A DIY beanbag for photography is an easy project that can be whipped up with a bit of sewing know-how for under $10.

Besides using the beanbag as a ballast in the studio, it can be handy to steady a camera in an endless variety of outdoor situations; a car door, a rock, a fence, a tree branch, etc. You can customize the bag to whatever colour, size and shape you want.

All you need is:

• Scissors, needle and thread, (or a sewing machine, if you have one)

• Some sturdy fabric (e.g., denim or twill)

• A zipper to fit along a side of the beanbag

• Some filling (e.g., small beans or lentils)

• An extra bit of fabric or ribbon to sew a hook at one end of the beanbag, for attaching it to the centre column of a tripod

STEP 1

Measure and cut.

For the sample shown I used a piece of fabric 40cm x 30cm. The final size of the bag is 20cm x 30cm. To make the loop use a piece of fabric 6cm x12cm folded lengthwise.

STEP 2

Sew the zipper so that the two long ends come together. Place the loop on the short side near the top of the zipper. Turn the bag inside-out and sew the top and bottom of the bag.

STEP 3

Reverse the bag and add the beans. Test it out for proper support of your camera and lens, adding or taking away beans to suit.

*TIPS:

Recycle and save $

Grab an old pair of jeans to re-use the denim and the zipper for this project. Cut the legs off, turn inside-out, and sew the three open sides closed to the size required. Turn outside-in and fill

with beans — voila!

A travel bonus

A bonus of the beanbag is that it’s super easy to pack for travel. Simply empty the bag and fill it with beans when you arrive at your destination.

#DIY #HowTo #photographygoodpractice