Photography mini studios or cubes

I have seen mini photography studios, somebody blogged one a while ago which is a cheap at £39 kit with a cloth cube, two lights, a tripod stand and a bag it all goes into flat.

Now I don't know if that is worth getting, reviews all say that the lights smell strongly of burning when they are first used. Then my brother pointed me at some on Ebay that are more expensive, quite a bit more expensive but the lights look better.

Now I don't know which to go for. I thought the £39 was O.K. but is it I wonder.

I think if I had one of these I could take better photos of my cards with no shine, or strange colours as I try and get the card to look like it really does.

Does anyone have one and can recommend it?

I have a photo studio but it's not the one you mentioned Carol. Mine is by Novoflex you can see a photo of it here. http://fe-fesworld.blogspot.com/2007/08/my-early-birthday-present-take-2.html

I don't know how much it cost as it was a birthday present from my hubby a few years ago. Although it says it's portable it does take some putting up and down so I tend to leave mine up permanently. The other downside to it is it does take up quite a bit of space, but I do like it and it does give a great background for your cards/creations.

ooooh wow fe that looks awesome i want one lol
sadly all i use is a white/cream muslin drapped over my craft desk first thing in the morning and then i photo edit it to add extra brightness, thats all i can afford at the moment lol x but that is awesome Fe you lucky lucky gal

Wow Fe that does look fantastic but I doubt I will be getting one. I just put my layouts on the floor in the front porch (best light) and stand over them. I don't always get it completely square but near enough lol!!

Oooh Fe that does look very professional.

cazzy I use a photographic light tent/cube. It is made of nylon type material and is collaspible. I alo use a daylight craft bulb to shine through it. I got it off ebay years ago - I do sometimes have to brighter my photograph up but not always.

I have to say that photo was taken when I first got it. It doesn't look quite like that now! lol It's more battered and shabby looking now. But it does make taking photos of my cards much easier because it's all set up ready. I could really do with another one of the black lamps though as the small blue daylight lamp doesn't seem to do a great deal.

Wow - that looks really fab. I have real problems getting decent light to take photos, especially at this time of year when it's dark when I'm at home. I really should invest in a daylight bulb as a starter but keep forgetting - maybe I'll add it to my next Coleman's list.

That looks fab...I faily dismally...just take the photos in whatever light I have available...these days, not a lot! I could do with a daylight bulb for my lamp which would help a bit! Must try and track one down.

Caro
x

Fe that is totally different to what I have been looking at but looks very professional. I think the one Debbie uses is like the ones I am looking at. Now I have got a few Amazon vouchers from my barcode scanning, and I am thinking I could get http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ex-Pro-Professional-photography-Backgrounds-Photographic/dp/B0015AODI4/ref=pd_cp_ce_1, not sure if I should go for the bigger version but I will have £40 towards it when the next one turns up. I like the look of the lights that come with the next size up but then we are talking £129
The other sort is like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/studio-including-Lights-stands-tripod/dp/B000NHBN7E/ref=pd_bxgy_ce_img_b which is cheaper, so I am thinking the more expensive one might be better though I could get the second for nothing with my vouchers.
I like that they all come in a carry bag so will be neat to store away.

I found yours Fe, the thing is cheap enough with my vouchers but the table costs more than the studio and you don't get lights. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Novoflex-MS-Magic-Studio-Set/dp/B0002U81AY

They both look really good Cazzy. I like the fact that the lights are on little tripod stands. Mine are on clamps that you have to screw onto the table which is really faffy and the reason I leave mine up permanantly. I think the first two are much more practical than mine.

The one that you found like mine is the smaller one which Peej bought me originally the trouble is it's not big enough for photographing cards as no matter where I put the card I couldn't get a full white background it always got the edge of the studio and what ever was next to it too. I also had problems with the clamps for the lights as we didn't have a table with a straight edge so I ended up then getting the bigger one with the stand so that the lights and camera could be clamped to the stand. It does make it a lot more expensive.

well i'm just jealous!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

blimey though that ones only £30 ish!!!! Hmmmm you must let us know cazzy which one you get x

hmmmm now even i'm tempted at that price after reading all the reviews!!!!!!!

Well good luck in deciding Carol - let us know what you get in the end.

I am going to wait for that voucher and will probably go for the £99 set, there is a smaller one but the lights are better on the slightly bigger one. I could probably get it for £20 less on Ebay but as I will have £40 in vouchers I will get in on Amazon I think.