Best photography backdrop

13 Best Photography Backdrops and Backgrounds in 2022

Whether you’re a professional photographer or setting up a home studio, a photography backdrop is a vital piece of equipment.

They give you the freedom to create brilliant images with your camera. Photography backdrops are perfect for portraits and products. And they’re fantastic for fashion photography.

No matter your style, we have something for you in our list of the best photography backdrops and backgrounds.

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Photography Backdrops and Backgrounds

You’ll find a photography backdrop in every photo studio you go into. It doesn’t matter what type of photography they practice, they’ll have a backdrop of some kind.

Most photography backdrops are white, which gives you the most freedom as a photographer. A white background lets the subject pop without distraction. It also makes editing and post-production much easier.

You can easily change the colour of a white background by changing the lights. If you use coloured light filters, the white background will adopt the colour of the lights.

But they’re not always white. Some photographers prefer colours—often blues and greens. And sometimes they’re not just a single colour. You can get patterned backgrounds, like brick walls or cityscapes.

There are several types of backdrop available. Some are freestanding, while others need a separate stand or wall attachment. Some are smooth and others are textured.

The prices vary. But no matter what kind of photography backdrop you need, we have something for you on our list.

The Best Photography Backdrops and Backgrounds

Let’s get into the list of best photography backdrops and backgrounds.

1. V-Flat World Duo Boards

V-Flat World Duo Board

2 convenient sizes—24 x 24 and 30 x 40 inches
Double-sided panels
Printed in 1000 dpi ultra-high definition

There are so many food photography backdrops available on the market these days. But the ultimate option for us is V-flat World’s Duo Boards. Besides their quality materials, they’re affordable and offer unlimited creative possibilities.

V-Flat World has some of the most extensive collections of glare-free backgrounds. They include painted walls, marble, and tiles.

As the name “Duo Boards” imply, the panels are double-sided. That means you can flip them to change your background!

Their patterns are so detailed that you can take close-up photos of food. You don’t have to worry about seeing large printed dots you find in cheaper options.

Duo Boards also come in a 30 x 40-inch size option—the largest on our list. It’s the best dimension to let you photograph large tablescapes without sacrificing portability. But despite being wide, they fit perfectly inside V-flat World’s custom 30 x 40-inch storage bag for traveling.

For more information on how we tested them, read our Duo Boards review!

2. Fovitec Reversible Backdrop

The Fovitec is one of the best photography backdrops you can buy right now. It’s great value for a 5×6.5 foot portable backdrop. And the set includes a size-adjustable stand for extra stability and versatility.

The Fovitec is reversible, with white on one side and black on the other. It’s easy to switch, giving you excellent flexibility while shooting.

The telescopic stand reaches 7.6 feet at full extension. It gives you a lot of creative control to get the shots you need. This backdrop makes portraits, fashion photography, and even vlogging easy.

The steel spring frame gives you durability while also allowing for fast setup and deconstruction. It’s a collapsible backdrop, so you can store it in a small space and it’s easy to transport.

The Fovitec gives you a quick and easy studio setup even if you don’t have a permanent studio space. The build quality is excellent and offers great value for money.

2. Lastolite by Manfrotto

The Lastolite by Manfrotto is the perfect photography backdrop for photographers that travel around for work. It’s a lightweight, collapsible backdrop that’s easy to transport.

The backdrop measures 5×6 feet when it is unpacked. This is big enough for most portraits and headshots. If you do need more height, its lightweight construction makes it easy to lift.

The Lastolite is a black and white double-sided background. This gives you more versatility when you’re out on the job. You can change backgrounds by simply turning it around.

It’s made with a highly durable and crease-resistant fabric. The fabric is smooth and clean even after being folded up for long periods. Unpack it, and it’s ready to use.

The outer frames are made of steel, and the fabric is securely stitched. It’s a durable design with reliable construction. The Lastolite isn’t the cheapest backdrop on the list, but there is quality in the build.

