Best Products > Camera & Video 72 72 people found this article helpful The 6 Best Photo Light Boxes of 2023 The right light makes your products stand out and look professional By Katie Dundas Katie Dundas Twitter Writer University of Massachusetts University of Stirling Katie Dundas is a writer with an affinity for cameras, drones, and fitness tech. She has written for Business Insider, Travel Trend, and more. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on February 21, 2023 We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Tweet Share Email Camera & Video Accessories Good lighting is essential when taking a great photograph. Lightboxes not only soften the light being cast on an object, but they often provide the right background as well. Other things to consider in a soft light box include multiple backdrops and interior space. The Rundown Best All-in-One Kit: StudioPRO Fovitec Lightbox Kit at Amazon Jump to Review Best Budget: LimoStudio 16" x 16" Light Kit at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Colored Backdrops: JHS-TECH Portable Lightbox at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Portability and Extras: ORANGEMONKIE Foldio3 at Amazon Jump to Review Best Compact: PULUZ Mini Photo Studio Box at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Pro Results: MyStudio MS20PRO-LED at Amazon Jump to Review in this article Expand Our Picks FAQ What to Look For in the Best Photo Light Boxes Best All-in-One Kit StudioPRO Fovitec Photography Portable Studio Table Top Lighting Tent Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart What We Like Even light Table stand included What We Don't Like Unstable light stands No carrying case The StudioPRO Fovitec has everything you need to get well-lit photos: two light stands, two small tables to hold items, and four colored backdrops. The lower price comes at a cost: There's no carrying case for all these pieces, and the light stands can tip over easily. Overall, this is a good kit if you are starting with nothing other than a camera. Dimensions: 18 x 12 x 12 inches | Weight: 8 pounds | Color Temperature: 5500 to 5600K | Wattage: 300W Best Budget LimoStudio 16" x 16" Table Top Photo Photography Studio Amazon View On Amazon What We Like Good price Portable Complete package What We Don't Like Backdrops are wrinkly Dim lights While it's not the least expensive on our list, the Limostudio Tabletop Photography Studio Kit comes with everything you'll need at an affordable price. You get a lightbox, backdrops, lights, and a phone tripod and holder, which pack into a neat carrying case. The background fabric easily wrinkles (so you'd have to iron it), and the spotlights aren't the brightest. If those two marks don't worry you, this kit is a bargain. Dimensions: 17.5 x 3.7 x 17.75 inches | Weight: 4.09 pounds | Color Temperature: Not specified | Wattage: 75W Best for Colored Backdrops JHS-TECH Mini Photo Studio Box Amazon View On Amazon What We Like Lighting powered by USB Very portable What We Don't Like Small If the colored backdrops caught your attention, great. But keep this in mind: It’s a small photo box. We’re talking 9 x 9 x 9 inches. If this meets your needs, you might have a winner. The included colors are white, red, blue, green, lime green, and black, and they can help your item stand out in a sea of all-white backgrounds. For added versatility, you can shoot from the top or the side. This is a very compact size, and because the two sets of lights are USB powered, you can use a wall adapter or a portable battery to light up your item. And, heck, it’s pretty cheap. Dimensions: 9 x 9 x 9 inches | Weight: 350 grams | Color Temperature: 6000 to 6500K | Wattage: 7.5W The 5 Best Ring Lights for Cameras in 2023 Best for Portability and Extras ORANGEMONKIE Foldio3 Foldable Photo Studio Box Amazon View On Amazon View On B&H Photo Video What We Like Magnetic design Turntable included Lets you take 360 degree photos What We Don't Like Flimsy Power cord is short While the "3" in the Foldio3's name is because it's the third generation in the Foldio family, we think it's because the lightbox has three particular features: 1) It folds flat and reassembles magnetically 2) It has a Bluetooth-controlled turntable, and 3) It has a short power cord. The Foldio3 is more expensive than the StudioPro but has a turntable. That's super handy for some images and can make quite a difference in your final shot (or animated gif). Plus, thanks to its Bluetooth controller, you won't have to keep touching the object and risk fingerprints or knocking it over. Dimensions: 25 x 25 x 22 inches | Weight: 7.28 pounds | Color Temperature: 5700K | Wattage: Not specified “The Foldio3 scores serious points for design innovation, as the magnetic assembly makes it super easy to set up—it’s also one of the few lightboxes to have 360-degree photo capabilities.” — Katie Dundas, Tech Writer Best Compact PULUZ Mini Photo