It's the goal of every photographer to do as much "in camera" as possible such as cropping, exposure, lighting etc. The more you do in camera the less time you spend in photoshop which means the faster you can produce your image. However many times, even after the extra in-camera-effort, the photo still needs a little love in photoshop to make it just right.
Building a light box is pretty easy stuff. A light box is particularly useful for product photography where you need a nice white background. Many people find that their products will actually sell faster with a more professional looking photo. Here you'll find a step by step on how to build your own DIY light box.
Sometimes you go the extra mile to set up a shot for that shock factor.
A replica of the stuffed animal I had when I was born. His name is Hotsy. I used to carry that thing with me everywhere.
My gadget of choice, the wonderful iPod. If you do not have one of these devices yet, you should and you will.