The Lastolite by Manfrotto is one of the best collapsible backdrops you can find today. It’s portable, collapsible, and reliable. There’s a price to pay, but this backdrop is worth it.

3. Neewer Polyester Photo Studio Backdrop

The Neewer Studio Backdrop is a 6×9 foot polyester sheet, perfect for photography and video shoots. The size and strength make it ideal for any kind of studio photography. From fashion photography to animal portraits, Neewer has you covered.

The size gives you a lot of creative freedom. It allows you to get a variety of angles without exceeding the boundaries of the background. And once you detach it, it can be folded and stored in a small space. It’s also easy to carry to other photo studios if you’re working far away.

The anti-wrinkle polyester fabric is durable and machine washable (below 40℃). Once it’s unpacked, it’s ready to use. You don’t have to worry about dirt and stains after a hectic day in the studio.

The Neewer collapsible photography backdrop is a good value. But you have to purchase the backdrop stand separately. Once you have a solid stand, you can buy different colour Neewer photography backgrounds.

4. Julius Studio Chromakey Photo Backdrop

The Julius Studio backdrop is a professional standard photography background. It’s suitable for all types of studio photography. And the larger size makes it great for group shots and family portraits.

It measures 10×20 feet of pure white muslin, making it perfect for larger studio spaces. Each end is looped so you can easily attach it to the crossbar of the backdrop stand.

The fabric is durable with carefully crimped edges to prevent tears. You can wash it by hand or in a machine. And a steam iron will remove any creases, giving you a smooth background.

The stand is not included. But for the price, you get an excellent value backdrop for photos and video shoots. If you need a large background, the Julius Studio Chromakey is one of the best photography backdrops.

5. Kate Pop-up Photo Backdrop (Grey/Teal)

If you’re bored of white backgrounds and want something a bit different, there are some exciting options from Kate. This collapsible backdrop is reversible, offering a grey and teal option.

The Kate backdrop is 5×6.5 feet, making it perfect for single portraits and product photography. Its collapsible design makes it easy to store. Then when you need it, it pops up in a matter of seconds.

It’s lightweight and has shoulder straps, making it easy to carry to your next shoot. It’s great for photographers that travel from place to place.

Both the grey and teal have a stone effect, which helps to mute the background in your photos. It gives a deeper finish to fashion and portrait photography. It’s an interesting change from the basic white backgrounds.

Kate makes high-quality photography products. And this reliable pop-up backdrop is no exception. If you’re looking for a non-white option, this is an excellent choice.

6. Savage Seamless Background Paper – Fashion Grey

Savage produces excellent photography products, from screens to reflectors. Their seamless paper backdrops are some of the best in the business.

This option from Savage is 107 inches x 36 feet, so it’s big enough for any studio photography you can throw at it. It rolls up neatly, allowing you to adjust the length easily.

Savage offers many coloured backdrops, but we’ve gone with their fashion grey for our list. It makes for an interesting change from plain white. And, as you can guess from the name of the colour, it’s designed with fashion photography in mind.

The seamless paper has a non-reflective surface. You can use flash photography and studio lighting without having it reflect back at the camera.

If the lower section becomes damaged or dirty, you can cut it off. You then roll yourself a new section. And you don’t need to worry about waste as the paper is 100% recyclable.

The price may seem a little steep for a roll of paper. But it is specially designed for a photo studio environment. Savage seamless paper has proven to be one of the best photography backdrops.

7. Julius Studio Black Muslin Backdrop

A black backdrop can be dramatic. They can give your photography a punch you can’t get with white. If you’re after a black background, Julius Studio has one of the best for studio photographers.

These muslin backdrops measure 10×10 feet, giving you plenty of room to work with. The weave of the black material is robust and reflection-free. It’s machine washable and you can remove any post-wash creases with a steam iron.

The hooped rod pocket makes mounting and dismounting quick and painless. And, as it folds away, you can take black and white backdrops to the studio. Switching between the two takes no time at all.

