DIY Life

If you like taking professional-style photos of your kids, pets or even for that eBay listing, one thing many aspiring photogs have discovered is that lighting is the single largest key to taking a great, well-exposed picture.

Yet, many of us don't have photography studios in our homes. What to do? How about carve out a bedroom corner when you need it and fancy up some on-the-cheap lighting companions to help you? Yes, there is a way to emulate a decent lighting environment similar to what you'd find in a pro studio -- and it'll cost ya not that much in greenbacks.

This lighting example uses three specific lights to create an excellent lighting arrangement that you'll find very useful if you're tired of those grainy point-n-shoot images your digital camera usually serves up. Needed: some used slave flash assemblies (look for these at pawn shops and photography stores), some taping ingenuity and a few miniature tripods that cost just a few bucks at a local electronics retailer.