A backdrop is a large piece of cloth used as the background for whatever subject is being photographed. It’s not just about colour – several other factors come into play when choosing the right one.
As a photographer, you’ll have plenty of choices when it comes to backdrops, including:
- A variety of colours to choose from
- Different types of material
- Different sizes
- Ordinary or digital backdrops
- Transportable or fixed
What colour should you choose for your photo backdrops?
When choosing a backdrop colour, aim for something that absorbs light well. Black velvet is a great choice for all types of portraits, as well as macro photography.
What material are studio backdrops made from?
There are two basic types of photography backdrop:
- Paper photo backdrops
- Material photo backdrops
Paper photo backdrops can be bought in sheets of various sizes, or in large rolls. With material photo backdrops, you’ll find a range of options – from heavy to light, thick to thin, and so on.
What size backdrop do you need?
The size you need will depend on your subject. For something like a flower, a small backdrop will do the job, whereas photographing a portrait of a person will call for a much larger one.
Are digital backdrops a better solution?
Digital backdrops come in handy when you need to display information in the background – sponsors, brand promotions and the like.
Transportable, maybe?
The main advantage of a transportable backdrop is that it can be taken and used anywhere. If you’re only ever using backdrops in the studio, a standard, non-transportable one will do just fine.