Studio wallpaper - recommendation needed

Flashman

Flashman

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Keith
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I have a corner of my studio set up as a 'lounge' set but am not happy with the wallpaper I have used:

Studio-wallpaper.jpg


It's really difficult to get pleasing results with this paper, maybe the black pattern is too dark and absorbs too much light while the silver/grey is just a bit too reflective... not sure what the problem is really, it just looks pants!

Anyways... I'm not sure what to replace it with, anybody have any specific suggestions?
 
Bumpette... A bit of an obscure question I know but one last try to see if anyone has any ideas...?
 
It's a difficult one to answer!

I suppose, "Go to B&Q and pick something that does not have those qualities" is the answer. Which does not feel like a very helpful reply.........

Too white and you run the risk of it bleeding back. I suppose something creamy with some detail that does not reflect would be along my thinking. :)

Hope you are doing well, not heard from you in a while :)
 
Thanks Ali, yeah I guess 'trial and error' is the way to go... or in my case more like 'error and more error'! :D I think the light colour with non-reflective pattern sounds like a good start... thanks!

AliB said:
Hope you are doing well, not heard from you in a while :)
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I'm doing good... thanks for the kind thought! Ever since I decided to have a go at making this photography lark a full time business I've not had a minute to myself so haven't been on here much. Getting more organised now though so hope to be around a bit more. Thanks for the reply... really appreciate it!
 
Does it have to be wallpaper? How about a plain painted wall instead?
2 thoughts on this...

1. Wallpaper is a statement of taste. If your sitters don't share your taste then they probably won't like the photos. That's just human nature, and human nature isn't always logical. Plain, painted walls are bland and are unlikely to be disliked by most people - even if they don't actually like them
2. Painted walls are versatile. You can change their shade, tone, even colour in PP , and vignette them very easily. See the portraits by Marc Gouguenhem on the Lencarta website. I happen to know that his background is a beige coloured wall.

There are plenty more examples, shot against the same plain wall, on Marc's website
 
Garry Edwards said:
Does it have to be wallpaper? How about a plain painted wall instead?
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Yeah, you're absolutely right, Garry... But I already have another similar area with an off-white painted wall and another area with background paper, the wallpapered corner is for variety.

Nice link.. thanks!
 
"our" local B&Q are quite happy for you to rip of a foot (or three :D)
of open rolls to try at home, I guess that they all are?

That might be easier than lugging half a studio down to there :shrug: :D
 
Bought some today, a light neutral grey with a subtle texture. Now to hang it... that's the rest of my bank holiday sorted then! :'(
 
Flashman said:
Yeah, you're absolutely right, Garry... But I already have another similar area with an off-white painted wall and another area with background paper, the wallpapered corner is for variety.

Nice link.. thanks!
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Why would it be a good idea to have an off white painted wall rather than totally white?

I like work from the link and the backgrounds are ace, i take it these have been added later in pp, is extracting the subject easier if shot against an off white rather than pure white?
 
khani said:
Why would it be a good idea to have an off white painted wall rather than totally white?

I like work from the link and the backgrounds are ace, i take it these have been added later in pp, is extracting the subject easier if shot against an off white rather than pure white?
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If the wall is off white then it's easier to get it a darker shade of grey than if the wall is pure white, especially in a limited space. It's also easier to get a saturated colour (using lighting gels on the background) and just as easy to get it looking pure white.
 
So painting all the walls of a studio 50% grey would be a good idea? leaving the celling white?
 
khani said:
So painting all the walls of a studio 50% grey would be a good idea? leaving the celling white?
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Black is the ideal ceiling colour, it prevents unwanted light bounce from the ceiling, allowing much greater control
 
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