How many BG's do you offer

[RobyMD]

So for you studio shooters, what do you offer as for backgrounds? Muslin, canvas, hand painted, scenic, paper, other, all of the above. And how many options do you offer or have on hand?

Also any recommendations on the cheaper $40-$70 version vs the $700 jobs?

[Detonate]

I basically use 4 papers. I have a couple muslins that I like.

Personally I think you can get away with White and Black Paper and Gels.

[RobyMD]

What kind of studio work do you normally shoot?

[bondarnes]

I have an old masters background actually painted on a studio wall that is 18X10, I also have three 12X20 canvas backgrounds on an electric roller system. I have a permanent hi-key sweep, nine muslins on a track, plus a bay window. There is also a spiral stairway, brick wall, library, and locker room sets. In our outdoor area I have a porch with white columns and white lattice, a rustic doorway, Grandma's porch with a porch swing, the barn with a saddle and hay bales, rustic bridge over a pond, metal archway, oil well pumpjack, and the red door.

[RobyMD]

Next time I'm in Dallas would you mind me coming by to check out the setup? It sounds pretty stinkin' cool!

[Michelle Allmon]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

I have an old masters background actually painted on a studio wall that is 18X10, I also have three 12X20 canvas backgrounds on an electric roller system. I have a permanent hi-key sweep, nine muslins on a track, plus a bay window. There is also a spiral stairway, brick wall, library, and locker room sets. In our outdoor area I have a porch with white columns and white lattice, a rustic doorway, Grandma's porch with a porch swing, the barn with a saddle and hay bales, rustic bridge over a pond, metal archway, oil well pumpjack, and the red door.

I wanna go to YOUR place! Sounds awesome!

[RobyMD]

Sorry, I kind of got off track there for a minute. What do you look for in your bg's. I guess I'd also like to get your opinion on price per bg? Should I get a few cheaper ones or one nicer one (assuming price has an indication of quality)

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by RobyMD

Next time I'm in Dallas would you mind me coming by to check out the setup? It sounds pretty stinkin' cool!

I'm always happy to have visitors. Just give me a day or so notice to make sure I am available. My studio is pretty cool, but I started out like most of you. One camera, three lenses, one background, and a Novaton powerpack with four heads. That was in 1975.

I would suggest starting with muslin backgrounds because they are so versatile. If you get one a shade or two darker than what you think you want you can make it lighter with a background light. I would suggest starting off with a warm grey. A light blue gel over your bg light will make it a cool grey. Next get a nice brown or a pastel depending on what kind of work you are doing. Although price is a consideration, I have always purchased what was on sale that I liked. If it is the last day of the trade show you can even make an offer. Then the vendor has the decision, "Money in my pocket or ship it to the next event?" I have also used a muslin for two or three years and traded it with another photographer for one they were tired of.

Paper backgrounds are inexpensive, but they do limit the looks you can get. I hardy ever use paper any more except for black. I would get black or thunder gray to start with. You can change the color of these by gelling your bg light. If you plan to do a lot of hi-key you would need super white, but it is hard to get a pure white with only one bg light.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by Michelle Allmon

I wanna go to YOUR place! Sounds awesome!

You are welcome any time. Let me know next time you are in Texas.

[RobyMD]

Thanks for the info and willingness to share.

[Double H]

I use a couple of canvas painters dropcloths. The largest (12x14 I think) was about $30 at my local hardware store. I mixed black dye in a 5 gallon bucket then just randomly rolled it across the canvas with a paint roller. I let that dry and did the same with a light blue dye. After letting the whole thing dry for about a week, I tossed it in the washer, cycled it through, and out came a great motley colored blue/grey/black backdrop. Another variation I like is I took a spray bottle and sprayed green, then red, then blue, then yellow dye randomly across a dropcloth. I let that stay on the dropcloth for several months (and actually used it as a backdrop during that time). I then ran that through a wash cycle with just a little bleach and got a great washed-out multi-colored background I've been using with kids and seniors. It also worked great with some Christmas pictures last year. Even if you try and don't like the results, the cost is dirt cheap.

Randy

[henryp]

Until you can afford a range of options, you can give your subjects the semblance of variety with one thunder grey background and gels. I use the Rosco Cinegel Sampler Kit and can color the background to match or complement the subject's outfit. Swapping gels takes a second. The Rosco Color Effects Kit has ten more.