Review: Photo Cube Studio

A mysterious box arrived this week and I was ecstatic to see it was photography equipment to test!  I was asked to review a pop-up cube studio and I thought, let’s just see how easy this process could be.

This was everything in a fairly compact box about 12″ x 12″:

This was the simple set up on my desk, no instructions included or needed.

Have you ever tried to photograph a product DIY style? I used to use white sheets of paper and a desk lamp. Here’s what I did with a point and shoot on the “flower” setting which is the macro setting, years ago before I owned a DSLR:

Decent. Until the editing part. I had to photoshop the seams together and correct the shadows if there were any. I think I spent like 40 minutes perfecting this image with my DIY method. Ain’t nobody got time for that! – haha!

Now with this kit, the cube pops up like a reflector/car windshield reflector. Just pick the background color you want (included are white, black, red and blue) and velcro the top to the inside corners. I think the best items to photograph in something small like this would be if you were trying to sell jewelry say on eBay or Etsy or you’re shooting a product for a business.

Velvet fabric helps minimize and soften shadows. and you can adjust the lights on the outside. Now look:

After I perfected it in Lightroom, I opened it up in Photoshop actually played with the curves (and now we all cringe that I said that) and used the select tool at tolerance of 20, inverse selected and dragged it on a white blank background. Tada. Took maybe what, 3 minutes. I’m also a photoshop ninja. I smoothed the shadow lines by adding a new layer and white paint brushing with feathered edges and adjusted the layer opacity.

Let’s say you don’t want to do all the hassle I just did which was really an extra minute. Here’s the image I got just by a few quick edits and exporting it out of Lightroom which is sufficient for say any online shopping cart site:

Boom. You also don’t need a DSLR – your point and shoot on a macro setting will be fine.

Tips:

• You don’t have to shoot through the cover with slit if it’s too constricting. Only use it when you are capturing something with a reflection, so it hides your face.
• Steam the wrinkles out of the velvet backgrounds.
• If you do use a macro lens on a DSLR remember to place the product all the way in the back so you can focus on it.
• Use your favorite fabric, a print even to use!
• You don’t have to use both lights, but you can have fun with your lighting.

c/o: 24″ Photo Cube Studio Light Tent Box Kit, $70 at TheLAShop.com. This was a sponsored post by TheLaShop.com.

Diana Elizabeth loves sharing good photography finds if they are worth sharing about. She wonders if anyone now needs shots for anything – she will tell all of her small business owner friends with products about this method.