| Sign in: |
| Members log in here with your user name and password to access the your admin page and other special features. |
|
|
|
|
|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Portable backdrop suggestions
Derek Montgomery, Photographer
 |
Duluth | MN | USA | Posted: 10:11 AM on 08.09.10 |
->> Hello everyone. I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions for a portable backdrop that I could take on location for portraits. Let's say I need to do some portraits of various people at a business and they don't really have the space to setup tons of stuff, but they want a seamless white background for one or two people. We are talking white background from head to toe so full body here.
I'm probably going overboard simply because I don't know what's out there, but I found this and was wondering if this is what you'd recommend?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=WishList.jsp&A=details&Q=...
Or if you have something that does the job and is cheaper, I'd definitely be interested in hearing about that too. I do have a backdrop stand that I randomly acquired a long time ago if that helps. Thanks! |
|
Brian Tietz, Photographer
|
Fort Myers | FL | USA | Posted: 12:19 PM on 08.09.10 |
->> In my opinion that is serious overkill, with a background like that unless you are lighting the background separately and can pull your subject a good distance from the background you are going to get wrinkles in the fabric.
I would just go with a short (53"x12 yards) roll of white seemless paper, BH has them for $25. if you need something wider go with the 107" for $40. I recently did an annual report where I shot 130 full length portraits on white seemless paper at 5 locations and used the same $40 roll for the entire project. I lit the background with 2 large umbrellas and went 1 stop over my main.
Save your money! Good Luck |
|
Brett Groehler, Photographer
|
Duluth | MN | USA | Posted: 2:08 PM on 08.09.10 |
->> Hey Derek..
I have one of those background in a bag things by Photek and it is fine. Even with that I have gone to Michaels and purchased some fabric (like felt) and used it with this set up. I also have a couple sheets (even white) sown together and just tape it up in a corner w/o the Photek kit. It works better than paper and is cheaper. Plus after people walk on it you can put it in the wash..
my two cents... |
|
Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
|
Brian Westerholt, Photographer
|
Kannapolis | NC | USA | Posted: 10:26 PM on 08.09.10 |
->> I have been using one of the Flex-Out backdrops from Backdrop Outlet:
http://www.backdropoutlet.com/FLEX-OUT/departments/1013/
I have a gray one which is what I use the most, but I also have the chromakey Flex-Out as well. |
|
Andrew Brosig, Photographer, Photo Editor
|
Killeen | TX | United States | Posted: 9:32 AM on 08.10.10 |
| ->> Go to a fabric store or the fabric dept. at a locally wally and pick up some muslin fabric. It's cheap, it's not pure white, but it is a pleasant, very light tan. And, by the way, it's cheap. I think the widest piece I've got is 110-inches by about 8 or 10 feet and I paid about $25. Next, go to a home improvement store and pick up some pvc pipe, elbows, joints, etc., and some cheap spring clamps and you've got a frame. If you buy shorter pieces (4 feet) you can use the joints to stick them together and you have a collapsible frame you can lean against a wall. Or, you can just tape the muslin to a wall. If you light it correctly, it can be any color from pure white to gray to any shade you want (with gels). Saves a bunch of cash over buying a true "background" from one of the big companies. |
|
Kyle Ericson, Photographer
|
St. Charles | MO | | Posted: 10:16 PM on 08.11.10 |
->> Some have been using this for a long time:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/556181-REG/Photoflex_DP_FSBGSPKT_Firs...
I've been able to use everything from muslin to rolls of paper from 4' to 12' wide for portraits from one person to a small group. Plus, they go up 9' which is more than enough height for most projects. It doesn't necessarily matter what brand of portable stands you get, but don't confine yourself to purchasing a small background that you can't expand on later. The good ones will give you variable lengths to work with and will roll up in a portable bag.
Besides, the stands can also come in handy for holding remotes with a magic arm and clamps. |
|
Martin McNeil, Photographer
|
East Kilbride | Lanarkshire | United Kingdom | Posted: 6:37 AM on 08.12.10 |
->> Derek,
Oddly enough, before I clicked your link I was going to recommend the HiLite background. You can light it with a paire of 580EX's or SB900's on full power (in a pinch) and - with a bit of ingenuity, you can even use HiLite as a massive softbox.
Lastolite now also provide black, chroma green, chroma blue and grey "bottletop" covers for this range, making them even more versatile. |
|
John Plassenthal, Photographer
|
Vandalia | OH | USA | Posted: 2:36 PM on 08.13.10 |
->> Derek,
I like the Britek 3 pole background stand kit. Easily portable and with great flexilibity. It packs down to about a 9 inch tube 4 ft long and will hold up to 3 backgrounds. The bars adjust in length and the stands adjust in height to up to about a 10x12. Here's the first link I found but you may want to shop around. http://www.shopwise2000.com/britektriplecrossbarbackgroundsupportsystem.asp...
As for backdrops, I second the local fabric store. Tell them you want muslin 8 ft wide or better and they will likely find you some suitable fabrics. You should be able to get white, black, tan, and possibly even some pastels. Hem the edges, then fold over about 2 inches and sew along the edge to create a tube to slip the cross bar in and you're good to go.
Easy to clean in the washing machine. You may even be able to get permanent press that will resist wrinkles, or like some go with the wrinkles to create texture.
I even have a couple of canvas masters I've attached to the cardboard tube carpet comes on (free from the carpet company since they typically throw it away) that allow me to roll the canvas clean for transport, and unroll to use.
I rarely use all 3 rails, but there have been a couple of occasions where being able to switch between a couple back and forth have been useful. (Anyone still doing double exposure portaits in the camera?)
Hope this is helpful. |
|
Kyle Ericson, Photographer
|
St. Charles | MO | | Posted: 6:25 AM on 08.15.10 |
| ->> I mirror what John said....but to add. Years ago someone from Sportsshooter educated me to not use regular linen sheets as a substitute for good muslins or quality backdrops. Regular bedding sheets are too thin for handling the light AND the die in the sheets are not consistent for your artificial lighting. I don't know how to explain it....but it can look bad....=) |
|
Mark Peters, Photographer
|
Return to --> Message Board Main Index
|