How to Build A Wooden Light Box for Photography

Guest Blogger, Manda, is teaching us how to build a wooden lightbox for photography to help us take the best possible photos for our blogs!

The best blog posts always include amazing photos, especially if you’re a food blogger or post product reviews so I bought this camera, Samsung 14.2MP CMOS Smart WiFi Digital Camera with 18x Optical Zoom and decided to build a wooden lightbox for photography to help relaunch the Manda Blogs About… blog. A cardboard or PVC light box design would not work because of Frito so I made my lightbox out of wood and hardboard. The whole project (including the lights) costs less than $70. There are affiliate links included in this post that link to some of the items that I used on Amazon. I bought the wood and hardboard from Lowe’s for around $20.

Supplies Needed to Build A Wooden Light Box

• 4 x 8 hardboard wall panel
• 3 x 8 furring strip
• 1/2 in. 2 x 2 pine sheeting plywood
• White caulk
• Wood Glue
• 200, 80 and 50 grit sandpaper
• 3 cans of white spray paint
• Minwax Satin Water-Based Polycrylic Protective Finishes, 1/2 Pint
• Minwax Wood Finish Interior Wood Stain, Special Walnut, 1/2-Pint
• 2 In. Foam brush or paint brush
• Rags for Stain
• 3 Flexible clamp lamps
• 3 60 watt Daylight Light Bulbs
• Flat white sheet (Queen)
• 4 4-Inch Spring Clamps (optional)

Tools to Use to Build A Wooden Light Box

• Tape Measure
• Yard Stick
• Circular Saw
• Brad Nailer (you can use a hammer and 3/4 in. brads)
• Air Compressor (not necessary if you are using a hammer)
• Orbital Sander (you can do this by hand)
• Utility Knife
• Safety Glasses

Notes on Tools

The power tools I used made it quicker and easier for me to make a wooden lightbox. I already had the tools and know-how to use them so this was a fun project that only took a few hours for me to complete, not including the time for the paint to dry. I’ve included modified directions so that you can make this box without power tools, it’s just going to take a little longer.

I made the base of my box with plywood so that it would be sturdy and because I wanted it to look like a tabletop since I’m using it mostly for food photography. You can make the bottom of your lightbox out of the hardboard if you don’t have a circular saw or if you want to make the box lighter.

If you’re not comfortable using a circular saw the hardboard can be cut with a utility knife. Use the yardstick as a straight edge and go over the cut a few times with the blade of the knife.

You can use a hammer and 3/4 inch brads if you do not have an air compressor or a brad nailer.

You can sand the plywood bottom of the box by hand if you don’t have an orbital sander. I sanded mine by hand so that it would have a rustic look.

Instructions for Building the Light Box

The box that I made is a 21 x 21-inch square.

1. Cut two 21 x 21-inch square pieces of hardboard for the sides.
2. Cut two 21 x 22-inch square pieces of hardboard for the top and back pieces.
3. Measure four inches in from each side and cut a square out of the center of both of the sides and the top piece of hardboard
4. Use the utility knife to clean up the corners if cutting with the circular saw.
5. Sand around the cut edges by hand with the 200 grit sandpaper.
6. I cut a slit in the top piece so that I could slide in a fabric backdrop without disrupting the lighting. Measure one inch in from the back and one inch in from each side. Make two cuts the width of the saw blade.
7. Cut a 21 x 21-inch square piece of plywood for the bottom.
8. Cut two 21 inch pieces of furring for the top braces.
9. Cut two 18 1/2 inch pieces of furring for the side braces.
10. Glue and nail the 21-inch furring strip to the top of each side piece. Make the strip square with the top edge of the hardboard.
11. Glue and nail the 18 1/2 inch furring strip to the side of each side piece, below the top brace. Make the strip square with the back edge of the hardboard.
12. The brads will make the hardboard flare out. Sand it down by hand with the 200 grit sandpaper.
13. Smear the caulk into the nail holes with your finger and then wipe clean with a damp paper towel.
14. Spray paint the sides, back, and top panels. Spray paint in straight lines from side to side, working your way down each panel. Let the paint dry for an hour between each coat.
15. Lightly sand by hand with the 200 grit sandpaper and dust off with a dry rag after the first and second coats. You should only need three coats.
16. Sand the plywood for the bottom with the 50 grit sandpaper to make it smooth and remove any marks, then again with the 80 grit sandpaper to make it smoother for finishing. Wipe with a dry rag. (The orbital sander will make this quicker and create a cleaner finished product. I did this by hand with an older piece of plywood so that it would look rustic.)
17. Mix your stain well and apply to the plywood bottom with a rag, moving with the grain of the wood in long strokes. Don’t use a dry rag, make sure it’s soaked well with the stain. 
18. Let the stain dry for two hours then apply a coat of poly using the two-inch foam brush or paintbrush. (Clean the brush with water between coats and store it in a covered cup of water. Be sure to clean the water out of the brush before each coat.)
19. Let that coat dry for two hours and then lightly sand by hand with the 200 grit sandpaper.
20. Apply a second coat of poly.
21. Let that coat dry for two hours and then lightly sand by hand with the 200 grit sandpaper.
22. Apply the final coat of poly and let it dry.
23. Put a bead of glue across the bottom edge of one of the side panels and then nail it to the bottom panel.
24. Do the same to the other side panel.
25. Apply a bead of glue to the sides and bottom of the back panel. Nail to the bottom first and then the sides.
26. Apply a bead of glue to the back edge and side edges of the top panel and then nail it to the side braces.
27. Wait 30 minutes for the glue to set and then caulk the seams where the white back and side panels come together with a 1/8 inch bead of caulk.
28. Smooth the bead with a wet finger in one long swoop and clean the excess off with a wet paper towel.

Now you’re good to go!

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About Manda
@mandablogsabout

My name is Manda Peel and I’m a super creative, quirky little southern lady from NC! I enjoy being a full-time WAHM and a college student. I’m almost finished with my BBA in marketing from Florida Tech.

I love technology, reading, music, video games, art, crafts, cooking, good food, wine, shopping online, blogging, gardening, writing, social media and pretty much everything internet related.