teal blue paper backdrop

How to enhance your photos using photography backdrops

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The backdrop is the most essential element if you are clicking a normal photo or a portrait. Choosing the best photography backdrops of the right size, color, pattern, and style can do wonders and make your subject stand out.

White paper photo backdrop with 2 studio lights pointing at the backdrop

To enhance your photos using backdrops, you can use the following tips and tricks:

Avoid Shadows

Shadows can break your images as they make photos blurry and dark. It is considered ideal that you place your subject or model about 3-feet in front of the backdrop to get rid of unwanted shadows on your backdrop.

Then, you can adjust from there. Depending on light placement, this should remove any disturbing shadows.

Focus on the subject

No matter which backdrop you choose, you need to ensure that the subject or model is properly captured, as it is the main hero of the photoshoot.

Choose a relevant backdrop

You should not just randomly pick any backdrop. The choice of the backdrop should be in sync with the motive or purpose for a photoshoot. For example, for a wedding photo shoot, you can pick backdrops that have flowers, lanterns, riverside scenes on them. Such backdrops may not go well with birthday photoshoots.

Notice every detail

Sometimes, the photography backdrops may disturb the appearance of your subject. For instance, an element protrudes out from the subject’s head like a horn.

Also, if both the backdrop and subject have strong lines, then they can surely clash and give a bad result.

In such a case, you can change the angle of the subject or backdrop.

teal blue paper backdrop

Backdrop color matters

Every color depicts its mood and story. If you wish to improve your photoshoot, then choose the color based on what you want to portray or depict.

White backdrop- they are the best choice for easy photo compositing for headshots, stock photos, and product photography and for creating clean, qualitative professional-looking portraits.

Black backdrop- they are useful for capturing low-key and intense photos.

Green backdrop- by using such backdrops, you can later edit the image and place the subject in whichever location or place he wants. You can also add a digital image in the background.

Light up the background

Lighting should be in sync with the backdrop. Too much lighting can reduce the contrasts in your subject, while little lighting can drag your focus away from the subject. Appropriate lighting ensures that every aspect of the model (say their hair, chin, lips, skin color, or eyes) gets highlighted.

Choose the right size

For a bang-on photoshoot, you need perfect backdrop size, including the size of your studio and the size of your subject.

5’ x 7’ Backdrop- these backgrounds are ideal for event photographers who often work in busy spaces or for photographers working in a small home studio.

5’ x 12’ Backdrop- this length of backdrop is suitable for full-body portraits of a single person, as well as headshots and ¾-length portraits.

9’ x 10’ Backdrop- this length of backdrop is suitable for shooting full-length portraits, family portraits, and larger product shots.

9’ x 20’ Backdrop- these backdrops are extremely useful if you want to photograph your joint or large family or have a video shoot that requires some movement. These kinds of backdrops are suitable when you want to pull your subjects far from your backdrop.

When the backdrop is in harmony with the subject, it can create magic. As mentioned above, lighting, angle of backdrop, the pattern of backdrop all together help in generating an appealing image. The right choice of backdrop can help you convey the story. You don’t need to hire a professional photographer for the photoshoot.

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