Backdrops For Studio

[minatophase3]

I am getting close to setting up a small studio. I think I have decided on the Alien Bees Digibee package, but still need to get some backdrops. Can anyone recommend a place to get them? Also, what size would I need to shoot mostly children and family portraits.

Thanks,
Tim

[DaveG]

I am getting close to setting up a small studio. I think I have decided on the Alien Bees Digibee package, but still need to get some backdrops. Can anyone recommend a place to get them? Also, what size would I need to shoot mostly children and family portraits.

Thanks,
Tim

You can get backdrops from Calumet and they sell many different types. I would suggest that you start with a mottled grey backdrop. With grey there is no colour bias in it at all and you can change the colours with gels on your background light. Even with digital it will be a pain to correct out a colour in your background, so start neutral.

For head and should shots of individuals and perhaps couples, a 4'X6' backdrop would be big enough. After that virtually any size will be too small for some things. Geez I had a client ask me what my backdrop for photographing her group was like. The problem was that her group had over a hundred people in it! I just told her that god didn't have a background that big!

With a little more seriousness an 8'X8' backdrop will do most four people groups and then the next size up should probably be based on the width of your studio. Having extra material to make a sweep is nice too. That way there's no seam.

Since all of my work is on location I use the Tote-a-Round products (Calumet used to sell these too) and they come in various sizes. My biggest is 8'X8' with an 8' sweep. Like those small reflectors these have a steel spring on the perimiter and the "twist up" into a circle for storage. The big one doesn't require any support other than a wall so I don't have to bring background stands. The smaller ones that I use for H&S shots are the lean-against-the-wall type too, but I prefer to hang them from one light stand. That way I don't need to have the wall define my "studio".

I've been using these backdrops for almost ten years now and I'm very happy with them. I do have to say that taking down the big one and getting it coiled up into a circle will take you 20 seconds one day and thirty minutes the next until you catch on to the trick! It also is something out off the three stooges if you try to set it up by yourself. With two people each person grabs a side and up it goes. By yourself you run from one side to the other since there's really no support from the edge steel. It's knd of droopy and takes a few trips to get it up. It can be done - and I've done it hundreds of times, but it sure is nice when there's someone hanging around that can help!

For a studio the extra expense of the Tote-a-Round compared to a hanging backdrop is probably not worth it, but for location work, it was the right answer for me.

[retro]

How much do they usually cost? Can you make your own amateur backdrop with any particular fabric? I was considering black for some projects. Thanks for your time!

[Persian-Rice]

You can sometimes find muslin at a fabric store.

[mjordan]

There is a company in Idaho that I have bought from that does a good job and are reasonable (as compared to some of the more expensive places out there). The name is Silverlake and their URL is:

http://www.silverlakephoto.com/Muslins.htm

I've got two of their handpainted muslins and they are very well done. And they are a Northwest company. :wink:

Mike

[retro]

Thanks for the info. I may be looking for a more solid black or white. A drop cloth if you may. Is there a particular fabric I should be looking for?

[Malaxos1]

www.backdropoutlet.com is pretty good. I got a raw muslin backdrop from them that wasn't right. I was planning on sending it back to them and they tolsd me to keep and then sent me a new one. This kind of service speaks volumes to me...Dean

[robertwgross]

There are different kinds of backdrops.

Sometimes you want one with mottled bright patches to go behind the subject's head. So, one that is medium dark gray and brown works for that. Muslin cotton is soft and holds the paint or dye good.

Sometimes you want one that seems to disappear into the black. For that, you want heavy black velvet. It will absorb just about every photon of light that is thrown at it. Unfortunately, heavy black velvet is expensive. A cheaper and lighter alternative is black velveteen. The cheaper and lighter you go, the more it will reflect. When you get to the ultimate in cheapness and lightness, you have an ordinary white cotton bed spread.

I got a piece of medium gray synthetic fabric that works good. If I put a bright colored light behind it, the color will shine through to make a color blotch on the otherwise-gray backdrop, which is a nice effect.

---Bob Gross---

[mikesd]

I have not purchased from this company but this seems to be a an economic way to get started when you purchase all four. http://web.ivenue.com/signaturebackgrounds/productCat38595.ctlg Also B&h and Adorama carries a huge amount of backgrounds.

[OviV]

Good info. Thanks

Ovi

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

Start out with black and white paper.
You have to invest in some sort of holding and catrolling mechanisme but it's the best investment you will do.

I have used it for over 6 months now and still use it every shoot.
Recently I switched to my new studio and found the time being right to go to a large blackoutcloth 10x21 and a white vinyl cloth 10x21 to replace the paper.

The advance of paper is that on the blackone you can throw whatever color for wonderful effects.
And the white will give you amazing blownout backgrounds, or you can aim colors at it also.

Muslims are very nice but the problem with the painted ones is that all photo's will look alike background wise.
I try to use a blackoutcloth/black paper on the back and use some sort of draping on the front.

Greetings,
Frank

Greetings,
Frank

[cmM]

I'll second Calumet. Good prices, and they have a great selection. I bought a couple from them (seamless paper), saved me a lot on shipping since I have one in my area.

For family/group shots, you gonna need the larger one 9' I'd say.

[mjordan]

If you want large black muslin, you can get it at http://www.chicagocanvas.com as well as other stuff. They have what they call Camando Cloth, which is black muslin where the thread is dyed black BEFORE the muslin is made. Much better than those that are dyed after they become muslin. I've bought a number of different colors plus natural and black from them.

Mike

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

I just bought a blackoutcloth also calles commando cloth from backdrop outlet and love it.
It really does what it should do, blackout the picture :D.