how to make a backdrop


As long as you can find a good light source (aka the sun) then you can pretty much shoot anywhere!  Living in Oregon you learn to become an indoor natural light photographer quickly, especially during the cold months.  Since I moved out of my photo studio, although I can rent time there, the access isn't as easy as just driving down there since I now need to make sure its available from the other photographers.  So I usually use my house or neighborhood for any photo backdrops I may need.  The area next to my back door is perfectly lit since the sun never directly shines right onto it and the white walls create a perfect bounce of clean light.

I'm going to show you a simple way to make a backdrop in your home for models, products, family pics, self-portraits.. really anything.  I used music note pages from an old book that I got at Goodwill for 25cents and your options on this project are endless as you can use printed fabric, scrap book paper, old book pages, fabric tassels.. see, really anything!

So this is the back corner of my kitchen that leads to my backyard/garage through the left door and my basment through the right door.  With that door to the left open its shines so bright and I knew I wanted to tone it down just a bit, so the dull cream color of the book pages was perfect for that. (please excuse the random dog leash pot holder collection we have going on.. keepin' it real!)


I took the pages out of the book and just started taping them to the basement door, figuring out how far down I would need to go to make sure when I took the photographs of my models I wouldnt see any white behind them. See the little orange helicopter sticker on our door? Thats my husbands' companies logo, we have those damn things everywhere.. cars, doors, suitcases.. you name it!



So you can see once I was finished I really didn't have to cover much of an area because the door will be open I will stand outside of the door on my back patio and have the model stand directly in front of the backdrop.. I also did some product shots and just placed the items on a tall table and shot those in front of the backdrop too.  You do not have to be a professional photographer with fancy equipment and money spent on backdrops or locations to get the picture you desire.  Sure I'm a photographer and I shoot in manual, but if you have good light coming in your camera will do just fine on auto.  Have fun with this!


Supplies Needed:
A wall or area next to direct light coming in
Backdrop materials (paper, fabric, etc)
Tape

Little Job, Huge Impact

 

To see this tutorial used by someone else check out how

Did you use this tutorial? Send me the link and I will post it here.

22 comments:

  1. Great tutorial! AND great effect!

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  2. such a great tutorial! thank you for sharing how you did this heather. I loved the musical note backdrop when i first saw it.

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  3. I love this tutorial, I would have never thought of using a space like this! You made it look gorgeous! I'm so excited to see your products on models! I had heard such amazing things about you using models for your projects and then I could never find the pictures, so I'm SO glad to know you're going back to that. I absolutely love your style and your shop. And the topics you write about on your blog.

    Happy weekend!

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  4. such a great idea! those last photos are stunning.

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  5. Thanks for this! So easy yet so effective!

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  6. Such a great idea and helpful tip!-Jessica

    http://thirtyandgirly.blogspot.com/

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  7. Great tips - thanks Heather!

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  8. I absolutely LOVE this tutorial. And girl, I could not be more excited for the new products!!! I have 6 of your darling headbands already and I need more. ;)

    xo.

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  9. That's so smart. Love it!

    P.S. I need that bow

    www.luxeboulevard.com

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  10. LOVE! I love the bow, your photo, and the idea for the backdrop!! Thank you so much for sharing :)

    -Kelsey
    poofycheeks.blogspot.com

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  11. Thank you for sharing! I love your backdrop in the finished photos!

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  12. This is great! I've just found your blog via someone's recommendation on HGTV's webpage and am now off to recommend it to my friend who is due to start a business facebook page soon - I think she'll love the banner tutorial. Will definitely be adding you to my google reader list :)
    Claire

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  13. Love the sheet music as the backdrop. in college a friend and I did the same thing but with "W" magazines pages and it was great for a fashion photo shoot. Thanks for sharing!

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  14. This is so great! I could easily see this with newspaper, tissue paper... endless possibilities. Oh and those photos at the end with perfect lighting? awesome!


    --Fi

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  15. Ok when I saw your backdrop I was just amazed...and now that I see how easy it is... I LOVE IT EVEN MORE! PS Love the felt wool bow!!

    Saying hello from All Women Stalk!

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  16. This is such an awesome idea! The house we're renting is all an ugly khaki, and there aren't any good backdrops for photos. I've been thinking about how to make temporary backdrops like this to make my photos more interesting!

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  17. I LOVE the background!! Thanks for the tips on creating it. :)

    Have a great day!
    Christine
    http://thediydreamer.blogspot.com/

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  18. Creative and fun. Thanks for sharing --
    Blessings,
    Krista
    www.thehomemaderenegade.com

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  19. What a cool/great idea! Using the wall opposite a door is something I'd never thought of, but makes so much sense. Thanks for sharing your tip.

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