Making a Studio in my living room...how do I do it cheapest.

[ShutteringFocus]

If that’s a word. Talking to me...cheapest is definitely a word :D

I have the perfect living room with a north east facing window that takes up almost an entire wall. It has drawable curtains so that the surface area of my "shadow box" can be changed.

I also have two gold/white reflectors.

Backgrounds are all I need. Im thinking Ill just get some fabric...probably on sale if Im lucky...at the local fabric store. What I'm wondering is if you could pick say 2-3 backgrounds...what colors would you pic? I'm thinking Black, White and some sort of muddled dark colors like black/gray together.

What I am thinking is the color effect of the white background could be changed with lighting...for example a blue light on the background would give it a blue huge. Does that work?

Are there any other tips anyone would have for setting up a little studio like this.

I have a few people who have asked me to shoot senior photos for them. I can do them outside pretty well and I have a good feel for how to make the sun work with me. (if I can say that without bragging :D ) but these people want "studio" shots too.

[Vegas Poboy]

To keep it simple, how big of a shoot is you looking to do?
a. Single or douple portraits?, local fabric shop will do
b. Group portraits purchase @ least 9-10' wide backdrops

Colors:
a. Black a must for low key
b. White a must for high key
c. Gray & gels will cover the rest, I prefer using a motted gray for
texture this is the one I would put the most money into.
I do most of my purchasing thru Denny's but they're others out there.

This will get you started the rest of it comes into knowing lighting & the effects you're trying to achieve.

Good luck

[robertwgross]

I did this once.

One black background. One gray background. The gray one is thin enough that I can light it up with color from behind and the color glow shows through. That makes it good if you want the glow directly behind the subject's head. However, it takes a pretty good intensity to get sufficient color going. If I get another background, it'll be blue.

The other thing I added was some continuous overhead light, like stage lights. At a big stage, you will see row after row of red, blue, and green floods shining shining down. Those work great for a concert with shiny brass musical instruments.

---Bob Gross---

[PhotosGuy]

Im thinking Ill just get some fabric.

You can get paper in 9' wide rolls for the shots where you don't want a texture in the background.

[ejwebb]

Check Walmart's bargain bins. I hqave found several styles of black, white and gray fabric on clearance for $1/yard.