What is the best fabric to use as backdrop for portrait photography?
Posted on July 04, 2010 by Ed
What kind of lighting is best to use with it? Flash? lights?
Paper is what the pro photographers use, but big rolls of paper can be expensive. If using fabric something like a flat king sized bed sheet should be fine, but use a low aperture – that way, the camera blurs out the detail in the background and just focuses on your subject. If you can set your own aperture, use something below f5.6, or otherwise set your camera to ‘portrait’ mode which should do the same thing.
abConrad is right, the best thing to do is experiment. I’ve found that backgrounds rarely come out looking like I’d imagined – in particular, the colours almost never look like you’d imagine. But this can be a good thing as you can sometimes get a fantastic effect that you didn’t expect!
Flash can be great but can sometimes make your photos look a little ‘flat’ as it gives a front-on, overall light unless you use more expensive gear. Experiment with continuous lights – something like an angle-poise desk lamp can be great. Angled from above and to the side is usually most flattering. Artificial light can give a yellow cast to the photos though, so use a blue filter, get a daylight-effect bulb or cheat and alter the colours when you edit them later.
Discussion: 5 Comments
5 Responses to “What is the best fabric to use as backdrop for portrait photography?”
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abConrad
- 4th Jul, 10 06:07am
Paper rolls are normally used called colourama. Fabric is used less often. Otherwise it depends on the effect you want but usually its best to avoid shiny material such as plastic. Flash or continuous lights are both used. Have fun and experiment.
References :
photographer
Emma
- 4th Jul, 10 07:07am
Paper is what the pro photographers use, but big rolls of paper can be expensive. If using fabric something like a flat king sized bed sheet should be fine, but use a low aperture – that way, the camera blurs out the detail in the background and just focuses on your subject. If you can set your own aperture, use something below f5.6, or otherwise set your camera to ‘portrait’ mode which should do the same thing.
abConrad is right, the best thing to do is experiment. I’ve found that backgrounds rarely come out looking like I’d imagined – in particular, the colours almost never look like you’d imagine. But this can be a good thing as you can sometimes get a fantastic effect that you didn’t expect!
Flash can be great but can sometimes make your photos look a little ‘flat’ as it gives a front-on, overall light unless you use more expensive gear. Experiment with continuous lights – something like an angle-poise desk lamp can be great. Angled from above and to the side is usually most flattering. Artificial light can give a yellow cast to the photos though, so use a blue filter, get a daylight-effect bulb or cheat and alter the colours when you edit them later.
References :
Keith J
- 4th Jul, 10 08:07am
Velvet is good and can be folded into interesting textures.
It also soake up light and then you can concentrate on the subject.
References :
http://www.digifotostock.com
textile guy
- 4th Jul, 10 09:07am
I would suggest Commando Fabric. It is a black velvety fabric that both blacks out light and since it is fairly heavy it also absorbs sound. True Commando fabric is about 16 ounces a yard and it is Fire Retardant to NFPA 701 Standards.
You can purchase Commando Fabric at various sites on the internet with Magna Fabrics have the best price at $2.99 a linear (running) yard.
References :
http://www.ignifugation.net/en/affiche_item.php?famille=1&item=1
http://www.georgiaexpo.com/component/option,com_wbcatalog/Itemid,3/task,item/id,41/
http://www.studioaccentsplus.com/Commando-Cloth_c_13.html
http://www.magnafabrics.com/category/540.htm
Papu
- 4th Jul, 10 09:07am
try: http://www.dezinews.com/
References :