The Julius Studio black muslin backdrop is excellent value for money. It won’t disappoint professional photographers.

8. Neewer Portable Chromakey Backdrop

For those of you looking for chromakey backdrops, Neewer has one of the best options. This backdrop is reversible and collapsible. It’s both easy to use and easy to transport.

This Neewer set gives you a green screen on one side and a blue screen on the other. The chromakey colours make adding effects in post-production simple and easy. And with blue and green options, you can switch between the two to find what works best.

The backdrop is 5×7 feet so that you can achieve full-length portraits and product shots. It’s collapsible and you can throw the straps over your shoulder, making it easy to carry to your next shoot.

You can buy the backdrop on its own. But we’ve listed the option that includes a telescopic stand. The full set gives you a portable studio at a great value.

9. Lastolite EzyFrame Vintage Background

The EzyFrame Background from Lastolite is 6.5×7.5 feet, giving photographers plenty of surface area to work with.

The fabric backdrop has a vintage tobacco finish. It provides deeper tones and textures than a standard white background. The fabric is high quality and robust. And it all folds into a small package.

The textured backdrop is an interesting change, giving a new feel to portraits and family photos. It’s also excellent for commercial photography and vintage clothing.

This Lastolite EzyFrame backdrop is a little on the pricey side, especially as no supports are included. But the build quality is good, and it gives you some extra creative options in the studio.

10. Julius Studio Collapsible Panel Screen

This 5×6 feet green screen from Julius Studio is perfect for close up photography and videos. You can use it for effects-filled product photography, as well as vlogs and video calls.

The green screen pulls out from the hard case and stands upright with the built-in supports. The X-frame allows you to adjust and fix the height as needed. And the sturdy base keeps everything in one place.

The chromakey background is ideal for adding effects and digital backgrounds in post-production. The green screen makes editing easier than with white canvas backdrops.

The Julius Studio panel screen isn’t the cheapest. And it’s only aimed at photographers with an interest in digital backgrounds and effects. The hard case is durable but not the easiest thing to carry around.

11. Impact Super Collapsible Background

The Impact Super Collapsible Background is simple but effective. And you get a lot of material, measuring at 8×16 feet.

Impact gives you three colour options. There’s white, black, and a chromakey green screen for post-processing effects.

The collapsible backdrop folds into a small carry case. It takes no time to take down and even less to set up. And it’s one of the lightest portable backdrops on the list.

The white gives you the perfect background for portraits, groups, and product photography.

This isn’t the cheapest backdrop on our list. And after a few shoots, the wrinkles can become visible. But it’s still a good option for photographers in need of a portable studio background.

12. LYWYGG Autumn Scenery Background

LYWYGG has a great selection of scenic backgrounds that are great for photography and video recording. There are plenty of designs to choose from, but the autumn scene is our favourite.

We’ll admit, these backdrops are a bit niche. An autumn wood isn’t exactly versatile. But if this is the type of thing you need, then you can’t go wrong with what LYWYGG offers.

The 8×8 feet size gives you a fully immersive background effect. You can purchase different designs and swap them over as you wish. They are excellent for family portraits and school photos.

The themed backdrops aren’t for everyone. But the thin vinyl is durable and lightweight, so you can reuse it year after year.

13. LYWYGG Vinyl Wood Backdrop

This is another niche option from LYWYGG. This time it’s a 5×3 foot imitation wood board backdrop.

It’s not for everyone. But this smaller backdrop is perfect for product and commercial photography. You can also use it for themed portraits and close up photography.

It comes in the form of a roll, making it easy to attach to any backdrop stand with a crossbar. It takes no time to put it up or take it down. If you have a few different themed backdrops, you can have a lot of fun swapping and changing.

It’s a niche backdrop option, and its appeal is limited. But the LYWYGG backdrops are good value and fun. Buy a couple of different designs and play around in the studio.

Conclusion

Photography backdrops are a vital part of studio photography. And now there are many portable backdrops that are lightweight and quick to assemble. Now you can take your studio with you.

