Photos using holiday backdrops?

The wife wants me to try using some of these holiday backdrops available on Amazon to do family Christmas pictures. Has anybody on this forum had any luck with this type of photography? I am thinking that using overlays might look better but not too sure. Please post some examples of your work!

I prefer overlays to give an image several different looks. Just didn't want to spend the money for a seasonal background and storing it.

DMPhotog wrote in post #19306938
I prefer overlays to give an image several different looks. Just didn't want to spend the money for a seasonal background and storing it.

I'm thinking the same thing but was hoping to see some examples using the B/G approach.

Assuming you are in Tampa, you have the Gulf of Mexico for Christmas backdrop, set up a small potted palm tree , wrap the trunk one of those white snow looking drops and hang Christmas decorations on it.

Add some cool drinks with lots of condensation on them to be held my the models and then you have a Christmas background, Florida style.

Also make sure you send larger prints to your relatives and friends up North freezing their nutz off.

Is this the sort of thing you are talking about?
During the first Covid lockdown we went a a virtual world tour in our campervan. I just made a cut-out and pasted it on various backdrops.

I have used black backdrops in the past and added bokeh backdrop effects during post processing for a church family portraits session.

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …i-krDDzsB-X3.jpg&lb=1&s=A

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …i-CdN4BqF-X3.jpg&lb=1&s=A

I'd actually do the shot on the beach.

If you use backdrops, the advice I give is to make sure you have enough lighting. You will want a bit of distance from the backdrop (depending on the backdrop), you will want to light up that backdrop pretty evenly to match the lighting of the subjects, and then lighting for the subjects. I even use small godox baby flashes to do rim lighting on the subjects to create some separation.

The same rules apply if using a green screen, but then make sure nobody is wearing green, or it makes post processing a bit more difficult. You put distance from the subjects and the green screen as to prevent any color bleed onto the subjects from the screen. One of the first mistakes I made in the beginning was having the green screen too close, and getting green tinting to shoulders, faces, etc.