Studio Photography 101

  • Do You Really Need a Backdrop Stand?
    Do You Really Need a Backdrop Stand?
    One day early on in my career I assisted a photographer who was making portraits of marathon runners for a national sports magazine. We stalked the finish line for interesting-looking athletes and asked their permission to shoot immediately after they’d crossed. The exhausted runners posed with sweat still glistening on their bodies which made for some gritty, striking portraits. The photographer wanted to avoid a distracting background. As the assistant, willing to do whatever was needed, this meant I became an instant backdrop stand. With my arms outstretched to their maximum, holding up a black double bed sheet behind the runners, and fighting a breeze while trying to keep the sheet flat, I felt like a ridiculous scarecrow. The photographer quickly made the portraits.
  • Getting Started with Seamless Paper: What Colors Do I Need?
    Getting Started with Seamless Paper: What Colors Do I Need?
    Here at Savage Universal, we’re often asked “What colors should I choose?” With 55 vibrant colors in five different sizes, deciding where to begin with Catalog Category Link might be a challenge. We’re here to offer a few suggestions! Why some colors seem to go along so nicely with others seems to be deeply rooted in nature and the world around us. Principles of color theory help us to understand the relationship between colors when grouped together: similar colors can create a calming harmony, while contrasting colors draw in our attention. Even regional culture and popular trends can further influence the impressions that color can make on the viewer.
  • How to Hang Seamless Paper Backgrounds
    How to Hang Seamless Paper Backgrounds
    So you just got your hands on your first roll of Savage Seamless Paper… you may be wondering just what you’re supposed to do with it now?! Have no fear, we’re here to help demonstrate a few common methods for how to hang seamless paper backgrounds easily and get you photographing your first client (or yourself) in no time!