How I Built a Budget Photo Booth for Under £100

As someone who creates and sells physical products, I needed a reliable, well-lit space to take clean, professional-looking product shots—without paying for a commercial setup. Most photo booths online cost a small fortune or are made from flimsy materials. So, instead, I built my own using simple materials: a corner garage rack, painted panels, satin-finish laminated plywood, and affordable lighting from Amazon.

The Core Frame: A Garage Rack

The structure of the booth is a standard metal corner garage shelving unit. These racks cost around £60 and provide a solid, rigid frame. They have plenty of room to position lights and work with larger items.

The Surfaces: Painted and Laminated Panels

I painted the base panels that came with the rack in a clean matte white. This provided a neutral and even surface that photographs well under light. For the side walls, I used satin-finish white-laminated plywood sheets—these reflect light efficiently and help to eliminate shadows without requiring additional surface prep. All panels were simply slotted into the existing shelf slots, requiring no screws or adhesives.

Lighting: Budget Ring Lights & LED Panels

For lighting, I used inexpensive ring lights and an LED panel light ordered from Amazon. One ring light is ceiling-mounted, providing soft overhead illumination. I also added side lighting to eliminate shadows and give more depth to the shots. All lights are USB-powered and battery-powered, keeping things neat and avoiding bulky cables. The lighting fixtures were drilled and mounted directly to the frame for added security.

Camera Mount: Custom 3D Printed Solution

To capture consistent top-down and angled shots for video, I designed and 3D printed a camera mount, which I fixed to the ceiling rail. This allows me to film from a raised, stable viewpoint without relying on tripods or additional gear. It was a simple addition that made a big difference in ease of use.

For video, I use a DJI Action 4 camera mounted overhead. For still photography, I use an iPhone 15 Pro, which performs exceptionally well in this controlled lighting setup.

Total Cost Breakdown

• Garage rack – £60

  
  

• Laminated plywood (for side panels) – £9

  
  

• Ring light + LED panel – £14

  
  

  Total – £83

  
  

Final Touches

I used cable ties to tidy up the cables and keep the frame clean. The setup is modular and quick to adjust depending on the product size or angle required.