Digital backgrounds

r9jackson

I have done this head shot and wonder if there is a way to make it appear to have more separation from the digital background. The shot was originally done, at the customers request, on a white background and I photoshopped in the digital background. Or, does this look OK?
I know I should have shot it with a muslin backdrop and proper lighting but I'm just starting out and have a limited budget for the right lighting and backdrops.

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kidzmom

Honestly, at first glance this looks like a lit muslin and classic headshot. No problems with separation in my book but I'm no pro!

Greensquared

Personally, I think it looks pretty good - just the bright greens in the background are competing for attention. I think if you perhaps darken it, it will help with blending as well.

Surfdog

Maybe some desaturation of the background would help.

Swartzy

Separation and blur is fine...choice of color....not good. For a business man's portrait, something a bit more upscale for the bg is required. Also, bring the exposure up on your subject....it's down about 2/3rds of a stop.

Macushla

I don't care for the green either. Maybe a nice dignified mottled gray? Otherwise it looks great.

I'm new and don't have any backgrounds either. How did you add the background?

Surfdog

Hope you don't mind...I desaturated the background and did a mild levels adjustment. That seems to help.

r9jackson

Thanks

Swartzy wrote:

Separation and blur is fine...choice of color....not good. For a business man's portrait, something a bit more upscale for the bg is required. Also, bring the exposure up on your subject....it's down about 2/3rds of a stop.

Swartzy,
Thanks for the tips. I looked at your site and I am impressed, you are great.

I agree about the green color, I also tried a golden background in another iteration. When you say say upscale, does that mean more plain, like a solid background?
I agree about the 2/3rds of a stop and had not seen that until you mentioned it.

r9jackson

Surfdog wrote:

Hope you don't mind...I desaturated the background and did a mild levels adjustment. That seems to help.

Danny,
That really improves it, thank you. This is why I love SmugMug. So many people with ideas that improve each of us in our craft.

Jeremy Winterberg

I agree with everyone so far. I would use a dark grey or blue instead of the green. But, the separation does look pretty good.

If you're on a budget... make your own backdrops. Take some spray paint to some bedsheets! Its cheap, is effective, and looks good most of the time.