As you know, photography backdrops are just as important as the subject of the photo itself. The magic happens when it is in harmony with its subject. After all, the subject, lighting, position, angle, and depth must all come together with the background to capture a beautiful photo and tell a story. To achieve this, you need to follow a few tips so that your photography backdrop will work for you.

The color and type of photography backdrops you’re using affect the atmosphere and quality of your pictures. Therefore, you must do sufficient research to choose them carefully. The first thing you should decide on is the type of backdrop you want to use.

So, you’ve chosen the photography backdrop – what’s next?

13 ways to improve your photos using photography backdrops

 

• Always pay close attention to detail. You have to watch things like tree branches, power lines, horizon lines, etc., before capturing the photo. Sometimes, it may appear like a horizon line is cutting the person’s neck off. Or worse, a tree branch is growing out of their head.

• Organize the colors in the foreground and the background. The goal here is to make the subject stand out. Therefore, you need a background color or pattern that will highlight the subject without negatively affecting their look. What’s the color of the subject’s clothes? Hair color? Skin? The color of the backdrop must depend on those colors. 

• Your subject shouldn’t be too close to the photo backdrop. To get the perfect result, place the subject about 180cm or 6ft in front of the backdrop. While it still shows texture, the distance will diffuse the background details. If your subject stands too close to it, you’ll have issues with harsh shadows and reflections.

• The photography backdrop should never take the attention away from the subject. Always be mindful that the subject can get lost in the background. Avoid using backgrounds with color swirls, aggressive patterns, or bold graphics if you don’t want them to take the focus away from the subject. Only do that for experimental photoshoots, especially for artists. The goal is to make the subject the main focus. Therefore, the background should only be a supporting tool.

• Fill the frame. If you aren’t using any props and are shooting something simple, try filling the frame with the subject. If there’s too much space around it, it will make the picture look weaker. The becomes unnecessary, and the backdrop will appear dominant.

• Use the lighting for dramatic effects. Every good photograph requires good lighting. If you’re using a photography backdrop, make sure to keep the contrast in check. Try experimenting with low-key and high-key lighting if you want to achieve a dramatic studio portrait. Using high-key lighting means surrounding the subject with light, so it gets all the focus. Using low-key lighting wraps the subject with shadows, so it gets the attention. After all, if your background is too light, it will pull the focus away. If the backdrop is too dark, it will highlight the subject in an unappealing sense.

• Position the subject correctly. You might think it’s a great idea to put your subject in the dead center, but it’s not. Avoid doing that. You don’t want a subject smack at the center of your frame all the time. After all, Compositional rules and the rule of thirds matter, even when doing a simple photoshoot in your studio. Visualize two vertical and two horizontal lines, and place the subject where the lines intersect. You don’t have to follow this rule, but it enhances your photo’s composition.

• Use the photography backdrops and props to create a fantasy. Your photography backdrop can take your subject to places, especially if you want to make a unique scene. Combine creative backgrounds using striking textures and vivid colors with props, including tables, stools, and boxes. This scene creates a potential for great storytelling. And more importantly, it will be more remarkable than a regular portrait. If you’re following a theme for your photo, use a relevant backdrop. For instance, a beautiful ballroom with grand chandeliers asks for an exquisitely dressed couple.

• Stick with matte to be safe. Shiny photography backdrops look pretty. However, they aren’t great for photoshoots. Use matte instead since it doesn’t create those scary orb-looking shapes or produce glare, making the picture creepy.

• Use proportions. Whenever you need to use props for the photoshoot, always make sure they’re proportional to the scene. For instance, if you want the picture to show the Eiffel Tower in the far distance, it will look small. Therefore, any props in the photo must be proportional to the Eiffel Tower to make the image more believable.

• Make use of the angles. Just like proportions, angles are also a necessary component when it comes to photoshoots. Angle the props or the subject according to your photo backdrop. It applies more whenever you want to depict a scene in a solid-colored background.

• Learn to blur the background. Create a shallow depth of field if you want the subject to pop in the foreground with a blurred background. To do this, all you have to do is select the lowest f-stop in the aperture setting. When you’re ready to capture the image, stand a fair distance away from the subject, and you should be able to capture your desired image.

• Make the background simpler. Sometimes, a simple shot is better than a complex one. You can capture beautiful photos using a nice, solid backdrop without any distraction. Just fill the frame with only your subject. 

 

The photography backdrops you use can affect the clarity and quality of the pictures. Take the time you need to choose the background carefully. It will help you depict the mood or personality of the subject accurately. The goal is for them to reflect on the picture. You must use the backdrops correctly to get better quality images.