Background Selection Help, Please

I'm not certain if I'm posting this in the right place. If not, I apologize.

I usually have clients dress so the tone of the clothing is similar to the tone of the background (e.g. black clothing, black background, for lighter skin tones) to emphasize the face.

Recently, I've seen some portraits (can't remember where, or I'd include a link) where the color of the background closely matches the skin tone of the subject, and they looked beautiful to me. The way this was executed (I gotta find that link) I thought the blending of the tonalities really created a stunning look.

So, does anyone select backgrounds to blend with the tonality of the subject's skin? If so, would you mind sharing how you choose the color (and If you use a colored background, or gels) and how you light both the subject and background?

Bump.

Nobody has any thoughts about this?

HI Alex,

It's very common to select backgrounds that have similar tonality as the subjects clothing. Quite pleasing in fact.

Lighting is something that really can't be answered simply. Obviously it will depend on what you start with and the look you want to achieve. If you're using a gray or black background you would use gels or combinations of gels and light the background or parts of the background to the desired exposure. If you're working with muslin that is colored or has pattern the you have to think about how to light it or which part(s) to light to balance the tonality.

I don't change my backgrounds often, but I do change the color by using different gels. My typical setup is that subject about 8 feet from the background and lit by softbox, and I use a strobe with gels and grid spot attachment for the BG.

As for the color, with the same background, I can choose the gel that closely matches the subject's clothes..

TMR Design wrote in post #7338193
HI Alex,

It's very common to select backgrounds that have similar tonality as the subjects clothing. Quite pleasing in fact.

Lighting is something that really can't be answered simply. Obviously it will depend on what you start with and the look you want to achieve. If you're using a gray or black background you would use gels or combinations of gels and light the background or parts of the background to the desired exposure. If you're working with muslin that is colored or has pattern the you have to think about how to light it or which part(s) to light to balance the tonality.

Thanks Robert! I know your work has been influenced by Scott Smith and, if I recall correctly, he makes use of pastel-colored gels to accurately match the color of the background to the clothing. Do you use the pastels, also? If so, which do you prefer?

Lotto wrote in post #7338410
I don't change my backgrounds often, but I do change the color by using different gels. My typical setup is that subject about 8 feet from the background and lit by softbox, and I use a strobe with gels and grid spot attachment for the BG.

As for the color, with the same background, I can choose the gel that closely matches the subject's clothes..

Or use the opposite color to create a different mood..

Thanks for posting the photos, Lotto! What gels do you prefer, and did you shoot the portraits on a black background? I'm guessing you did due to the saturation of the colors.

I have of set of 20 color gels. Usually I would first pick one that I think it's in key with the subject's clothes, then I will let the kids or moms to pick their favorite colors. They often have fun with that and get more involved with the shoot.

That BG is grey-ish with pink spots muslin. As long as I could keep the main light off the background, I could pretty much turn it into any color. Darker color the BG, more saturated the color, but keep in mind that with dark fabric BG, deep color gels, and 20 degree grid, I would need 400-500 w/s strobe to shoot @ f8.

Alex_c70 wrote in post #7338601
Thanks Robert! I know your work has been influenced by Scott Smith and, if I recall correctly, he makes use of pastel-colored gels to accurately match the color of the background to the clothing. Do you use the pastels, also? If so, which do you prefer?

Hi Alex,

I use the Bogen Vivid Color pack and like it very much.