No matter what type of photography you practice, and no matter your budget, there is a photography backdrop for you.

That’s our list of the best photography backdrops and backgrounds. I hope it helps you find the equipment you need.

If you’re looking to buy a backdrop for product photography, make sure to check out our Products in Focus course to get the best images for your product listings.

Best photography backdrops of 2022

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Written By Jeanette D. Moses

Published Aug 8, 2022 12:00 PM

Adding a photography backdrop (or a few) to your kit is a great way to easily elevate the professional quality of your work. They are indispensable tools if you are working in the studio as a portrait or product photographer but can also be extremely helpful for videographers and other content creators. Keep reading to learn more about some of the best photography backdrops currently available.

Best overall: Savage Seamless Backdrop Paper
Best high-end portable: Lastolite EzyFrame Vintage Background Kit
Best for product photography: Amazon Basics Portable Foldable Photo Studio Box
Best foldable: Kate Collapsible Backdrop Pop-up
Best budget: Julius Studio 9 x 13 Ft. Photo Studio Chromakey Background Muslin Backdrop Bundle Ki

Our picks for the best photography backdrops:

Best overall: Savage Seamless Backdrop Paper

Why it made the cut: It comes in a variety of colors and sizes, making it one of the most versatile and consistent ways to get a nice clean photography backdrop regardless of what you might be shooting.

Key features:

Industry-standard for creating a smooth look
100% recyclable thick paper
Non-reflective surface available in a variety of colors.

Pros

Affordable
Easily create a smooth backdrop
Available in 55 colors
Available in a variety of sizes

Cons

Need tall ceilings to store
Difficult to set up larger rolls while working solo

Savage Seamless Paper is an indispensable tool for photographers and videographers of all levels and a staple of the photo studio. This industry standard product is made of thick, non-reflective paper making it great for a wide variety of shoots. It’s available in 55 vibrant colors and is 100 percent recyclable. And it comes in a range of sizes, making it one of the best photography backdrops for all sorts of photographers and photography subjects. Plus, once you are done with your shoot, you simply trim off the bottom section of the paper and re-roll. So there’s no need to fuss over ironing or steaming out wrinkles and creases before your next shoot.

Best high-end portable: Lastolite EzyFrame Vintage Background Kit

Why it made the cut: It’s an excellent choice for bringing on location, has a classy look, and is simple to set up when working solo.

Key features:

Rapid assembly aluminum frame
Clip on Muslin backdrop
Comes with carrying case

Pros

Good for travel
Easy to set up
Good for portraits or small groups

Cons

Expensive
Limited colors

This combo kit and frame make it easy to set up a beautiful, professional-looking backdrop wherever your shoot may take you. Although it’s pricey, the frame is easy to set up solo and has a durable build. Plus, the muslin backdrop clips on, cutting down on the time it will take you to get the whole thing set up for your shoot.

The backdrop itself comes in limited colors: Olive, Tobacco, Concrete, and Smoke. But we don’t see a reason why you wouldn’t be able to attach a variety of fabrics to the frame with a few handy clamps to increase the versatility of this kit.

Best for product photography: Amazon Basics Portable Foldable Photo Studio Box

Why it made the cut: The Portable Foldable Studio Box is a great, affordable choice for creating a seamless look for small product photography.

Key features

Collapsible design
Front 3-door design minimizes reflections
Comes with built-in LED lights

Pros

Good for product photography
Small setup for compact spaces
Works well for smartphone photography

Cons

Limited functionality for larger items

This tabletop lightbox is an ideal backdrop for shooting product photography or small still lifes. It measures 25” x 30” x 25” when popped open but collapses into a thin portfolio case when not in use. It includes a power supply, pre-installed white backdrop, and built-in 5600K daylight balanced LED lights. The setup makes it easy to professionally shoot your products even with only a smartphone.

The front 3-door system will maximize the number of angles you can shoot from while also reducing outside reflections. In addition, this particular model happens to be compatible with the Amazon Seller app—making it easy to shoot, edit, and upload images directly to Amazon.

