Black background question

[Armywife]

So im pretty new to studio type photography. Infact, im very new to it. Ive always done outdoor stuff. I would really like to know how everyone gets such good results when using a back background, where the subject really stands out, and you really cant even tell what your using for the backdrop...

What kind of fabric is being used? Would i be able to achive that look with a black sheet, or is that a no go?

Lighting?

I dont have any studio lights yet, so i need to try and use what i can around the house. But i am doing some christmas shoots and really want to try to get it right, and i think if i cant get the look im thinking in my head im going to be really dissapointed!!!

Thanks in advance!!!

[PhotosGuy]

But i am doing some christmas shoots Of people?
Using WHAT cam & lens? What kind of fabric is being used? You could use this, Blackout Cloth (http://www.backdropoutlet.com/BLACKOUT-CLOTH/productinfo/AB109/), but it's more about the light on the subject vs background than anything else. Why Black, anyway?

[Armywife]

Yes it would be of children.

Right now i only have my Rebel XS and the 18-55mm kit lense.

And im asking about black becuase i really like the way it looks, i wish i had a picture so i could show you what im talking about. I just think it really make the child stand out. Personal liking i guess!!!

[PhotosGuy]

IMO, black is way too dramatic for kids. If you have a big window for light, put a big white card on the shadow side & try something like this:
VERY simple "outdoor studio" (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=122297)
There's a step-by-step WB & exposure workflow in post #15.

[breathless]

...What kind of fabric is being used? Would i be able to achive that look with a black sheet, or is that a no go?

Lighting?...

To achieve a completely black background you can use a black sheet, a gray sheet, a red sheet, a blue sheet, even a white sheet. The trick is to limit the amount of light falling on the background. Using a black background, the light on the background simply needs to be -2 or more stops from the foreground. Using brighter backgrounds, it will need to be -5 or more stops from the foreground. Easy to achieve in a large studio, still doable in a small space with some control of lights. Some good related topics to research on light, which supplement black background techniques are, "light fall-off", "inverse square law", "light modifiers/direction/shape of light."