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    Making a Flash Snoot

    Greetings fellow shooters, it’s Pat Nagle here with another DIY project. Today I have another lighting project for you that can take your portrait photography to the next level. For our tutorial today, we will be learning how to make a flash snoot. Again, this is something that can easily be bought in store, but what’s the fun in that?! Plus we can save a pretty penny and have a little snack along the way with this DIY. First off, what is a snoot? Very similar to what the flash grid does in which it isolates the output of our speedlite. It gives a much more concentrated area for the viewer to look at and puts their eyes directly towards the subject. This is especially effective when you are shooting on location and there is a ton of clutter and distracting elements in your shoot. Call in the snoot and fire away for more dramatic images. So with that said, I hope you’re hungry because it’s time for some pringles.

  4. First off here are the materials needed:

    • Pringles can (I prefer sour cream and onion)

    • Box Cutter

    • Electrical Tape

    • Plastic Straws

    • Step 1: For the no brainer step here, we have to empty our pringles can! But who wants to waste? Get a bowl and set aside.

      Step 2: Take a pen/marker, your flash, and the pringles can. Place the can flush against the flash on its bottom end and trace the width of the flash.

      Step 3: Use your box cutter to cut out the measurement you traced. BE VERY CAREFUL, the edges of the can will be sharp so this step is certainly not for children. You will need to pry the two ends outward so the flash can fit inside.

      Step 4: Take your electrical tape and tape over any of the sharp edges that are poking out. You can also file down the edges, but the tape is probably the best and safest bet.

      Step 5: Using your plastic straws, bunch them all together and fill as many as it takes to fill the inside of the pringles can. You’ll realize as I did that plastic straws don’t come in a length longer than a pringles can, so I found it helpful to rubber band them together after putting them inside the can.

      And that is it, you are done! Now all there is left to do is get out and see how it works. I had a lot of fun taking this out and working with the effects it can do for you. Hope you enjoyed this DIY build and shoot. Be sure to check back for more projects in the future. Happy shooting everyone!