Backdrops for beginners

[Fulhair]

I'm starting to do some studio photography, basically family portraits and children shots, with an option to get ‘creative’ in the future. Was thinking high and/or low key backgrounds (i.e. black and white). I don't have a dedicated room so the dining room would have to suffice. The backdrop would need to ‘roll out’ when required and fit for transport in a hatchback.

Question is what do I do for a background? I was initially thinking a bit 'Heath Robinson' with a bed sheet peg to chairs and curtain rails though a 'collapsible' background was suggested.

I've seen stuff from Lastolite with 'pop-up' backgrounds or various kinds, some of which seem reversible but expensive for basic ones.
The ‘High lite’ type one seems promising but even more expensive given the additional cost for more lights to get an even high key effect. But they seem easy enough to set up and have 'bottle tops' for other colours.

There is also the standard frame with cloth or paper but not sure this would be any better?

So what do people recommend? What works and what would it cost? Thanks in advance.

 

[marts_uk]

I use wallpaper on MDF, works well.

You can buy printed vinyl backdrops too

 

[JonathanRyan]

I use a wall.

 

[marts_uk]

I wish I could transport a wall to clients houses, would make life much easier ;-)

 

[Fulhair]

Wall is not really an option as not many houses have a plain wall to use.
MDF may be okay but would stuggle to get them in my motor or store them.
Anyone have experience of pop up backgrounds or how well they work?

 

[Stevenuth]

I've found a couple of low cost solutions I you're photographing head shots or small children.
1- white vinyl table cloth from a fabric outlet
2- coloured background paper from a school suppliers.
Both are under 2m wide but can be fixed to a background system.

I was also thinking of wallpaper on foamboard as its a lot lighter than mdf and you can use the white side as a low cost reflector!

 

[JonathanRyan]

I wish I could transport a wall to clients houses, would make life much easier ;-)

My clients supply their own. It's what they use to make the ceiling too low.

 

[HughTFall]

I agree with @Fulhair that a wall is not really an option. I suggest a plain colored curtain as a background for it is affordable and durable at the same time.

 

[JonathanRyan]

It's not the curtain that's the problem - it's holding it up against the wall.

It amazes me the lengths people go to to hold one blank background in front of another.

 

[DemiLion]

My clients supply their own. It's what they use to make the ceiling too low.

Don't they usually keep the ceilings up as well?

I agree with Jonathan though. Why stick a background up in someone's house unless you want to play Venture looky likey. Its their house, use your imagination to do an environmental portrait. Failing that, blast the hell out of the wall with a couple of lights.

 

[Dan_H]

surely it depends on the colour of the wall though?

I'd imagine on a magnolia wall it wouldnt be to difficult to get high key, and you can do low key without a background at all if you get the lighting right.

The only other issue i can see with using a wall (looking around my own living room) is that people have stuff on the wall. i have photos, shelves, mirror etc so a clean background would be a non starter.

 

[Hodders]

Use the house. I have a studio but also go to peoples houses if they want. Get kids to play peek-a-book over sofa arms, roll up in duvets, lie on the floor, play etc. Large appertures throw the BG oof and the whole look can be great....

All the indoor shots on my website under the location portfolio were on client sites and not a backdrop amongst them.

 

[Dan_H]

Do you just use on board flash or still use a studio light set up without bg?

 

[Hodders]

most indoor home shots are done with natural light with a reflector if necessary, I always take lighting with me just in case the clients live in a cave...

 

[JonathanRyan]

Do you just use on board flash or still use a studio light set up without bg?

Available light, studio lights, OCF. Whatever.

Stop thinking of it as a studio shoot without a studio and think of it as an environmental shoot.

 

[Hodders]

Available light, studio lights, OCF. Whatever.

Stop thinking of it as a studio shoot without a studio and think of it as an environmental shoot.

Exactly - it's what makes them so much fun. Looking at a house and working out where the light will fall, where the shots will happen etc.

Plus a lot of people are far more relaxed in their own home and the shots can be a lot better as that relaxation comes through...

 

[Fulhair]

Thanks all for the advice.
I experimented and managed to get a great family shot using a window onto the garden as a back drop with a shallow DOF to good effect. Took quite a few attempts as getting two young children to 'co-operate' was tricky but well worth the effort.

That said I just snagged a hi-lite background on ebay for a bargin price. Thing is HUGE and it's going to take some time to work out best how to use it any excuse to experiment. Also didn't realise but the back of them is black so another surface to play with!

 

[ChrisMClark]

Anyone have experience of pop up backgrounds or how well they work?

In my experience, thay're an absolute ballache. I have an interfit giant collapsible, 2.5m square with a 2.5m train and the thing never stays up, even on the stand that Interfit recommend. I've only ever used it once (for a 3 days shooting a dancing school) and I had to nail it to the wall. I've not used it since; although I may have a nother go now I've got a 'goalpost' style support system.

 

[Steve T]

I agree with @Fulhair that a wall is not really an option. I suggest a plain colored curtain as a background for it is affordable and durable at the same time.

And I would listen to this man, I just took a peep at his site If I ever get that good, small hats wouldn't be an option.

Hugh, those pictures are fantastic product shots mate

 

[omnibackdrops]

Im not on this forum to sell or anything but just to chit chat and learn, but honestly you can get a decent quality backdrop for $50 bucks. Especially black and white Muslin types that look like storm clouds. I myself think their gorgouse as does some local photographers. Ive been on a few forums and heard negative reviews about the bed sheet idea. Alot of guys start out doin this thinking its a good solution and inexspensive. Again i recommend Muslin or canvas. Canvas being very expensive at times.

 

[Brian_of_Bozeat]

Hi, I am pretty new to this but I am using an old white slide projector screen that I have had in the loft for years, comes with its own stand too! bet I could get another from a car boot for a £5 if I looked.

 

[Pmc2011]

You can get a stand cheap enough then if a client wants photos similar to the venture tosh then I use a 100% thick cotton fabric which is great as can be washed to remove any marks under very high heat.
From a beginner perspective a white background is the hardest to work with as you need to get the light balanced across the whole background.

Black grounds need to find a fabric which absorbs the light and not reflects it velvet is the best for this.

My favourite is black background without one, where you underexpose the background 2 stops away from your subject whom you light with a softbox or flash gun.

 

[DannyBarkerPhoto]

I am in the same situation, and with the added problem of NOT having a car to transport everything, I have to think practically !

As I work for Tesco Home Plus, I can get a massive selection on King-size Flat Sheets in almost endless Shades ! I am going for ease, and economy to start with, with visions of building it up to more substantial gear !