Studio Photogs

[Goldie @ 660Photos.com]

Indulge the newbie

I am looking to get a backdrop.

I want one of the white ones, that has like a glossy texture.

Right now i have a white cloth one, i dont like that it doesnt give me a smooth look.

What do you have, whats it called? Just looking for direction here.

[Nelli Scarlet]

Do you mean a drop that synthesises a cyclorama?

That's a white vinyl backdrop that does just as good a job as a proffessionaly installed cyc, depending on the lighting & white balance, it can give you completely white model-floating in space look, or long high fashion shadows, or a greyish background. They're very heavy and wipe clean with spray'n'wipe, and in Australia cost around $600 (not sure where you are). It might seem a bit pricey, but they're such an investment, and when you consider the pros with their fully constructed cycs, that's a fraction of the cost.

Hope this helps! xox

Google "white vinyl photography backdrop" or something like that

[Edson Carlos]

Awesome post Nelli, so helpful thank you for being a part of the forum community!

Goldie, post some samples, lets see what you're looking to achieve.

Nelli Scarlet said:

Do you mean a drop that synthesises a cyclorama?

That's a white vinyl backdrop that does just as good a job as a proffessionaly installed cyc, depending on the lighting & white balance, it can give you completely white model-floating in space look, or long high fashion shadows, or a greyish background. They're very heavy and wipe clean with spray'n'wipe, and in Australia cost around $600 (not sure where you are). It might seem a bit pricey, but they're such an investment, and when you consider the pros with their fully constructed cycs, that's a fraction of the cost.

Hope this helps! xox

Google "white vinyl photography backdrop" or something like that

[Goldie @ 660Photos.com]

Yes thats what i am looking for. Boudiour Louissivlle is what made me start thinking about it, his is pretty awesome. Its kind of reflective on the bottom. Most of his studio shots have it in there.

[Nelli Scarlet]

Ah i see... I've never been a fan of that style of studio photography, but yes you can achieve a similar effect with a vinyl backdrop, if you want the slightly reflective effect, (instead of the flooring in his cyc he'd be using there) I would suggest once you have the vinyl backdrop, going to a homemaker centre and buying clear tablecloth cover cut to size, generally any decent size one will sell plain clear plastic by the metre, and then you can roll it up when you don't need it. if you're blasting out to white as he is, you won't see the edges anyway

I hope this helps, and keep asking questions! I learned everything I know about photography that way <3

[Nelli Scarlet]

No problems! I've had many photographers patiently explain things to me and help me over the years, you just gotta pay it forward <3

Edson {PL Team} said:

Awesome post Nelli, so helpful thank you for being a part of the forum community!

Goldie, post some samples, lets see what you're looking to achieve.

Nelli Scarlet said:

Do you mean a drop that synthesises a cyclorama?

That's a white vinyl backdrop that does just as good a job as a proffessionaly installed cyc, depending on the lighting & white balance, it can give you completely white model-floating in space look, or long high fashion shadows, or a greyish background. They're very heavy and wipe clean with spray'n'wipe, and in Australia cost around $600 (not sure where you are). It might seem a bit pricey, but they're such an investment, and when you consider the pros with their fully constructed cycs, that's a fraction of the cost.

Hope this helps! xox

Google "white vinyl photography backdrop" or something like that

[Shirley Rowe{★}]

I use a white vinyl backdrop that I got from Owen's originals. I find it difficult to clean due to the texture, but it is a wonderful backdrop. You must light it just right to get the white white look. Sometimes I use the dodge tool in photoshop to brighten it a bit more. Look at my page if you want to see how it photographs. All my white background shots are done with this one.

[Goldie @ 660Photos.com]

Thank shirly took a look. Thats what i am trying to achirve. I am going to order new lights and a new backdrop probably next month or so. I am really trying / looking to get into this.

now let me ask this, when you have a colored background you want to acheive do you just use photoshop to create the color you want?

[Ed Selby]

I haven't done it yet myself, but I've seen it done --

Get a remnant of vinyl flooring (your local "Loew's Depot" has them in the rug section). It doesn't matter what the walking-on side looks like. Flip it over and paint it with gloss white - or black, red, purple, green, etc. Voila! Instant glossy background that you can repaint and reuse as needed.

[Ed Selby]

Goldie said:

...Its kind of reflective on the bottom. Most of his studio shots have it in there.

A few more things - shooting "high key" and using a sheet of white board (again, "Loew's Depot") on the floor will give you some of that reflectivity you're after.

[Shirley Rowe{★}]

I use different backdrops. If you have barndoor lights you can use gels for color changes.

Goldie said:

Thank shirly took a look. Thats what i am trying to achirve. I am going to order new lights and a new backdrop probably next month or so. I am really trying / looking to get into this.

now let me ask this, when you have a colored background you want to acheive do you just use photoshop to create the color you want?

[Nelli Scarlet]

If you want the full curve to the floor, get a different one and paint it. Alternately, you can use coloured gels an aim them at the wall behind the model but you won't get a full even colour.

Goldie said:

Thank shirly took a look. Thats what i am trying to achirve. I am going to order new lights and a new backdrop probably next month or so. I am really trying / looking to get into this.

now let me ask this, when you have a colored background you want to acheive do you just use photoshop to create the color you want?