A background can make you image look stunning or it could ruin your image. Putting the subject in front of a super busy scene could take the focus off of the subject. It can sometimes create fusion. Your background should not have a bunch of distractions and should focus attention on your subject. Sometimes a background can add context to your image or it can offer emotion and feeling to a shot. The right background for your subject can be just as important as choosing the right lens for the shot.
There are few key factors when choosing the right background for the photo you are shooting. According to Dawn M. Wayand Some of the consideration can be…….
If you are Shooting products, then it usually requires a crisp and clean background to give all focus to the subject.
If for example your client is a corporate officer, who just looking for a timeless headshot, where a canvas background would do the trick. Or your client may want an edgy image where a floor drop might work as a great background.
If you are looking for something dark and moody, a plain black seamless paper or muslin could do the trick. If you are trying to recreate a scene, a painted backdrop and a floor drop would be a great choice.
Some backgrounds like canvas and vinyl can weight a lot whereas muslin and a short roll of seamless can weigh very little.
Many backgrounds come in various sizes. if you have a small 8foot space to shoot, a 9foot roll of seamless may not be ideal and you may need to get a shorter 53” roll instead.
muslin and the required support needed is very low cost where painted canvas and some floor drops can cost up to a couple hundred dollars.
Open your Photoshop and go to File > Open and choose your desire image that you want to modify.
There are different types of that you can choose. Such as indoor and outdoor location background, portable background, Muslin, Canvas Backdrops, Floor Drops, Vinyl etc.
If you are shooting out door add context to the subject. Sometime weather condition need to be considered. While shooting outdoor, it can be distracting taking focus from the subject and bad composition can lead to mergers.
Muslin can be a superb choice for shooting photos since it is not reflective. It folds as small as you need and can be hung from a portable background support and costs a fraction of some of the other choices. It is light weight and can be washed. This all-cotton option is a classic choice.
Canvas backdrops can be in your choice list. It come with variety of sizes, colours and designs. They can be reused over and over again but they can also be a bit heavy to set up. You can use a canvas backdrop multiple times without your image looking the same by changing up your foreground elements and your subject. However, canvas backdrops are one of the most expensive choices of all of the choices but it can be one of the most creative as well.
Floor Drops typically come in designs such as wood floors, brick walls, metal panels or tile. Floor drops are often used together with back drops to recreate a scene. A rubber floor drop also makes for a great backdrop when going for a more edgy feel to an image. It’s simple enough to still keep the focus on your subject.
Another classic choice for photographers is vinyl. It got a great reputation because it can hang flat whereas muslin tends to wrinkle easily and get dirty quite often. Vinyl is easy to clean and takes very little space to store as it can be stored straight up and down in a corner.
According to portrait photographer Mark David ‘Muted grey’ background draw attention to the subject of the photo. From the beginning of his career to until now he is using Muted grey’ background. In his own word, “Using muted grey has very little to do with the subject in the photograph, They’re just colours I like. They range from very light grey to almost a blue-grey.” The photographs look fantastic, and the grey helps bring the subject in the photography to life”
