How can I light product photos without a light tent or extra studio lights?

Yes—if you can’t use a light tent, the next best simple option is to create a large reflective environment.

A practical approach is to use a speedlight bounced off a white ceiling in a small white room. Zoom the flash wide and aim it upward so the ceiling becomes a big soft light source. If your flash head swivels, you can even keep it on-camera and let TTL handle exposure. Adding a small white card behind the flash can kick a little light forward while still keeping the light soft.

For a quick all-in-one setup, many objects can also be photographed in a clean white bathtub. The tub acts like a giant reflector and also gives you a uniform white background. If needed, a simple LED worklight can illuminate the tub and let the reflected light wrap around the product.

These methods work especially well when you need soft, even light without a tent. For reflective items like glass artwork, watch for unwanted reflections from the room and adjust your shooting angle as needed.