My First Home Studio Experience - DIY Is For You Too!

..................................................Tools Of The Trade................................................

Hi, Everyone...

As some of you may know, I have access to a full featured studo where I can record videos and take professional shots for products, promotions, reviews, etc.

This came about due to training I received right here, and although it was not affiliate related, the skills developed here are what allowed this to happen...

I did some consult work for a friend's media services company and as a payment in kind, I received access to the studio and resources.

This extra in-kind value was $100k and means that for the REALLY important things I have a way to get some videos or shots done that Governments and large companies here in the UAE are paying huge sums for...

But the thing is, you want to use that resource when it REALLY matters. There are many instances when what you can put together right at your home will do for images/videos.

Plus...

No need to buy expensive DSLR cameras, tripods, lighting kits, etc.either You really can do a lot of this stuff using a DIY (Do It Yourself) strategy..

Let me explain and show you what I mean...

Your Home Studio

if you look at guides that are out there, you will see a long list of things you need to have to get a home studio together. Prices run anywhere from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars.

That is a LOT of money, especially when starting out. You do not really even know what you need and what you should pay. It is not dissimilar to the affiliate marketing marketing segment, and we all know how many scams are out there (and how good this place is)...

What if I told you there was a cheaper way that will suffice and work well enough to start monetizing your images and videos PRIOR to buying all the really cool (and expensive) stuff?

Let's get started...

What Do You ABSOLUTELY Need?

Basically if you have a smartphone, a table, a white (or other contrasting color) sheet, a bit of wood or tubing of some sort, and a couple of bright lights, you have enough to get started!

Let me show you what the set up can look like:

.........................................................Ready For A Shoot...........................................

Second View...

..................................................Home Studio, aka Bar................................................

If you look at the pictures above, you can see that I put together a very simple home studio...You will also see that this is a bar! You can do this wherever you have room and light...

My investment? I spent altogether a little over $120 for a cheap green screen set from a local online shopping site (owned by Amazon), and in return, got the backdrop frame, 3 colors of backdrop (black, white, and green), the lights, and all the tripods...

As stated, if you have some wood or tubing, you can build something like this easily. Simply emulate what I have above, and then hang your sheets or other material as you see here.

Make sure that you use backdrop materials that will work for images (test to see which bedsheet works for you)...Some will not work as well (i.e. colors, material may not show well when taking your shots, etc.)

For lights, use whatever you have available, and to compensate, try shooting when there is more natural light, so shadows, wrinkles, etc. will be minimized. If you can set up with your natural light shining in on your shooting area, that will help.

Regarding a table, use whatever table you may have available in the house. In my case, I used our pool table (this thing has been SO useful over the years, hehe)...It worked perfectly.

I do recommend a tripod if you are shooting video, but the smartphones cameras today are really quite good enough to suffice starting out with no tripod for images. If you look at the simple (and cheap) tripod I use, you will note that there is a simple clamp holder for the smartphone...

Do you want to do 360 images?

How To Make 360 Images

First of all, you likely have seen websites with product images that you can click on and view the product from all sides (and often from top and bottom). How do they do that? Well if you have a ton of money, you go to a professional studio and pay BIG bucks.

Is there a cheaper way? You betcha...

Here is my advice:

Buy a 'Lazy Sue' revolving table (these are cheap and typically available at any kitchen product store or in a place like IKEA. Mine cost 25 aed (about $7) at IKEA.

A few other things you will need:

36 Large Paper Clips, 2 pieces of White Construction Paper, a Pencil, a table. a roll of double sided tape, your home-made backdrop frame (MAYBE), your lights, your tripod, and your lights...

Paper Clips:

Pencil:
.......................

Construction Paper:

No need for more images, add a bit of double-sided stucky tape and you are ready to go!

Here's How:

Put your first piece of white paper on the table, use the pencil to trace a circle using the Lazy Sue...Make sure the circle is about 4 to 6 cm larger than the circumfence of the Lazy Sue. Cut that circle out of the paper you traced it on and set it to the side.

Next, take the large paper clips and clip them one by one around the edge of the Lazy Sue. You need to place then as close as possible to one another. The handles of the clips you will not fold rather leave then as they are (so you can grip and use them as a handle).

Now take that circle of paper you cut out, and using the double sided tape, tape it to the Lazy Sue. Voila, you now have a means to make a 360 image of your product! Next set up the backdrop, the lights, your tripod, and camera.

The second piece of construction paper place under your revolving stand. Make a mark that you can use as a measuring point for moving the Lazy Sue one clip at a time as you take your shots...

Now place your product on the revolving table you have created and start taking pictures one by one, moving the Lazy Sue one clip at a time. Note that to make sure you have equal movement of the angle, you need to make sure to use that mark you placed on the paper...

What is Next?

Simple...Now use some of the available free software that is out there and add all your images in and create your very own 360 image. This really looks good and many people want to see something from more angles before committing to a purchase (that is why the big companies are doing this)...

There are plugins that alow the 360 shot show well on your website. Simple, no?

Want To See Some Results?

Just a few examples to show you what you can do using these home studio tips and set up:

This first one was taken with the phone in the vertical position...

Note of course when you add this to you website you would rotate it...

This second one is a horizontal shot...

If you notice, the white back drop does not take any focus away from the subject...

I could add in a lot more.

Yesterday...

(1) I shot 210 images for our use on the websites we operate.

(2) They all will work well for our purposes,

(3) We completed the shoot within 4 hours, and

(4) I did NOT tap into my expensive studio resources for simple shots like this,

My Cost: I got all this done for $120 bucks and 4 hours of work. That is a pretty good deal. Not only that, I have the tools I need to do it again at NO cost other than my time.

My Camera: I used my Samsung Note 5 for the shoot, and played with the settings prior to get the best images possible based on the light. I did adjust as the day went on.

Timing for the Shoot: I tried to use the brightest time of day, and as you can see, there is plenty of windows to let light in in the bar area of the villa...

My Tips: Plan ahead what you want to get done, line up everything you need images for (so you do not miss any), and check your shots as you go along (does not take long)...

My Opinion: I will use this a LOT. It is fast, easy, and effective. These are all things I value when it comes to using time wisely...Low budget, works well, and can be done from home. What is not to like?

Note the tools for this shoot can also be used for recording videos...

Bottom Line:

Think out of the box, and look for ways to do more with less. Look for ways of making things work for you, no matter the situation.

One of the things I learned a LONG time ago being sent off to remote, austere, and dangerous environments is you do what it takes to get things done...Survival of the fittest...That is real...

Your Turn...

Have you had some experiences with home studios? What do you use and why? How much did it cost you? Would you recommend this for members? Why or why not? Please add in your insights in the comment section below!

Remember...

You can do this too...DIY is the way to go a LOT of times...

I believe in ALL of you!

Cheers!

Dave : )