How To Make A DIY Desktop V-Card Lights

On this video videographer David Bode from Tuts+ demonstrates how you can create a DIY constant lighting V shaped stand for use for product shooting Podcasts, Live Streaming and more.

This video demonstrates how you can build a very simple yet effective light which cost only a few dozen dollars using one or two CFL ligths (we would recommend non flickering ones with high CRI (Bode recommend these BlueMax 26w CFL – they have 93 CRI and are not expensive but we are not sure about their flickering status), a socket fixture (preferably with a switch), you can even get a socket splitter if you want to use two lights for extra punch, finally you will need a cardboard and some gaffer type

The assembly is pretty simple you need to cut the cardboard in a V shape (see Bode in the video) and place the fixture on the top inside a semi enclosed part – you can even add extra lighting power by covering the area around the light with tin foil.

That’s it – you can make 2 of those and use them to light yourself talking or an object from both sides – and all this for less than $100 – how cool is that?

You can find more DIY photography tips and tricks on theLensVid DIY section.

Iddo Genuth

Iddo Genuth is the founder and chief editor of LensVid.com. He has been a technology reporter working for international publications since the late 1990's and covering photography since 2009. Iddo is also a co-founder of a production company specializing in commercial food and product visual content.