Best foldable: Kate Collapsible Backdrop Pop-up

Why it made the cut: This affordable, pop-up backdrop works like an oversized reflector and is a great option for a headshop or children’s photographer on the go.

Key features

Foldable design
Two-in-one colorways
Microfiber material

Pros

Easy to set up and travel with
Good for headshots or use as a zoom background
Safe to iron

Cons

Tends to get wrinkly

This double-sided pop-up backdrop functions similarly to a 5-in-1 photo reflector. It’s made of microfiber material and is safe to iron in case of wrinkles. Each backdrop comes with two colorways for diverse looks, and when it is unfolded measures 5×6.5 feet—making it an excellent option for shooting headshots of adults or portraits of children.

Three hook and loop fasteners make it easy to attach to a backdrop or light stand while shooting. It’s a lower-cost, portable option that looks great if you are only shooting one person at a time.

Best budget: Julius Studio 9 x 13 Ft. Photo Studio Chromakey Background Muslin Backdrop Bundle Kit

Why it made the cut: This budget backdrop bundle is a low-cost option for the novice photographer just building out their kit.

Key features

Muslin construction
9 x 13ft dimensions
Pre-stitched loop to hang off backdrop crossbar

Pros

Lightweight, easy to travel with
Machine washable
Rod pocket makes it easy to hang

Cons

Prone to wrinkling
Rod pocket sizes vary

This budget backdrop bundle includes three cloth backdrops in some of the most popular colors: black, white, and chroma key (which you can use for shooting greenscreen). They have a machine washable design and a rod pocket for hanging on a crossbar stand. And because they are made of cloth, they are extremely easy to travel with.

Although this option is certainly budget-friendly, this style of cloth backdrop is prone to wrinkling, so it’s helpful to have a steamer or iron on hand to smooth things out before your shoot. Also, based on some user reviews, the rod pocket sizes vary, resulting in incompatibility with some backdrop stands. But if you are looking to save, you certainly can’t beat the price.

Things to consider before buying photography backdrops

Backdrop material

The most important thing to consider before buying a backdrop for your photography or videography project is to consider what the needs of the project are. Our overall choice for a photography backdrop is the versatile seamless paper because it works so well for so many different scenarios and so many different kinds of photographers. Although larger rolls of seamless can be more difficult to travel with, in many ways, they remain the best tool for working in the studio or on location somewhere.

High-quality fabric backdrops tend to be more expensive, but they will last you a lifetime. If you are a portrait photographer honing a specific style or working on a project that requires a level of consistency from image to image, going with a more expensive fabric backdrop might be a more ideal option.

Size

The final thing to consider is backdrop size. If you are shooting large groups of people, you will need a much bigger backdrop than if you are shooting headshots, children’s portraits, still lifes, or product photography.

Ultimately the best backdrop for you depends a lot on where you are shooting, what you are shooting, and your personal preferences as a photographer. It’s not unusual for professionals to have a few different backdrop options at the ready, depending on the shoot.

FAQs

Q: Where do photographers get their backdrops?

Photographers get their backdrops from a wide variety of places depending on what their needs for a particular shoot might be. It’s not unusual for photographers to have a collection of large rolls of seamless in different colors, unique fabrics or tapestries, or V-flats that they’ve had custom painted to serve as backdrops. Photographers often source from camera stores or rental houses for more basic backdrops like seamless paper. For more customized backdrops, it’s not unusual for photographers to have something commissioned or to source interesting fabrics from fabric stores or prop houses.

Q: What backdrops do professionals use?

Professional photographers will often use a mixture of backdrops depending on the needs of a specific photoshoot. Most photographers tend to have a variety of seamless paper on hand in different colors and sizes. It’s a staple in many studios and is regularly used whether shooting products or people. For more editorial-minded shoots, professionals may bring in hand-painted backdrops, custom fabrics, or hire a props person to help them build out a set for shooting in front of.

