Backdrops?

D

Danny133

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,530
Name
Daniel
Edit My Images
Yes
Looking for some backdrops to take portraits with ..

Anyone have any good tips or ideas?

Shall I just buy a White and black sheet? :S
 
It really depends what kind of portraits.

If you want full length body shots, then you need a backdrop long enough to cover the floor. If your doing headshots, then you don't.

I have done full length shots using an old quilt cover, split at the seams.
I have also used a fleecy brown blanket as a headshot background.

Are you going to be using at home or at other locations? what kind of spce do you have? can you store much?
 
Going to try at home so wondered if a big White sheet would work lol how do I light it?
 
I started out with a cheap collapsible reversible black/white background from ebay. One massive advantage over using sheets was that the metal frame holds the fabric taut so you don't have to worry about creases. I also found it easier to get black backgrounds where as my sheet attempts tended to look grey.
Sheets will work, but invest in a good iron! :lol:
 
Hi Danny,

It would be really useful for you to maybe get in touch with a photographic studio company that would rent stage lights. They might be able to reccomend to you what would suit for the particular type of shoot that you want to do.
Also in regard to the background, I reccomend a white sheet defnitley and black will kill the natural colour. Hope this helps!
 
Danny - if you're just trying it out to see what works....

Sheet / quilt cover can work easily enough, put it near a North facing window (I think North is right) so you can get as much natural light on the subject as possible.....

Something like a table lamp on the opposite side of the subject to the window to balance the light out....sorted.

If you get decent natural light, you can avoid flash at that....:)
 
a white sheet can work well as a backdrop ,it needs to be crease free if posible and about 1 to 1 and 1/2 stops over exposed a flash each side is ideal i would go for 3/4 shots rather than full lenth then you dont have to worrie about light at the feet.
Rob.
 
And is on board flash enough?

Basically I hve a 50D and a 50 1.8 .. I want a big White background and floor covering sO I can do nice portraits.

I'm stuck lol .. Moneys an issue so cheap as poss lol
 
Danny133 said:
And is on board flash enough?

Basically I hve a 50D and a 50 1.8 .. I want a big White background and floor covering sO I can do nice portraits.

I'm stuck lol .. Moneys an issue so cheap as poss lol
Click to expand...

Hi Danny
a stop is an F stop i.e f4 f5.6 f8 f11 f16 .
To be honest you need to learn a bit about lighting as on board flash is not up to the job
it wont light the background and your subject and give a nice white background, the back ground needs its own light to make it white do some testing and see what you come up with .
Rob.
 
If your looking to do it on the (relatively) cheap you can pick up large canvases which can act as good backgrounds. Still got one that I bought a long time back for about £15 which allows me to frame head down to waist on a crisp white b/g. Just consider how to get the b****r home though as some of them are pretty big and awkward.
 
Danny, not being funny mate, but for someone wanting to take portraits and not knowing what a stop is, I think you should learn some basic toggery and about your camera first.

In the meantime take portraits in natural light, perhaps using AV/AP mode and experimenting with different apertures, and taking note of the settings etc.

I am going through a difficult/personal time at the moment, but hopefully by the spring I will feel more settled. If this is the case, I will be more than willing to meet up with you, share some of my gear and knowledge etc. as I live in Ipswich too.

I am not a pro togger but have breifly stepped into that arena for a short time, and I learnt a lot. Just don't run before you can walk, and enjoy getting to know your camera in the meantime.
 
Well i know what a stop is 5.6 8 11 lalalala but don't understand what they do etc. I'm learning it all lol
 
if you go outside and take various pics at various stops, review them on a computer and then understand what different stops do

then do the same with shutter speeds

that wil give you a basic idea of what does what and you can then go into more depth
 
NigelPaul said:
Danny, not being funny mate, but for someone wanting to take portraits and not knowing what a stop is, I think you should learn some basic toggery and about your camera first.

In the meantime take portraits in natural light, perhaps using AV/AP mode and experimenting with different apertures, and taking note of the settings etc.

Just don't run before you can walk, and enjoy getting to know your camera in the meantime.
Click to expand...

I tend to agree. It escapes my mind just now (long day lol) but there's a thread explaining the relationship between f-stops, ISO, shutter speed etc. Prob worth a search. Once you 'get' the connection, it's easier to work around to your own style.
 
i understand f stops - i didnt really need to ask but figured it wouldnt hurt for someone to drum it again

the DOF and the blurryness and how much light its letting in so how fast or slow it is yadda yadda

the way i see it is - im learning. why not learn in the subject i want to photograph straight away.

that way i can learn ISO, aperture, shutter speed all while im doing it.

i understand shutter speed and panning .. fast for moment capture .. slow for blurred shots ..

ISO for lighting and aperture for DOF, or at least thats my understanding anyway :S
 
Give me a minute mate, and I'll put in links to a couple of threads of mine, should help you out......
 
thats fantastic mate!

more than enough for what i want :)

ill get myself a pop up background or plain white sheet and a flash and ill be away!
 
No problem, looking forward to seeing them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top