
You can choose a pastel or brighter color depending on what you’re shooting and your desired result. Shades of blue also look good, especially in dark and moody images. This will plump it up and make it look more attractive.Īgain, when choosing your colors, stick to neutrals. When covering your entire surface with a piece of linen or tablecloth, place another layer of fabric underneath. You can use the fabric as the entire backdrop, as shown in the image below, or just to cover a portion of another backdrop. Having a variety of linens on hand will make your life a lot easier as a still life photographer.ĭepending on what you shoot, these can run the gamut from natural fabric like linen to lightly patterned damask tablecloths. Take a large sea sponge and dab the paint all over the board to create a blended and subtle, mottled effect.įinish with a thin coat of matte, water-resistant sealer. Even some of the satin types can cause unwanted shine in your images.Ĭhoose three or four colors in a similar color family and pour them together in the middle of the board. Just make sure that any paints or varnishes you use are matte. You can purchase paint samples from the hardware store as well, or use craft paints. The bigger stores like Home Depot can also cut larger pieces into smaller ones for you, so you can get more mileage out them. Pieces that are at least 2×3 feet should accommodate most of your set-ups. To make your own, buy thin plywood sheets at the home improvement store. These days, there are a lot of suppliers selling painted custom backdrops for still life photography, but painting some yourself can be a lot less costly, and you don’t need any special skills. They are better for smaller subjects because they tend to not be very large. These neutrals will enhance and complement a wide variety of products or still life subjects. Good colors to choose are grey, black, white, or cool brown tones like taupe.

Just make sure that any tiles you pick aren’t shiny, so you don’t get glare. They’re easily wipeable, which is a bonus if you’re dealing with food or liquid products. You can get them from your local home improvement store.

The canvas also has a great subtle texture, too.Īnother beautiful yet simple background is porcelain or ceramic tiles. Your backdrops will have a natural texture that enhances but doesn’t compete with your subject. To add more texture, scrunch up a rag or use a large sea sponge and dip it into the paints. Layer the paint onto the canvas with a small, good-quality roller, moving the roller in different directions. Note that the canvas soaks up a lot of the paint, so you may need to purchase primer as well, or use more paint than you thought. While you’re at the hardware store, purchase two or three paint samples in a similar tone for each backdrop. These are pieces of canvas you use to protect the floor when painting interiors.Ĭanvas drop cloths are usually large, so you can cut them into four pieces to get four backgrounds out of one stretch of fabric. Go to your local hardware store and buy a canvas painter’s drop cloth.
FLORAL BACKDROPS FOR PHOTOGRAPHY PROFESSIONAL
Professional canvas backdrops are expensive, but y ou can make your own for a fraction of the retail price. Here are some of the best ways to create beautiful DIY photography backdrops for still life and product photography.įor a magazine-quality look, my top pick for a still life photography backdrop is painted canvas. Luckily, with a bit of creativity, you don’t have to.

You may have purchased expensive professional photography backdrops because you know this.īut whether you’re a hobbyist or pro, you probably already spend enough on your photography that you don’t want to shell out the big bucks for your props. Your choice of backdrop can have a big impact on the final look of your photos.
