Or … buy a couple of 500 or 250 watt blue photofloods and a couple of socket/reflectors at the hardware. Maybe $30 total.

I shoot a lot of artwork for people – painters, sculptors, jewelers.

The tent is great for jewelry and small sculpture, but for paintings I just use the floods with the piece on an easel in front of a black background (in my case, it’s an old sheet).

If your products are fairly small, the 250 bulbs should be more than enough. Place them at 45 degree angle on each side of the product for even lighting. Higher, lower … whatever works best. And vary the distance of the lights from the product.

I’ve found that the best white balance setting for my work is the sunlight setting. But you should experiment a little. Auto WB might also work for you.

Then just use the skills you learned in your photo classes to get good even light, use your tripod and if you have one, use your macro lens to get close-ups or buy a “close-up filter kit”.

Link to light tent construction.

http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-make-a-inexpensive-light-tent/

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html