- This topic has 8 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 5 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
I’m preparing for the school picture season. I shot school pictures for a couple of Christian school and am in need of a new background. The two main problems I’ve had with my current set up is wrinkles and not being wide enough for small groups.
I need it to be portable so I can easily use it on location. I’ve been researching different options and set up, but I still can’t land on what would be best for me. Does anyone have experience with using seamless backgrounds? I’d greatly appreciate any advice! Thanks! -Hannah
What size do I need? For: head shots, waist up, couples, small group, large family
What do I need it for? School individual shots and small groups. Corporate head-shots. Might get in to newborns in the future.Current set Up.
Backdrop size: 4.33×8’
PVC stand size: 7w×8h’Westcott X-drop pro Kit
Backdrop size- 5×7’, 8×8’, or 8×13’(with sweep)
cost:$175
Cost separate:
stand: $140
background: $90- $180
pros:
Portable
tension reduces wrinkles
Can use a full sweep
quality fabric
cons:
Only 8 ft wide.
specialty colors are expensive
can’t use the stand for anything else
can’t use horizontally
fabric, so still could have wrinkles
questions:
could you put grommets into cheaper fabric backgrounds?Backdrop stand with paper
Backdrop size: 10×7”
total cost:$125
Stand:$35
Paper:$90
pros:
Paper is seamless and wrinkle free
cons:
not as portable
Paper doesn’t have any gradients.
Can’t clean
not long lasting
Not as many colors
If using fabric, more prone to wrinkles.
Questions:
How long lasting is the paper?Pop up background
Size: 5×6.5’
total cost: $147
Stand: $35
pop up background: $99
clip: $12
Pros:
can use horizontal or vertical
portable
only need one stand
two backgrounds in one
keeps it taunt to reduce wrinkles
Can use the stand for other purposes
Nice color options
Cons:
can’t do full body seamless
smaller size
fabric, so could still wrinkleAttachments:
I like the idea of a stretched background for taking care of wrinkles. However, a cheap way to get rid of wrinkles is to spay it with water and wait for 15min or so for it to dry.
The size would be determined by how far away it is from the subjects. Usually I like to keep several feet between the subject and background, meaning I need a bigger background. However, it’s fine if it’s like inches away if there are no shadows, which depends on the lighting setup you have. I don’t have enough experience to tell you exactly what to do, but generally I like the background further away because it helps prevent shadows from being a problem. If you can get shots without shadows with the background closeup, then you won’t need a very large background.
Good question about the grommets! I assume so. To hang cloth from my backdrop stand along an edge that doesn’t have a loop, I use these cheap clips: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZX18J9Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
From how I’ve seen others use paper, it’s kinda disposable. They use say, 10ft, for a photoshoot, cut off what is dirty/scaped/wrinkled, and then use new paper for the next shoot. I thought about using paper, but it’s bulky (can’t fold up, hard to port around) and all wrinkles are taken care of for me with a spray bottle on my cloth backdrops.
That last option looks pretty neat! I don’t think it would be useful for anything more than 1 person, maybe 2 people close together.
@JamesStaddon,Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences! It was very helpful.
I’m going to have to practice with just a plain sheet to try out the spray bottle technique. Also, I’ll play around with the distance to learn more about shadows and how many people can fit in the space.
Has anyone used a Muslin, Crushed Muslin or Microfiber backdrop? I was considering what would be a good fabric option.
@blessingscaptured, I have not! What are the attributes of those specifically that cause you to gravitate toward them?
I like the gradient and texture of color they have. (If that makes sense.) I like it that they’re not just one solid color. I haven’t been able to find any other fabrics that have that type of color option. (Without being a lot more expensive.)
What I don’t like about Muslin is how people where saying that it wrinkles very easily and must be ironed on location.
I was hoping to find a fabric that doesn’t require a lot of prep when working on a tight schedule, has a “fine art look”, and wasn’t very expensive. Maybe that’s too tall of an order. 🙂
Yeah, the “not-wrinkling” part I think is the difficulty. Since most anything is going to wrinkle when folded, it’s probably going to be more expensive to get a material that won’t wrinkle. I wonder, are there any household materials that you notice don’t wrinkle at all?
Have you been able to try the spray bottle method?
Another thought that came to mind is if a cloth is NOT folded, and just compressed into a bag or something, then when it’s unfolded, the wrinkles would almost provide texture to the backdrop.
Also, stretching the fabric will make wrinkles less noticeable. I was using a wrinkled backdrop last week, and weighing the backdrop down with hymnals really helped. 🙂
Hey @blessingscaptured!
Maybe some types of curtain fabric (like velvety ones, possibly?) would be suitable? Although you would have to find a way to hang it etc.!
Also, you might find curtains or something at what we call an ‘op-shop’. You would probably know them better as ‘thrift stores’😊😊
-Laura
Thank you @JamesStaddon and @laura-aome for your thoughts and ideas!
I’m keeping an eye out for materials that don’t wrinkle. A large curtain would be an option, Laura. The background I use now is a curtain. Most of the wrinkles are taken care of when I stretch the background with “A clamps”. I’ll have to try weighting down the bottom as well.I tested the spray bottle method on a plan, wrinkly sheet. It didn’t work very well when that sheet was just hanging loose. I think I’d need to combine several methods. Have it not very wrinkly to start with, weigh it down, use a spray bottle, and stretch it tight.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.