Take a picture of your in-house set for an acting audition
Create and photograph a simple in-house acting set using furniture, props, and lighting; arrange the scene to support your audition monologue and costume.
About this activity
Create and photograph a simple in-house acting set using furniture, props, and lighting; arrange the scene to support your audition monologue and costume.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Choose the monologue you will perform and decide the feeling or story you want the set to show.
- 2
Step 2
Pick a room or corner in your house that matches the mood of your monologue.
- 3
Step 3
Clear the chosen space so there is room for your furniture and props.
- 4
Step 4
Select one or two pieces of furniture to act as the base of your set.
- 5
Step 5
Arrange the furniture to make a stage area or a scene that supports your character.
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Step 6
Choose three props that help tell your character’s story and place them on or near the furniture.
- 7
Step 7
Put up a sheet or blanket behind your furniture to make a clean backdrop and fasten it with tape or clothespins.
- 8
Step 8
Place a lamp to light the most important part of the scene and turn the lamp on.
- 9
Step 9
Move the lamp to different spots to see which light makes the mood you want.
- 10
Step 10
Put on your costume pieces and hold the props you will use in your audition.
- 11
Step 11
Stand or sit where you will perform and rehearse your monologue while facing the set.
- 12
Step 12
Ask an adult to help take several photos of your set and your audition pose.
- 13
Step 13
Make small adjustments to the furniture props or lighting if a photo doesn’t look right and take one final photo.
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Step 14
Share your finished creation on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do I create and photograph an in-house acting set for my child's audition?
Start by reading the monologue and choosing a corner of your home that fits the scene. Move furniture to suggest place and scale, place a few meaningful props, and set the costume. Use one or two lamps for directional light; soften harsh light with a sheet or reflector. Position the camera at the actor’s eye level, stabilize it on a tripod or stack of books, rehearse blocking, then take several photos from different angles and distances.
What materials do I need to build and photograph a simple in-house acting set?
You’ll need a smartphone or camera and a tripod or steady surface, plus lamps or desk lights for lighting. Gather furniture (chair, small table), a few relevant props, costume pieces, and a plain sheet or poster board for a backdrop or reflector. Keep tape, clothespins, and a simple reflector (white cardboard) on hand. Optional: a remote shutter or timer, extension cords, and snacks for breaks.
What ages is this in-house acting set activity suitable for?
This activity suits a wide range: preschoolers (with brief, guided lines) through teens who can handle longer monologues and set design. Ages 3–6 need close adult supervision and simpler props; ages 7–12 can help arrange the set and learn basic lighting; teens can manage framing, costume choices, and multiple takes. Always supervise for safety around lamps, cords, and small parts.
What are the benefits of creating and photographing a home acting set for an audition?
Building and photographing a home set boosts confidence, helps a child embody their character, and practices audition focus. It teaches storytelling, problem solving, basic staging, and simple photography skills. The exercise makes costume and prop choices purposeful and reduces nerves by simulating audition conditions. It’s low-cost, encourages creativity, and can be a fun family collaboration that supports performance and communication development.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have a sheet, lamp, or clothespins for the backdrop and lighting?
Use a flat bedsheet, a piece of poster board or large cardboard for the backdrop fastened with binder clips or heavy books, and replace the lamp with a desk lamp, clip light, or flashlight softened with white paper.
My backdrop keeps falling and the photos are too dark—what should we try?
Secure the sheet or blanket with tape, binder clips, or heavy books as in step 7, move the lamp closer or add a second lamp from step 9, and take several test photos while adjusting furniture, props, and lamp position before the final photo.
How can we adapt this audition set activity for younger children or teens?
For younger kids, choose a very short monologue, use one chair and two simple props with an adult helping place the lamp and take photos, while older kids can build a more detailed set, try different lighting angles, and rehearse facing the set longer.
What are some ways to enhance or personalize the set for a more professional look?
Add a painted or paper backdrop behind the furniture, use fairy lights or colored bulbs for mood lighting, mark the stage area with tape, create themed costume pieces and props, and record a short video as well as photos to share on DIY.org.