Portraits: Choosing a Photographic Backdrop

For most people who are beginning photography with limited equipment, spending money on a photographic background may not be that important. In reality however, you can still create top quality photographs without running to buy backgrounds for your studio. Instead of an official photographic background, you can use other items as backdrops, like solid walls, wallpaper and different kinds of fabric. When you’re ready to buy backgrounds, you’ll already have an arsenal of colors and textures available. Some portrait specialists are partial to the use of muslin fabric as a background material, because it is portable.

Paper backgrounds are versatile and seamless but also don’t last as long as fabric or walls. Paper can be found in a variety of shapes and sizes, depending on your personal photographic needs and shorter lengths typically are less expensive to buy. Backgrounds can absorb and reflect light in a unique way, and depends on the color of the background. In addition, you have at your disposal, free sources of photographic backgrounds that exist in your own surroundings, including parks and walls.

You have the option to choose to work with the existing color of your surroundings, rather than resporting to other things that can cause distraction. Using a wide aperture can help to integrate a background into a portrait in a unique way. As an example, taking a photo of a chef with a background that includes a kitchen or food can enhance the subject. It’s important not to use this technique in a way that adds so many things in the background as to cause distraction from clutter. Varying the depth of field can help you separate the background from your subject.

Before you buy background material, think about the space you will use for your work and its dimensions and portability. Consider an image created by the use of two vertical surfaces slightly split apart, allowing light in from a strobe that is seated behind the surfaces, in the center. The light will illuminate through, creating a gradient effect that runs from top to bottom. Using a neutral grey background, preferably made of paper, will appear to be white if you add enough light and will appear black if you create distance between the light source and your background. If you’re working within a tight budget, this can be one of the easiest ways to enhance your image.

Photo by: Kerry Garrison