Q: What is the best material to use for photography backdrops?

Seamless paper or fabric backdrops can both make excellent materials for photography backdrops. Seamless paper is great because it’s relatively low cost and versatile. Plus, when you are done with the shoot, you can simply cut the bottom off and roll the unused seamless back up for your next shoot. It’s what’s known as a “disposable” in the photo world for this reason. On the other hand, a fabric backdrop—especially a hand-painted one—will typically have a more distinct look. They cost more money upfront but will also last a long time. Just make sure you store it properly between shoots to avoid unsightly wrinkles and creases on the day of your shoot.

Final thoughts on photography backdrops

Backdrops are an easy way to elevate the look of your photography because they will make your subject pop. Additionally, they eliminate distracting background elements that might be present when shooting outdoors. The best backdrop option for you depends on what you are shooting, where you are shooting, and what you want the end result to look like. When it comes to backdrops, the most expensive option isn’t always the best option.

Methodology

When selecting the backdrops in this buying guide, it was important to consider a wide variety of budgets for different styles of photographers. For example, someone who primarily works shooting small products or on-figure e-commerce will have very different backdrop needs than a photographer focused on headshots or editorial portraiture.

In making our selections for this buying guide, we considered products we have personally used on shoots, referenced editorial reviews, and user feedback.

Basic colors for a photo, or How to choose a background

Vladimir

When ordering, people often ask what shade is better to choose for shooting. Or rather, not even a shade, but a color, was expressed incorrectly.
The answer from almost all professionals is given one - to begin with, we take the basic colors - white, gray and black.
And here it is worth stopping a little and thinking. First of all, of course, it all depends on the purpose of use, so to speak, but now is not about that. Each background has its own nuances in application. For how without them, without these notorious nuances ... it would be boring to live, gentlemen!
So.

White background and its shades
On the plus side, we can say that this is the simplest and most affordable material - a sheet, drawing paper, whitewashed boards.
Another strong plus is that they are easier to work with, and photos on a white background are more positive or something ... even photo stocks are more willing to take photos on a white background.
In addition, the white background is universal. It is suitable for shooting flat lay, for blogging, for creating a uniform style, for shooting your work.

Of the minuses - of course, color reproduction (as usual) - it is very difficult, almost impossible to photograph a white background so that it is really white without processing. Why? This is how our brain works. He is accustomed to collect and generalize information from the outside and draw a conclusion based on his experience (sounds a little strange). In general, if we know that the background is white, we see white. Regardless of the environment and conditions. And the camera does not suffer from conventions - it captures the way it “sees”, and there are a great many shades of white. And the same lamp, even a fluorescent one, will definitely give its shade to a white background. By the way, therefore it is preferable to shoot in sunlight. So in this version, we either work with the technique (white balance, gray card) or edit in the editor.
In addition, it is difficult to remove a white object against a white background.

If there is no experience in post-processing, you can take a warm beige background, light light gray background. A good option is white with scuffs.

Gray background
It is neutral in its own way, does not distract attention.
The second plus is that the gray color is a priori universal. Against its background, both light and dark objects turn out well. It looks like it matches the photo. As one pro on the forum said: "underlight the background - it is black, overlight - almost white."
Of the minuses, the same factor, oddly enough - the gray color changes its shade depending on the lighting. Sometimes this is a problem...
Well, some people find the gray color boring.

Dark background
This includes black, deep gray and dark brown.
The dark background creates a story, a certain atmosphere. You can set the "movement", the game in the frame with the help of light and glare.
It is good to shoot bright objects or part of the subject to draw attention, to let you see the details.

If you need to shoot a dark object against a dark background, you should think about lighting and highlight the edges of the object with light.
The main problem when working with a dark background is that it emphasizes all the errors. Glare, dust particles - everything will appear.
To avoid glare, you should use a matte background in your work and try to move it as far as possible from the subject. Dust and specks, even if you blow it off before each click of the shutter, will always appear in the photo (in our country, at least, no matter how much you grind, some kind of infection, but it will remain in the frame). Only post-processing will help here - a brush or a stamp, for example.
The brown background is a little simpler in this sense, but often the wood can give reflections on texture irregularities, even if the surface is matte. Again, you can play around with this. And our favorite scuffs and wood texture in this case play only a plus.

