Solutions For Storing Soft Boxes

[smoke665]

The good news is I've accumulated some descent softboxes. The bad news is storage. My studio is in my garage, so when I'm done, I have to make way for the car. Breaking them down, every time is really a PITA. Anyone have any good ideas as to how they store theirs?

 

[Derrel]

hang them from walls, or leave 'em mounted on a light on a stand, or put them face-down on the floor, or collapse them and store 'em in tall laundry baskets.. all four ways

 

[smoke665]

hang them from walls,

Thought about this option, what do you use? Also thought about hanging them upside down from the ceiling?

 

[Derrel]

twine harnesess

 

[ac12]

hang them from walls,

Thought about this option, what do you use? Also thought about hanging them upside down from the ceiling?

Make sure you cover the back opening, so dust, dirt and bugs don't go inside.

 

[ac12]

The good news is I've accumulated some descent softboxes. The bad news is storage. My studio is in my garage, so when I'm done, I have to make way for the car. Breaking them down, every time is really a PITA. Anyone have any good ideas as to how they store theirs?

Agree. PITA
I fact, sometime I don't want to use the softbox, cuz I don't want the hassle of assembly and disassembly.
The older stuff is a lot more of a hassle to assemble/disassemble, than the newer easy to use umbrella style boxes.

 

[smoke665]

The older stuff is a lot more of a hassle to assemble/disassemble, than the newer easy to use umbrella style boxes.

Couple are new style that fold up but they still have grids and diffusion to deal with. Just not a good way of dealing with them, when your space is limited.

Picked up some "U" shaped garage hooks today, that I'm going to try.

 

[Derrel]

The old idea of hanging tools on the wall, or from the ceiling makes a lot of sense

 

[adamhiram]

Couple are new style that fold up but they still have grids and diffusion to deal with.

That was going to be my first question - my storage space is very limited, so it was a hard requirement that any modifiers I bought had to be collapsible for easy storage and quick setup, without having to deal with a rod-and-speedring setup. I have a large stripbox that I can collapse with double diffusion and the grid attached, an octobox that can be collapsed with double diffusion on but not the grid, and 2 square softboxes that need both the outer diffusion and grids removed, so you can guess which ones I use the most just out of convenience.

A couple quick thoughts I had, based on some other studio setups I've seen

• Pegboard or other hooks: you may be able to hang your modifiers on pegboard hooks using the mount side
• Put some Balcar mounts on the wall or ceiling and mount them as if you were attaching them to lights
• What about velcro strips? Most softboxes have velcro around the edge for attaching a fabric grid - perhaps it could serve double duty as a storage mechanism

Please keep us posted!

 

[smoke665]

Put some Balcar mounts on the wall or ceiling and mount them as if you were attaching them to lights

Thought about this, but the big ones are awkward to handle at best, so trying to mate them to mount high up on a wall would be tricking. I picked up some wall mounts like these to try.

 

[JBPhotog]

I think your hooks will do the job. Depending on how often you use your boxes they may become dusted with particulates from the vehicle emissions, the first 60 seconds of startup are particularly dirty, unless of course you have gone full e.

 

[mrca]

My 7' octa is the largest problem. It is on a rolling stand and is rolled with the front against the wall. Takes up minimal room. I have the speedring attached to the stand/arm with a spigot so the weight isn't supported by the light retention springs. I can take the light off for use elsewhere and hang it off the soft box like a camera on a large lens. I do have safety wire that clips to the light just in case.

 

[mrca]

Oh, and if you haven't tried assembling a 7' octa that has individual struts, there is a reason it is called an octa, not 8 sides because it is like wrestling an octopus. I always wear safety glasses when assembling as those struts could do some serious damage if one slips as mine often do.

 

[smoke665]

Oh, and if you haven't tried assembling a 7' octa that has individual struts, there is a reason it is called an octa, not 8 sides because it is like wrestling an octopus. I always wear safety glasses when assembling as those struts could do some serious damage if one slips as mine often do.

I can imagine. Have a 36x48 with spring steel struts that's bad enough.