Photos Courtesy of Ryan Walsh
Which Backdrop to Choose?
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. After all, you will need to decide between various colors, shades, patterns, and materials before taking a shot.
No one has time to try every backdrop during a shoot, so developing a good instinct for the right one, whether in the studio or on location, is a skill every photographer should learn. There are few rules to follow other than this: Don’t let your backdrop overwhelm your subject (that is, unless you want it to.) So you see, there are no rules!
Whether doing a product shoot, making a family portrait or photographing a professional model, there’s no sense in limiting yourself to a few backdrops when so many excellent choices are available. Muslin, seamless paper and vinyl backdrops are available to photographers who need something high quality without breaking the bank.
It all depends on your subject and the dynamic you wish to create. The good news is that you have a certain amount of creative freedom here. Of course you’ll need to take into account the client’s desires, but this is why you were hired – to figure out what the client needs, which may be different than what the client wants.
Different Backdrops for Different Photo Shoots
Seamless Paper
For example, let’s say you’re shooting a professional model who wants a featureless white background for that modern, vivid appearance that is often used for advertising and editorial fashion layouts. Seamless paper backdrops are excellent for creating this smooth, clean look and are light and easy to work with. Simply hang a roll from a stand and you’re off and running.
Yet there’s so much more to paper than a simple white backdrop! Savage offers 65 colors in their seamless paper line so you can easily experiment with many different shades to achieve a unique look appropriate for your model or subject. As always, your model’s skin tone, hair color, clothing, eye color, etc. will play a factor in choosing the right backdrop color.
Which color will work best? For decades, many photographers have gone with three colors as their standby backdrops: white, gray, and black. Gray is useful because it is subtle and tends to focus attention on the subject, which is most often the goal in portraiture. Black can convey mystery and makes for a classic look that stays permanently stylish.
See more: Seamless Paper: Expanding Beyond Black and White
While these mainstays will often get the job done, it would be a mistake to limit oneself to the same colors that many other photographers are likely to also use. Why not try red for its ability to arouse feelings of excitement or passion in a shot? There’s purple which can make a strong impact with exciting results. Yellow brings energy to a backdrop, and blue communicates boldness and power very well. Browns and greens make for an earthy look that often puts people at ease or communicates a sense of growth or health.
Seamless paper can be especially good for product and commercial shoots too, when a featureless backdrop is paramount to showcasing the product. And along the way, if the paper becomes smudged or wrinkled from use, simply cut off the old portion and unroll a clean new section for a fresh backdrop. Seamless paper is cost effective, making it the most affordable way to create a variety of backdrop colors.
Vinyl
On the other hand, what if you’re asked to photograph your client in a traditional portrait style for use within her corporation’s website? You might go with a vinyl background because of its ability to hang flat and render a consistent look regardless of how many times it is rolled and unrolled. Savage’s Infinity Vinyl is tremendously durable and has a matte finish that won’t reflect a flash. If your client returns for an updated photo, or refers co-workers who want the same look, you can make it happen easily and quickly with vinyl.
Vinyl is relatively heavy and requires some work to break down and set up, so it may not always be appropriate if shooting on location. However, it remains a preferred backdrop for many photographers who enjoy its stately, classic appearance.
Muslin
Now let’s say you’ve got a location shoot inside a home where you’ll be photographing a romantic boudoir session. A muslin backdrop may be the ideal choice here. This fabric drop is made from 100% cotton with a dense weave that can be hung from a stand, or simply draped over a door or chair. Savage’s muslin lineup includes solid colors, hand-painted patterns, and a variety of other styles for virtually any type of look.
The beauty of a muslin goes beyond its old-world, romantic appearance. The soft, warm look of the cloth slightly wrinkled or ruched will convey a feeling of romance and make for a great-looking portrait background.
Floor Drops
When photographing teens for senior portraits, or a rock band for marketing shots, or conducting a fashion shoot with an edgy feel, Floor Drops are a great choice. Made with a thick rubber backing and a durable polyester finish, they are ideal for both floors and backdrops and are often used together.
See more: Floor Drops vs. Photo Backdrops
You can choose from sports-themed floor drops to a grungy concrete drop to a variety of aged wood drops. Need to find a worn brick wall? Savage has that too. Floor drops eliminate the need to scout locations for the perfect background, so you can simply stay in the studio and create the look you want without wasting time. Many photographers also combine floor drops with muslins or seamless paper backdrops for a limitless variety of backgrounds.
No matter which backdrop you choose for your next shoot, remember to keep an open mind before making your selection. By relying on your own experience, good eye, and feedback from others, you’ll soon find it second nature to appraise a subject and visualize that perfect backdrop.
