Backdrops can be a really great way to add interest and depth to your photos. Whether you’re shooting portraits, landscapes, or food photography, they are an easy way to create a unique background that will make your images stand out from all the others on Instagram. In this blog post we give you 17 tips for how to use them effectively in order to get amazing shots!
Table of Contents
Good Lighting
The best photos with backdrops are those taken in natural light, or how you can make the most of ambient lighting. If your backdrop is too brightly lit it will take away from the rest of your shot and won’t look very professional. You want to be sure that there’s a nice even light source coming through so that shadows don’t play up parts of the image which shouldn’t have them – this could spoil an otherwise great photo! Likewise if there are dark patches over part of the backdrop then these may distract viewers from what you’re trying to showcase.
Focus On The Subject
This may sound obvious, but it’s easy to forget how important this aspect is. If you have a great backdrop and the lighting is done well, then your subject really needs to be up to scratch as well! It can look a bit odd if there are issues with focus or exposure so make sure that all of these aspects work together perfectly in order for your images to achieve their full potential.
Lighting Equipment Is Crucial To Successful Backdrops
If you want professional looking results from using backdrops then invest in some equipment which makes them easier to use. You might need extra lamps depending on how much ambient light there already is where you’re shooting, as well as how large your backdrop actually is. What could also help tremendously would be how well lit your backdrop is, and how much control you have over how it appears in the shot.
Take Lots Of Shots Before Editing!
One of the best ways to create great backdrops for photos using a smartphone or DSLR camera would be to take multiple shots at different exposures. This way if one isn’t quite working out then you can swap it with another that looks better without too much editing required afterwards. It’s worth remembering though that even when taking multiple images there will always be some post-processing involved so don’t get too carried away before checking how things are looking on screen first!
What Will You Shoot With Your Backdrop?
Before deciding on which type of backdrop material to buy, think about what kind of photos you want to take. If it’s mostly food or drink shots then a white sheet might be the best choice as this will help bring out how appetizing your images look! However if you’re going for something more classy and professional looking, maybe black would suit better – the possibilities are endless which is one of the great things about using backdrops in photography.
Use A Matte Backdrop
Matt backdrops give a nice soft look to shots and also help create definition between the different areas of your image. They can be used in various ways, for example how bright or how dark they are will depend on what you’re trying to showcase within your photo. It’s worth remembering though that even when taking multiple images there will always be some post-processing involved so don’t get too carried away before checking how things are looking on screen first!
Watch For Horizontal Lines
When using a backdrop, how straight the horizontal lines are will have an impact on how professional your images look. A little bit of cropping can help to avoid this problem but you might just need to take more time when setting up your shot so that everything is done correctly before taking it.
Use The Right Positioning
Where you position the backdrop in relation to how your subject is being photographed can have a big impact on how great the final result looks. Sometimes just moving something slightly could make all of the difference so it’s worth experimenting with this aspect before settling on what works best for you – that way every shot will look as good as possible!
If You’re Using A Smartphone Then Use Props Or Stand Against The Wall
This may sound like an odd thing to do but if you are using a smartphone then try leaning it against a wall or pedestal which has been painted white, or use props instead. This helps because there isn’t much room when taking photos with smartphones due to their small size, and sometimes getting everything into frame without any distractions is difficult.
Props Should Be Proportional To The Subject
If you want to take a photo of your pet cat then maybe it would be best not to use an enormous prop that looks like its from Disney Land! It’s also worth noting how the color scheme matches up, if there is too much contrast between everything then this can cause problems. Try to avoid using props with faces on them because these will distract attention away from what you’re trying to capture in the shot. Use objects which compliment the subject at hand but don’t overdo it either because otherwise things could become very cluttered within your picture frame!
Angles Can Make A Big Difference
The angle at which you take your shots can have a big effect on how they look in the end. It’s worth experimenting with different angles before deciding upon one that works well for what you’re trying to create. Sometimes taking pictures from above or below subjects is more effective, but try not to think too much about this aspect because it could be something as simple as moving just a few inches which makes all of the difference when creating images!
Blur The Background With Bokeh
Bokeh is a feature which can be found on some cameras and smartphones that allows the photographer to blur out the background of an image. This simple trick makes all of the difference when trying to create professional looking shots as this will focus attention onto your subject, even if it’s just something small like a pet or food!
Use A Simple Backdrop
Using a simple backdrop is often the best option if you want to take high quality images. You don’t need anything fancy or expensive, instead just use something like cardboard which has been painted white and then leave it at that! It’s how you position everything else within your photograph which will make all of the difference so avoid focusing on one specific aspect too much because this could cause more problems than solutions in some cases.
High-Key Or Low-Key Lighting
These two types of lighting can make all the difference when it comes to how professional your photographs look. They are great for avoiding shadows which could cause distractions, and there is even an option on some smartphones where you can change how bright or dark everything appears in an image.
Post Processing Is Essential
Sometimes capturing images perfectly isn’t enough because what works well during the day may not work as well at night under artificial lights. If this sounds like something that has happened to you then do not worry because a little bit of post processing will fix things up without any problems! You don’t need anything too complicated either so just have a play around with different apps until one seems right for what you’re trying to achieve, but try not going overboard otherwise things could look a bit weird in the end!
Create A Fantasy Landscape
If you’re not a fan of how things look like in the real world then how about creating your own fantasy landscape instead? This is actually really easy to do and it’s something that can be done with many different types of camera. It’s how the photographer positions everything which makes all of the difference, so try experimenting until something feels right for what you want to achieve! Using props or simple objects are great options because they don’t have any influence over other areas within an image.
Conclusion
With the right lighting equipment, taking lots of shots before editing, using a matte backdrop and positioning everything correctly this will help you achieve great looking results. It’s also worth thinking about how to use props or how your smartphone is positioned depending on what kind of image you’re after too!
