Marshall’s or T J Maxx (two of my favorite stores):
An old beat up colander that I have actually never used in a photoshoot…but it does an admirable job of holding all my trinkets. Like my beat-up ice cream scoop. Love that thing.
I love cute bowls.
Now here is the actual photo setup (pardon the picture quality; these shots were snapped in a hurry at some point before I left to go to OH for the summer. I had this vague idea in my mind that I was going to do a post on my photo setup. Well, that idea has now come to fruition, and I now see that I could’ve spent more time on these pictures, especially considering that this post is about photography. But I’m currently living 600 miles north of my home in South Carolina, so I guess this is what you get). There you see the window, and a table in front of the window, and my foamboards stacked at precarious angles so as to reflect light and serve as backgrounds. You also see my two flexible lamps (both thrift store finds) with their daylight LED bulbs from Lowe’s. I use those if I’m desperate enough to shoot at night.
Tinfoil makes wonderful cheap reflectors. Just wrap it around cardboard or foam board and use it to direct light where you want it to go. This helps brighten your pictures and take out deep shadows. Pictured here is a milkshake that you will eventually be getting the recipe for.
It’s as simple (and disorganized) as that, folks! Think you can become a food blogger? If I can, you certainly can!
Dirinda Westfall Lacen says
I had a colander like that when I first got married. I used it until it fell apart and just bought a new one last year.
Amber G says
This was really fascinating.I’ve always been curious what all goes into getting the perfect shot. Thx for taking the time for show and tell 🙂
Sophia @ Pray. Work. Eat. says
Goodness, I needed this. You are awesome girl. Your dish collection is amazing! 🙂 I’m still adding to mine… lol I’ve found a few things at some yard sales, but I plan on going to a thrift store to look for some more items.
Bri says
This was a fun post! I love seeing/hearing “behind the scenes” of a blog :)!