Elias Butler
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.
How much muslin (at minimum) would be required for full-body portraits?
Hi Greg, thanks for your question! We recommend a backdrop at least 12′ in length to give you approximately a 7′ tall backdrop with 5′ swept out onto the floor, which allows for some spacing between your model and background.
Hi! Do you have a colour guide for backdrops? We’re about to set up a ton of mens fashion shoots and looking for some ideas around the colour selection for the backdrops. Should be colours that are suitable for most scenarios when it comes to mens fashion photography.
Thanks!!
Hello Anders, great question! Some backdrop colors we seen commonly for men’s fashion are: Ultramarine, Olive Green, Chestnut, Primary Red, Bone, Fashion Gray.
Why is every shot you show featuring a pretty younger woman? That seems sexist and objectifying. All sorts of people get their pictures taken.
When you only have option to choose one color backdrop what would you choose? Gray, Black or White?
Hi Jane, thanks for your question! Many photographers choose to start with a gray background.
What color paper would be best for fair skin tones? I tried bone but it seems to blend which my daughters skin tone.
Thanks for your question! Check out this great blog by beauty photographer, Zach Sutton, on how he chooses the best background to match his models’ skin tones: Matching Skin Tones with Seamless Paper
Which type of the backdrop will be the best for yoga photo-shoot when there is movement involved? Thank you.
Hi Lin! Our Seamless Paper is a great option for fitness shoots as our 107″ & 140″ sizes offer an abundance of space for the subject to move around in.
We currently use Part Number: CB116-KIT for our ID badge stations in about 30 locations. We use the blue side and I need to know what is the color name (pantone number) or hex #.
Hi James, thank you for choosing Savage for your ID badge stations! This is a dyed product, so while not an exact match, hex value #0267d1 is most similar to the blue color presented.
There really is a lot that you should look into when choosing the right photography backdrops for your shoot. I particularly like that the article recommends looking into specific materials that the backdrop is made from. For example, if you want something cozier then muslin might be the way to go since it is made from cotton.
Hi, I am have a RBG color code and wanted to see which seamless backdrops would be close to that color?
PMS 294 R25 G86 B149 #195695
Hi Harris! The closest color to the one you asked about would be #64 Blue Jean (https://savageuniversal.com/products/seamless-paper/blue-jean-seamless-paper/).
What size and colour backdrops will be best for shooting a hair show (focused on hair but not only shooting the hair) of adults and children up to 6 foot or so tall?
Hi April! Our 53″ x 12 yd seamless paper is sufficient for up to 3/4 body shots for a single model. If you intend to photograph more than one model at a time we recommend a bigger size like 86″ x 12 yd or 107″ x 12 yd. As for colors, we recommend gray shades. They are popular because they’re versatile, look good with most skin tones, look professional and don’t distract from the subject.
Can you suggest me two backdrops for child photography?
Hi Subhasis! All our backdrops could work great for child photography! Some of our most popular backdrops used for children are our printed paper and our printed vinyl designs! Which design you will choose will depend on what sort of theme you are trying to achieve with your shoot! If you have any questions about any of the designs please let us know, and we will be happy to help!
Hi, what color seamless paper would best work for composites (cutting people out) my son has dark hair. Only ambient light will be used.
Hi Jane! We recommend using White, Super White, or Pure White Seamless Paper. You want to choose a background color that contrasts with your son’s hair. We hope this helps!
What color backdrop should I use when my daughter is wearing a gold sequin dress and her date is wearing a black tuxedo for prom
Hi Hyacinth, thanks for your comment! We recommend checking out our Crimson Seamless Paper – this deep burgundy could be a beautiful complement to their wardrobe! https://savageuniversal.com/products/seamless-paper/crimson-seamless-paper/
I wish I could see how big an 86×12 is vs. 107×12 in a sample image.
Hi Paolo! In this article you can see a comparison of the 86″ x 12yd vs. 107″ x 12yd. We hope this helps! https://savageuniversal.com/blog/how-to-choose-the-right-seamless-paper-size/
I’m looking up for a studio, i want to make it all in one kind of studio so can you suggest me what kind of material should i use for back drops, plus do you have any idea about a bamboo mat as a backdrop?
Looking for the best gray color for one background paper. See where 18% was recommended so which of your products is that? thanx
Hi Ken, thanks for your comment! #70 Storm Gray Seamless Paper, while not exact, is our closest match to 18% gray: https://savageuniversal.com/products/seamless-paper/storm-gray-seamless-paper/. Thanks!