Studio Box Amazon View On Amazon What We Like Small and compact Great price Multi-angle shooting What We Don't Like Power cord is short Delicate Sometimes you don't need a huge photo box. The Puluz mini photo studio box is an excellent pickup if your subjects are typically small. This completely foldable lightbox sits on a table and folds down to be less than 1 inch thick. It also comes with five background colors: orange, red, green, blue, and black. You can't beat it for what it does. The box is made of thin plastic and held together with velcro, so we're not discussing a rock-solid setup here. An included light has an admittedly short cord, so remember to keep an extension cord in your gear bag. But overall, as long as your items are not too large, this inexpensive option will help you capture fantastic product photos. Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 0.7 inches | Weight: 7.7 ounces | Color Temperature: Not specified | Wattage: 3.5W Best for Pro Results MyStudio MS20PRO-LED Tabletop Lightbox Amazon View On Amazon View On B&H Photo Video What We Like Curved background Shoot from any angle Very bright lights included What We Don't Like Not portable Very pricey If you have the space for a photo studio without having the budget for a photo studio, look no further than the MyStudio MS20PRO. This is a big unit, and since it's not travel-friendly, it's best for someone with a dedicated area to keep it set up. The MyStudio MS line of photo boxes comes in various sizes, but we're recommending the MS20PRO because we think it'll meet most people's needs most of the time. Because there are other sizes, you can make the final decision. Its seamless background, powerful lights, and included bounce cards make this the best photo studio box. Dimensions: 30 x 28 x 18 inches | Weight: 7 pounds | Color Temperature: 500K | Wattage: Not specified The 5 Best Softbox Lighting Kits of 2023 Final Verdict Let’s look at it all this way: If you have a bunch of objects you want to sell and you need good lighting to get great photos, get the Fositan (view at Amazon). If you are just dipping your toes into the water of small object photography, get the LimoStudio (view at Amazon). FAQ How does a lightbox work? A photo lightbox uses either light-reflective or absorbing surfaces to surround your subject in smooth, even lighting which provides a better sense of depth and dimension. This also helps eliminate unwanted shadows by bouncing the light into areas you can't reach. Do you need a separate lighting kit to get the most out of your lightbox? Not necessarily. Having a lighting kit is certainly a plus, but will benefit you the most only when trying to photograph larger objects. A lightbox is really meant to either amplify or adequately diffuse the flash from your phone or DSLR camera. It also contains its own light source, which helps you get even lighting in your photo, free from unwanted shadows. If you don't have a DSLR camera, should you buy a lightbox? You'll arguably get more from a photo lightbox if your camera isn't a DSLR camera. The benefit will likely be more noticeable if your camera falls below the professional level. But yes, if you need to take some better photos of individual products without a DSLR camera, a lightbox can help immensely. "Casual photographers can benefit from using a lightbox by easily creating a clean, portable, and easily controlled lighting environment in any situation. This makes the outcome of product photography more consistent, allowing for less photo editing." — Nathan Berry, Lensrentals Lighting Supervisor What to Look For in the Best Photo Light Boxes Size A lightbox uses a closed environment to effectively diffuse light over your subject. Therefore, a larger subject will necessitate a larger lightbox. If you're shooting jewelry, an 18-inch box should suffice, whereas someone shooting desktop computers might need a 48-inch box. Accessories If you need a little more flexibility in your lighting setup, some lightboxes come packaged with a variety of accessories to let you fine-tune your lighting environments, such as different backdrops or supplementary lighting. "Besides just the included options, a photographer should consider all their creative needs when purchasing and setting up a lightbox. If the goal is to provide consistency, using a tripod for the camera is especially important for video, and can make shooting still photos much more simple. If external lights, such as strobes are being used, having stands will help for perfect light positioning." — Nathan Berry, Lensrentals Lighting Supervisor Portability Much of this will have to do with the size of the lightbox you choose and whether you have a dedicated space for photography, but having a lightbox that makes it easier to set up and break down will give you greater flexibility in where you can stage your photos. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit