A How to Guide for Building Dan Larson's Photobooth | Dan in the Photobooth

On this episode Dan Larson shows off how he made the photo booth he uses. A step by step expert guide to building your own photography booth with details about all of the materials you will need from the table, to the lights to the craft paper roll used as the background. A perfect guide to taking better product photography for ebay, instagram, action figure photography and more.
Photobooth lights: www.amazon.com...
Photobooth Desk: www.amazon.com...
Help the Channel to Grow: / toygalaxy
Follow Dan on Instagram: / toygalaxy
►►►Social Media and Merchandise links◄◄◄
linktr.ee/secr...

[@goobyhouser]

Thank you very much for taking time off from your job as a chef to make this video for us 🙏

[@GTMQ8]

I started doing toy photography in 1999. I started with a regular point and shoot film camera. I think it was a Konica I do not recall exactly and I could be mistaken. My first subjects were Gundam model kits that I was just getting into building and later painting. I then transitioned to my first digital camera in the same year that is a Casio. I shot them around my room or on the window sill and a few outside in the yard. I then started using small IKEA table lamps. I started using seamless backgrounds in 2008 with my Canon XTi and over the years my table, background and lighting set ups changed multiple times. I dig your clean set up because the main focus is the figure and I love that. But for me I like doing it all wether it's outdoor, plain background or dramatic lighting. Even after 24 years it's an ongoing process for me and I'm always considering what to upgrade or try next.

[@ToyGalaxy]

Yep and every photographer is going to have their preferences for what they like to shoot and what they want the final result to be. 24 years and counting, great job!

[@GTMQ8]

@@ToyGalaxy Thank you 😁🙏🏼

[@danvoncarr]

Cool to see all the ingredients needed to cook the perfect Photobooth video.

[@pixelcreatures]

Dan is so darn likeable. Keep up the great work, man!

[@fightingtyler14]

Seen the jacket. Was hoping you were a chef. Got my hopes up for a Dan Larson cooking channel lol.

[@ToyGalaxy]

We're willing to try anything.

[@Gappasaurus]

This is the REAL _Secret Galaxy,_ where Dan hosts a cooking show, appears at regional bake-offs, and takes photos of his whisk collection 😆

[@ToyGalaxy]

If it gets views I'll do it!

[@Gappasaurus]

@@ToyGalaxy I’d watch it! 😄👍

[@andycress]

@@ToyGalaxy Double Secret Galaxy Kitchen coming soon!

[@TheMaynardChannel]

Thank you! Years ago in a big sound stage we’d have to paint the floor when we were done for the day.

[@darktoylord]

I had some wood dowels just kicking around so I 3D printed a stand and some brackets to create my own table top backdrop. For the background, i just ran down to my local Family Dollar for some poster board. I tried white but due to my lightning at the time, the pictures always had an orange tint. So then I started using black. I really like how that looked but the surface was constantly getting scratched. I have since upgraded my lighting. 2 free standing LEDs similar to your lights. Maybe I will give the white background another shot. Plus I just recently found on Amazon that you can buy backdrops specifically for action figure photography. Different scenes like a castle dungeon, woods, alley, etc. I might give those a try too.

[@ToyGalaxy]

So much of it is just experimenting until you find the look that works for you. Lights, background, camera... lots of variables. I always try to keep it as simple as possible.

[@emerje0]

If you're interested in backdrops you should look into Extreme Sets. They aren't cheap, but they are good quality heavy stock cardboard.

[@emerje0]

This is similar to my setup, but also took inspiration from Pixel Dan and got a 24" x 36" x 1/8" white acrylic sheet for the figures to stand on so they stand better. For paper I got a role 3' x 16' photo backdrop paper (it's actually a 6' wide role that an Amazon seller cut in half), I have the whole roll mounted to the wall using tool hangers and a broom stick from Dollar Tree. 😄Because I do a lot of Transformers photography I needed something that could comfortably fit Titans in (around 24") so my whole booth is about 3' tall by 3' wide and 2 feet deep.

[@Fuzzy_Barbarian]

Thanks for this video, Dan. I've been looking into toy photography for the past few months, but just beginner stuff is hard to find. My setup is similar to this, I'm mostly focused on lights right now. Wasn't quite sure how hard I should go with lights, but I like how you shoot your toys, so some reasonably priced Amazon ones seem like they'll be okay. For those who are new to the photography side of things, I highly recommend a smaller channel called Four Bricks Tall. As a teacher myself, I can vouch for how she walks people through the basics; she's really, really good at breaking things down for beginners and dummies like me.

[@mjdoombreed]

This week on Dan Larson, Dan in the Photobooth: Dan Outside the Photobooth, on the Photobooth

[@AaronAbbotttheoncomingstorm]

Yes, chef!

[@Biofan813]

Wonderful! Im was just looking to up my photography game! Great stuff Dan! Thanks 🙏 I’ll have to tag you when I get some good Sun Vulcan Shots. 😉

[@jonathanward8967]

I've considered a while to do something like this when I take pics and video on the Gram of my stuff. Now I see just how simple it really can be! Thanks Dan!

[@naterichard8703]

Thank you for taking the time to share this stuff, it really helps.

[@LuminousNews]

Looks good! Before I had LED lights, I would set up my table and background outside, to use natural light. It was a big chore, especially when there was a breeze that would try to topple my background. I'm glad the prices of LED lights has gone down. Thanks for sharing!

[@jinpei05]

Appreciate the look behind the curtain.

[@BriansActionFigureReviews]

Very good video I got a lightbox myself seems to do the job , could definitely do with some better lights for sure

[@Cincinnatijames]

For a permanent surface you can clean, use a sheet of countertop laminate.

[@AlphaProto]

This is neat. The white background is a good way to showcase the figure. I'm more into capturing scenes like D Amazing. I would want to use something like white vinyl over paper for my background. Poster board gets my fingerprints. Dealing with the scuffs, and tears of paper seems like it would be annoying.

[@Dead-Pool3_II_Sij6]

have you consider a cloth instead of paper for the set to easily clean up or you've found that paper is better for your set up? anyway love it and this will help me very well for the times I need to use my figures for commission ideas that require depth/angles for it

[@RockNerdRadio]

Great video! Thank you for posting. I know I have asked what goes into a photo booth. Just out of curiosity, would a sheet work too, or is paper best?

[@MDestron2282]

Dan. Why are you dressed like a chef in this video? Have you been a chef the whole time and after two years I've only realized this?

[@ToyGalaxy]

It was laundry day and I just happened to have a chef shirt handy. I'm not a chef anymore than I am Beetlejuice or Robocop.

[@ghostface3655]

I had no idea you are/were a Chef. I just noticed the jacket. Thanks for the video sir, always appreciate the great content!

[@ToyGalaxy]

Lol. I'm not. Just have the shirt.

[@ghostface3655]

@Dan Larson 🤣 They are awesome! One side gets dirty just switch it to the other side! I'm a Chef so I noticed right away, there are a lot of us that collect figuires. So the guys in my kitchen all watch your videos! Thanks for the great content!

[@ToyGalaxy]

@@ghostface3655 Thank you, Chef! Tell the other Chefs I said "hi!"

[@ghostface3655]

@@ToyGalaxy Will do!

This whole Dan In and Out of the photobooth is making my head hurt

[@bwagner23]

All the food service ppl are so confused lol. I'm glad I checked the comments for why Dan's in chef's whites. I assumed it might have something to do with reflecting the light, but I guess not!

[@caincha]

I had a very similar setup at home except I didn't have the lights. I do disagree about the colors though. Blue might work but white is definitely the way to go - I tried colors and doesn't work and it's even worse with chromed parts. You can 'fix' white reflections on chrome but it is near impossible to do if the reflection is colored...

[@spookerd]

Now I just need a video on how to build Dan Larson's photobooth in a phonebooth.

[@AlphamagnusCreations]

This is how professionals operate, I’m like the hoarder lady in Labyrinth on my channel😂

[@ToyGalaxy]

Don't be me. Be YOU!

[@AlphamagnusCreations]

@@ToyGalaxy that is inevitable lol. I actually just updated my video booth for a “transparent collection” display. (Which is mostly blue). Which note makes me want more variety in that collection 😂

[@r2witco]

Awesome tips. Are you wearing a chef’s coat?

[@ToyGalaxy]

Yes.

[@knifefightacademy8781]

WHEN AND WHERE DID YOU GET WARDUKE?!

[@Laguna_Lad79]

Whats with uniform? You work in a kicthen?

[@TerenceCover]

Not related to the photo booth specifically, but can you share a link to the specific lavaliere mic you use for your videos? I want to upgrade mine and your videos always have nice, clear audio so I think whatever you use is something I should look into.

[@ToyGalaxy]

Not 100% sure it's this exact one, but it's very similar to this one: www.amazon.com/Professional-Microphone-Omnidirectional-Recording-Conference/dp/B01AG56HYQ/ref=sr_1_8?crid=1S0L6UR0ALPL0&keywords=lav+mic&qid=1674598111&sprefix=lav+mic%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-8 Recorder is something like this (this might not be the exact one, but it's the same brand): www.amazon.com/Tascam-Portable-Recorder-Microphone-microSDHC/dp/B07YFM6ZCZ/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=8IXN0BFFZSPF&keywords=tascam&qid=1674598231&sprefix=tascam%2Caps%2C107&sr=8-2-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExUFNRVlFQUVZaSDBUJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjkyMzYzMzBUOTVOTzVVSVdJWSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzczOTM3MVZDS1dYVzVQNFlMQiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

[@TerenceCover]

@@ToyGalaxy Thanks!

[@astrompowers3455]

A Chef now?

[@SkidmarkSteve]

Have a similar setup, except I mounted the roll of paper to the wall so I just pull down and I'm done. Also did you just finish doing a cooking video?

[@ToyGalaxy]

Lol. No. Just dressed for it in case one broke out.

[@vanderpike]

Thanks for the video, Dan. Are you wearing kitchen whites? And if so, why?

[@ToyGalaxy]

Lol, yes. We've had a chef shirt in our costume closet for years and I've never had an opportunity to wear it. Needed something to clip my mic to, knew I was going to be on camera, opportunity presented itself.

[@jreichert37]

@@ToyGalaxy i had this exact same question but felt weird asking

[@sjkofi7935]

Ahahahahahahaha!!! I should have read the comments sooner! I kept pausing the screen to see which restaurant it came from! Even called my wife over to make sure it was a chefs jacket!

[@goobseum]

Do you have a norm-y job in addition to the Secret Galaxy gig?

[@ToyGalaxy]

I did up until March of 2021. Been full time Secret Galaxy since.

[@TheBertLocker]

Do you moonlight as a chef?

[@MichaelEarl]

What kind of camera are you using?

[@ToyGalaxy]

This video and the photos I take for Instagram are shot on my phone. Currently a Google Pixel... 4 I think.

[@MichaelEarl]

@@ToyGalaxy what about for videos taken “in the booth”? Any certain high def? Or still your phone?

[@YT0091]

Is Dan a chef?

[@ToyGalaxy]

No. Just flexing with the shirt.

[@dmitrinajim4663]

Are you a chef for your main gig?

[@ToyGalaxy]

Nah it was just a shirt I grabbed that I could easily clip the microphone to.

[@Plagues138]

Why is Dan dressed like a chef?

[@ToyGalaxy]

For fun!

[@Plagues138]

@@ToyGalaxy serving up content

[@SiliconRiot]

Why are you wearing a Chef’s shirt..? What ya cooking …?

[@ToyGalaxy]

I shot this at the studio. Had a chef shirt. Put it on.