Elias Butler is a professional photographer and writer based in Arizona. He's written a book titled "Grand Obsession" and has been published in Sierra, USA Today, and Arizona Highways among many others. See Butler's website here.
Photography backdrops are one of the best ways to spark creativity and help produce eye-popping work. Without a backdrop, a photographer is at the mercy of available backgrounds such as a boring white wall or perhaps a distracting street scene, neither of which help to complement a subject like a well-chosen photo backdrop.
Photographers are in a unique position to help others in an immediate, powerful way. Think of any organization or individual and the chances are, that entity or person could use professional-quality photos whether it’s to help promote an idea, sell a product, or simply to have meaningful images for personal enjoyment.
Choosing the appropriate size of seamless paper will take some assessment on your part. Do you tend to make head shots, or do you often photograph families – or both? Do you make a habit of shooting small products or large products? How big is your studio? Can it handle a 9-foot-wide backdrop roll? Or do you shoot in a spare bedroom where space is limited?
While it’s true that we live in a digital universe these days when it comes to viewing and publishing photos, there remains a certain allure to having an image published in a print magazine. Not only can it bring your work a large audience and put some change in your pocket, but getting published can lead to greater opportunities for more work with other magazines and beyond in the commercial world.
The new Savage Economy Background Kit fit all my requirements for a studio background setup. Designed for photographers who want a professional look that won’t break the bank, the Economy Background Kit is a great choice for students, part-time photographers, and anyone starting out in portraiture. I was excited to see what this new offering could do for my photography.
Backdrops come in so many styles and types that it can be downright confusing when trying to find that perfect match for your next shoot. No one has time to try every backdrop during a shoot, so developing a good instinct for the right style and material, whether in the studio or on location, is a skill every photographer should learn.
Admit it photo geeks! When you look at a photograph of a model you don’t always zero in on how the shot was composed, nor the model’s eyes. You inspect the backdrop. You check its texture, color, how it was lit, and how well it complements the model. At least I do, because that’s what I look for during the creative process while shooting.
The reasons for investing in a quality backdrop stand can become painfully obvious when working without one. Why buy a set of muslin backdrops or seamless paper or any other type of photo background if you can’t arrange them easily behind your subject? A good background stand makes it possible to realize the creative potential in your photography backdrops.
Leaving the studio to shoot on location can be exciting, fun, and is always a challenge. Yet there’s a danger associated with travel. Have you ever arrived to a location shoot and realized with horror that you’ve forgotten some essential piece of gear? I have and let me tell you that it’s not a fun place to be.
Portrait photographers are specialists in human behavior, and have to be capable of summoning certain expressions and emotions from their subjects – just like the director of a movie. If there’s one skill that can help, it’s the ability to make people laugh and smile. Here is a list of ideas that will help you to have your subjects laughing and grinning during your next portrait session!