Background Options?

[dennykyser]

I love to do portraits, unfortunatly I dont have a studio, so they are done in my limited space home during the winter.

I have a black cloth background from Background Outlet that works pretty well but with all my kids having dark hair can be tuff sometimes to use. I need something that can be taken down so dont think muslim is the answer. Although I do have room to store the backgrounds would have to be folded up some.

What color and type would you sugest? Any ideas would be appreciated.

[robertwgross]

I have one black one, but then I found I liked a gray one better. The gray one can accept some color if I need it. In fact, the gray one has just enough of a translucent thinness that I can put colored spot lights onto it from the rear, and the colored glow comes through. The advantage of having them behind the backdrop is that the light fixtures do not show and do not have to be hidden.

Normally, of course, it is more conventional to have a spot hidden directly behind the subject and shining onto the backdrop.

I also borrowed one from a friend, and it is of a light blue crushed velvet material. It sure eliminated any reflections, but the sucker was heavy.

---Bob Gross---

[robertwgross]

I have one black one, but then I found I liked a gray one better. The gray one can accept some color if I need it. In fact, the gray one has just enough of a translucent thinness that I can put colored spot lights onto it from the rear, and the colored glow comes through. The advantage of having them behind the backdrop is that the light fixtures do not show and do not have to be hidden.

Normally, of course, it is more conventional to have a spot hidden directly behind the subject and shining onto the backdrop.

I also borrowed one from a friend, and it is of a light blue crushed velvet material. It sure eliminated any reflections, but the sucker was heavy.

---Bob Gross---

[chris.bailey]

I have tried all sorts of paper and cloth and prefer paper myself. The cheapest background paper is a roll of lining paper which you can buy quite wide. It is off white but if you put a couple of lights onto it you can make it look very white. If you under expose it you can make it look quite dark. I also have a roll of black and various muslins and cloths. The one I want now is a chroma blue so as to be able to easily do cut-outs.

[TeraGram93013]

I need something that can be taken down so dont think muslim is the answer. Although I do have room to store the backgrounds would have to be folded up some.

I'm really confused by these two sentences.

Muslin seems to be your perfect solution. It is lightweight, folds easily, is readily ironed to remove storage wrinkles, etc. AND it is C-H-E-A-P! You could buy enough muslin at your local fabric store to dye it in whatever colors you desire. A few minutes with a sewing machine and you've got panels to fit whatever mood you desire. Give the kids some paint and some brushes and you could have custom jobs! :lol:

[Vegas Poboy]

I've used shower curtains & flat bedsheets for backdrops & both works well also not sure on your lighting but try putting hair lights / snoots on the children in order to give some seperation from the backdrop (low Key Lighting). You can use gels on black backdrops and can get some real nice effects.

[DaveG]

I love to do portraits, unfortunatly I dont have a studio, so they are done in my limited space home during the winter.

I have a black cloth background from Background Outlet that works pretty well but with all my kids having dark hair can be tuff sometimes to use. I need something that can be taken down so dont think muslim is the answer. Although I do have room to store the backgrounds would have to be folded up some.

What color and type would you sugest? Any ideas would be appreciated.

I do a lot of location portrait shooting. These are often corporate head and shoulder shots and I obviously use a background. I've been using the muslin tote-a-round type and I have three different sizes. These backdrops have a spring steel outside frame that you twist into a circle and the backgrounds are transported and stored this way.

With the big one (8'X8' with an 8' sweep) I support it by leaning it against a wall. The smaller versions are self supporting as well but I usually have them clamped to one light stand so I don't have to use a wall.

These backdrops aren't cheap so you may want to keep looking. If you have a semi permanent place in your home for shooting, the following might work: Get a couple of garage wall accessory supports. These are the things that screw into a wall beam and stick out five or six inches "to hold something". I use a pair of these about a meter and a half apart. I have a 1 inch wooden dowl that spans the support. I put the dowl throught he centre of a roll of very light grey paper no-seam.

I use this for a quick product background but you could do the same thing with the muslin rolled up on the dowl. The dowl (old broom handle?) and the supports should cost les than $10.

I would say without doubt the only colour to choose for a backdrop is grey. If it's grey it can be anything, all you have to do is to light it with a coloured gel. Any other colour that you choose would require you to "remove" that colour first, if your background colour needs change.

I guess the last point is that if I was doing portraits at my home I'd be doing my best to NOT use a backdrop. Sure for head shots you'll definitely need one, but I like the idea that there are real things in the background. For my bridal wedding portraits (shot on the day of the wedding) I build a little set behind the bride; using a small table, flowers I find in the home, and some candles. It's to keep the background from looking like a studio backdrop, and to add a spark of personalization to the portrait.