- By Karolis Kiniulis
- Updated August 22, 2023
Lightboxes top our list of gadgets that can help enhance your photography skills. And if you are looking to improve your food photography, lightboxes might be your thing.
A light box in food photography will provide consistent lighting which helps to bring out the colors and textures of the food, making it look more appetizing and appealing. Additionally, using a light box can save time and effort in post-processing by minimizing the need for editing and retouching.
Without further ado…
Let’s compare the most popular light boxes.
Top 6 Best Lightboxes For Food Photography
We have reviewed 6 light boxes that in our opinion represent the best value on the market. You can use most of them for jewelry photography as well.
All of these products offer high-level transparency and an adjustable level of brightness for increased accuracy and help to ease eye strain.
Here are our top 3 picks:
Let’s take a look at the full list to see unique selling points that might suit your needs.
1. Emart Portable Photo Studio Shooting Tent
One of the best light boxes in our view is the light box by Emart because of its extremely reliable and solid performance. This is a popular choice among those who want to take pictures of their products.
The tent comes with built-in LED lights that provide consistent and balanced light. It provides a diffuse, shadow-free environment for taking pictures of your food and plates.
It offers a good range of brightness levels, a fine brightness control system, a wide work surface, and a bag of extras.
It is compact, lightweight, and easily portable. Perfect for mobile photography as well.
However, keep in mind that this light box is relatively small and might be too small for some products.
3 main reasons why this lightbox is on the top rated on our list:
- Quick and easy setup
- Versatile and affordable
- Ideal for home conditions
Also, this light box has many customer ratings and reviews you can check on Amazon.
Pros and Cons
- Compact and lightweight
- Easily portable
- Waterproof
- Durable
- Powerful LED light strips
- Tripod included
- Small size
- Can be too dimmer in low light conditions
2. FOSITAN Photo Light Box
In short, the Fositan photo studio light box is lightweight, easy to fold and unfold, and convenient to carry. The biggest advantage is its large space (much larger when compared to Emart shooting tent).
The Fositan photo light box is also durable and well-made, with a sturdy construction that should withstand regular use. It comes with 140 adjustable LED lamps that provide you with soft light and dimming.
Also, it has a particular silver reflective interior for better and improved visibility. Being portable and foldable this studio can be used conveniently both indoors and outdoors.
This light box also supports multi-angle shooting which is usually necessary for taking food photos.
Pros and Cons
- Spacious
- Powerful lighting system
- Removes reflection and easily diffuses
- Multi-angle shooting
- Sleek compact design
- Includes backdrops of different colors
- The fabric might get wrinkly
3. Neewer Portable Studio Light Box
The Neewer Portable Light Box is a practical and affordable solution for food photography. This 20 inches (50 cm) light box is made of high-quality materials which makes it one of the most durable of all its competitors.
While it might look simple in design but is one-of-a-kind when it comes to its features. It has got a bit larger front opening that allows you to capture images with great ease.
This light booth is spacious enough for any regular-sized product to fit in but at the same time, compact enough to easily carry it everywhere.
Being made of translucent light-diffusing material, it prevents all those disturbing shadows that make it difficult to take a crystal-clear picture. This device additionally diffuses unwanted lights and prevents weird reflections.
We consider this light box to have the best specs on our list.
Pros and Cons
- Highly versatile
- Lightweight and compact
- Good price for the quality
- Durable and strong
- Prevents weird reflections
- Easy to carry
- Could include more color backdrops
4. PULUZ Upgrade Light Box
PULUZ brand offers a few different light box sizes, although we recommend getting the biggest one since you will have more space when you will need to arrange food and show off its best features.
With three openings and a baffle, you can choose any photo shooting position for different angles.
It comes with 4 backdrops in a variety of colors so you can easily change the background color.
I also like the classy look of this lightbox which can also be carried around easily.
Pros and Cons
- Classy
- Multi-angle shooting
- Assembly in 10 seconds
- Prevents shadows
- Different background colors
- Relatively small (similar size to Emart lightbox)
5. Amazon Basics Photo Studio Box
On our list, this light box offers the biggest size and space. Amazon Basics light box will ensure that you can easily fit and photograph any food in it.
Amazon Basics photo box is easy-to-use and can be used by both amateurs and professionals.
It provides dynamic multi-angle shooting as it has 3 door system. The LED light panel provides you with daylight-balanced LEDs with high Color Rendering Index (CRI) for consistent color.
This lightbox is compatible with both a smartphone and a camera so whatever you are using to take photos, you can rest assured about the picture quality. It’s worth mentioning that it is compatible with Amazon Seller app.
However, this photo box does not include additional backdrops.
Pros and Cons
- Large
- Multi-angle shooting
- Compatible with smartphones and DSLR
- Easy to setup and carry
- Heavy
- No additional backdrops
- Pricey
6. Glendan Light Box
This light box is slightly smaller than the others, making it ideal for photographing medium-sized items such as food plates or products. It is compact and does not take up much space, so you can easily store it in a closet or other place at your home.
Also, it is foldable and can be easily moved to other spots. According to the seller, it can be assembled in just 10 seconds. Perfect for taking high-quality images with cameras as well as phones.
Equiped with Stepless Dimming & High Color Rendering Index, you can adjust the brightness according to your needs. Make it with a softer light for more natural look.
Great both for beginners and professionals.
Multi-angle shooting with 6 different color backdrops will give you a chance to unleash your creativity. There will certainly be plenty of room to experiment with colors and the best angles.
Pros and Cons
- Stepless Dimming & High CRI
- Easy to Assemble
- 6 Color Backdrops
- Multi-angle Shooting
- Affordable
- Might be small for huge items
Top Factors when Choosing the Best Lightbox for Food Photography
When choosing the best lightbox for food photography, there are several factors to consider:
- Size: Consider the size of the food you plan on photographing. You want to choose a lightbox that is big enough to accommodate your food, but not so big that it becomes difficult to control the lighting.
- Lighting: Look for a lightbox that provides even lighting and allows you to adjust the brightness.
- Color temperature: A warm color temperature can make food look more appetizing. But a light box with a light temperature control function is the best choice.
- Portability: If you plan to take your lightbox on location, look for one that is lightweight and easy to transport.
- Accessories: Some lightboxes come with accessories such as backdrops, transportation bags and diffusers. Consider what accessories you need to achieve the desired look for your food photography.
- Price: Finally, consider your budget. Lightboxes can range in price from very affordable to very expensive. Choose one that fits your needs and your budget.
How To Use a Light Box to Take Pictures of Your Food?
For food photography, place the lightbox on a tabletop, with the light source directly opposite each other on each side, and place the tripod in front in the center.
The backdrop should be attached to the top of the tent on the inside and fall freely into a mild curve at the back and then across the bottom of the lightbox. Always try to keep the backdrop clean and free of wrinkles.
Next, turn on the lights inside the box and adjust the brightness and angle of the lights to achieve the desired lighting effect.
Experiment with different angles and positions to capture the best shot of your food.
And in case you are new on the field, check out the main food photography tips for better results.
