I've been looking into taking clean studio-style shots of my toys for a while and everything was pointing me towards a light tent setup. A Smith Victor two light kit runs about 100 bucks. When I added "DIY" to my Google search I found some very practical and extremely cheap ways to get the same effect.
I used:
-A compact 6.1 megapixel Nikon S1 point-and-shoot camera.
-Mini tripod (10 bucks) - You could use a stack of books or boxes too but you'll be restricted to 90 degree angle shots.
- A banker's box (Free) - Cut windows out of the sides and top. Cut all the way to the back of the box on top so you can affix a...
-Chip Clip (pack of two for a dollar)
-Backdrop (Free) - I used the back of a Borat mini poster. Colored posterboard would probably work well too.
-Paper towels (cheap) - Drape them over your box windows.
-Two desklamps (Free-$???) - You probably have some laying around. I used 60 watt flourescent bulbs for nice cool light.
Experiment with your camera's exposure settings, lighting angles, camera placement, and framing your composition. Toys are very patient and will put up with your artsy wankering. Be careful about those paper towels though, probably flammable if you are going for a marathon shoot.
Turn the flash off and use the self-timer feature to minimize shake from your hand pressing the shutter button. There should be a way to adjust the timer to something minimal. Check your manual. In my case it's 10 seconds.
Presto! Fresh out of the camera with no Photoshop.