In general, more and more often I tend to think that light is much more important for photography than everything else. It can stretch the photo or ruin it.
Here are two photos taken with a difference of a couple of minutes, one in the sun, the other in the shade:

These were taken in the evening, when it was already getting dark, with a difference of ten minutes:

And this is how this background actually looks:

And finally, speaking of gray. Is the bear dark or light?

So we are scratching our heads - how best to submit a photo.

Creative success to you, friends!

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Vladimir

Russia, Krasnodar Territory, Novorossiysk

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Rules , or How to choose the right background for photos

Selling photographs today are also impossible to imagine without a beautiful background, like a fashion show without a backstage or background. No matter how sophisticated and expensive a fashion model is, she definitely needs a decent background.

A similar situation exists in photography of any level, style, direction. Of course, for those who are good with Photoshop, it's not a problem to make any background. And what about those who do not know how, do not want, and simply do not have time to process images in Photoshop? Shooting against something very beautiful, like ocean waves, in daylight and clear air? Unfortunately, not everyone has such opportunities.

If you want beautiful photos, you need a beautiful background.

There is a huge selection of photophones from homemade, paper, wallpaper-sheets to professional studio ones. Photophones began to be divided into categories - for instagram, for social networks, for a profile, avatars, weddings, and so on. Photophones are used as an object for self-shooting.

Very interesting layout of objects on some background, called flatley.

In a word, a photophone is an opportunity to take beautiful, styled pictures at home and without much effort.

The Internet is full of slogans such as “background for craftswomen”, assurances that there is no way without a photophone and that a photo with a “bad” background is doomed to repel subscribers/buyers. Is it really? Do craftsmen and craftswomen need photophones or can they be easily dispensed with? And if necessary, then which ones to choose so as not to regret later on the money spent and the final result? There are a lot of questions, but there are not enough answers to them even on the World Wide Web. Let's try to answer at least some of them.

Despite the abundance of textures and materials from which photophones are made, vinyl still remains the most popular. Affordable, non-toxic, highly practical and mobile, vinyl backdrops have already carved a niche for themselves. Such popularity is largely a tribute to fashion. However, we will start with vinyl photophones.

Question No. 1: What is a wall, floor and wall-to-floor photophone?

Photophone "wall" (in the conventional sense) is a background that is mounted vertically on the wall, back of a chair, window, hanger. This is a classic background for all figures and objects that can be placed or planted. For example, people, dolls, sculptures. The floor or horizontal plane for such a background will be the ground, the floor of your house, even the seat of a chair or window sill.

A “floor” photophone is a backdrop that can be placed horizontally and photographed on it with all objects that are usually placed on the floor or on the ground. The most striking example of such backgrounds is boards. Paving stones, stone, grass, parquet - these are all examples of "floor" for photographs.

Wall-to-floor photophone is a background with both vertical and horizontal space. In such backgrounds, the part that belongs to the wall is hung vertically, and the part of the floor, respectively, is placed horizontally.

You can take pictures by placing the “wall” on the floor, table, window sill, and the “floor” vertically. In photography, the scope for imagination is huge.
That is why, most often, masters choose 2 backgrounds - "wall" and "floor", since there are much more variations in this choice than when buying only one background.

Question #2: What size background should I choose for photos of my work?

Usually the description says that there are different sizes of photophones, but in fact, very few people know the size of the background on which the subject being photographed will be clearly visible.

*Dimensions are approximate, taken from our own practice.

Approximate dimensions of photophones for object and portrait photography:

Photophones of the wall type:

Shooting a person in full growth, clothes on a mannequin, tall products - width 1.2 m, height 2 m.
Shooting children, children's clothing on a mannequin, on a coat hanger, knitwear — width 1 m, height 1. 5 m. .height 0.5 - 0.8m.
Shooting jewelry, small items, small toys, soap, cosmetics, stationery - width 0.5 - 0.6m, height 0.5-0.7m.

Floor type photophones can be either the same size or slightly larger.

Accordingly, for wall-to-floor photophones, sizes are selected taking into account the quantity - less than the floor, more than the wall, or more than the floor, less than the wall.

Question #3: What background color would be best for my work?

There are color wheels and color matching. But how many of you keep these charts to yourself at all times? Or know by heart? From the monitor screen, a person perceives COLOR as the sum of the radiation of three basic colors - red, green and blue. This is how our eyes are. It is these three colors that form all the colors that we see on the screens of our monitors. And it is for this reason that once we print a picture on a printer, compare it with the picture on the monitor, and we see completely different images.

Therefore, some people, having chosen a seemingly ideal photo background for themselves, end up with a photo in which the object exists separately from the background, does not fit into it, does not harmonize. Here are some tips for choosing your future background.

On a dark background, a lighter color becomes brighter, and on a light background, a darker one darkens.
Gray looks lighter on black and darker on white. In the gray color of the photo background, beloved by many, the following point should be taken into account: during processing, by adjusting the white balance settings (changing the color temperature), you can greatly change the background shade. Here there is a risk of making a mistake with the white balance setting and getting an ugly picture in color.

3. Being in close proximity, colors influence each other. The same color looks different depending on what colors it is surrounded by.

4. If you want to make any color more visible, you can use contrast by placing light details next to dark ones.

5. Always remember about mimicry - the ability to imitate like, to hide. Remember what a red fox looks like against the backdrop of bright orange autumn leaves? Therefore, the background should be chosen in the color on which your work will not merge with the background.

6. When choosing a background that contrasts sharply with your product, you also need to be extremely careful. A sharp color contrast is appropriate only when contrasting elements are needed to get an emotional shot, to convey the mood of the subject that you are shooting.

Question #4: Is there an ideal photophone?

An ideal background can be called on which absolutely any object will look in the most advantageous light in the absence of glare (except when it is conceived by the photographer). It is very difficult to answer this question - after all, every photographer has his own favorite “ideal” background.

The main thing is that the background should be simple and concise. Classic black and white backgrounds perfectly focus the viewer's attention on the main subject. However, remember that against a white background, dark objects will look very contrasty and it may happen that the background is very light, and the object "hangs" in the air.

The background must necessarily be combined with the idea of the picture, carry a semantic load. After all, this is not just a substrate, but part of the image.

Question No. 5: How to fix the photophone?

Most sellers do not bother with this issue at all, recommending to fix the backgrounds with masking, stationery or double-sided tape. We strongly oppose such treatment of photophones of any quality. And we believe that it is IMPOSSIBLE:

1. Fix backgrounds with adhesive tapes, as their adhesive layer is very aggressive and can often be washed off only with solvents, which may well wash off the photophone material itself. Even masking tape has a glue that can't be peeled off window glass, especially if your background hangs on it for a couple of days.
2. Attach backgrounds with clothespins, trouser hangers, stationery clips, because they leave dents and tears in the backgrounds (and you want the background to last as long as possible!).

Photophones can and should be fixed:

1. Special plastic or metal mounts for backgrounds, posters, posters.
2. Special adhesive tapes with low adhesion of the adhesive layer.
3. Double-sided sticky circles available at any hardware store.
4. If possible, secure the top of the background with two rulers made of wood or thick cardboard, fastened to the background on both sides. This can be done with an ordinary stapler - first pull one side, then the other. Leaving the small ends of the planks on the sides, you can hang them on a fishing line, rope or cord. Accordingly, you can roll such a photophone into a roll without any problems.

That's all for today. We will continue in the next post.

Criticism accepted. And a huge request to all venerable-eminent-pros and super-photographers - remember yourself when you started.