Backgrounds and BG stands

Bend The Light

Hi,

I am looking to get a BG and a stand. I need it to be collapsible, and I need it CHEAP!

I have seen a stand set up on FleaBay 3m long (extendable from 1.5 to 3m, I think). This looks ok, and light enough to move around.
Then I have seen backgrounds for it. But I don't know what's best...there's muslin, there's polyester/cotton mix, and there's paper. There's vinyl, too. But I really am short of cash, but need to get something. Should I just go for the cheapest muslin one (3m by 6m)?

I just need to be able to take a few portrait style shots. Should I just get the white and be able to set up like I did the Ruby shot at the Camera Club? Get pics like this?


Tim at PCC portrait evening by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr


Ruby at PCC portrait evening by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr

I have a couple of people wanting some simple publicity photos, mainly as white (or at least plain) backgrounds. I can earn a few quid and then see about better BG. The stand and a 3mx6m white muslin will cost me about £75...I have the best part of that from selling a couple of old unused lenses and what's left of a few quid I got from selling photos of my daughter's last show to the performers and their families.

What do you all think?

Icebear

Bend The Light wrote: »

I just need to be able to take a few portrait style shots. Should I just get the white and be able to set up like I did the Ruby shot at the Camera Club? Get pics like this?



What do you all think?

I'd suggest you go with a light/medium grey instead of white. You can always overlight it to get toward white, and underlight it for darker. It's also easier to shoot to extract a subject from a grey BG than a white, then you can layer in any BG you want. Grey's just more versatile IMO.

Edit: and your daughter is some kind of cute!

Bend The Light

Icebear wrote: »

I'd suggest you go with a light/medium grey instead of white. You can always overlight it to get toward white, and underlight it for darker. It's also easier to shoot to extract a subject from a grey BG than a white, then you can layer in any BG you want. Grey's just more versatile IMO.

Thanks. I may look at grey, then...I may want to extract a headshot or something from a BG for the actor style folks that want me to do their pictures. That could be useful.

Icebear wrote: »

Edit: and your daughter is some kind of cute!

Yeah, I know. She gets it from me...NOT!

divamum

The Botero black/white double-sided. Around $80 from BH. I don't even use a stand but just prop it up against a wall, or use a work clamp to hook it to anything handy (eg a bookcase).

Move the subject forward and don't light it? Looks grey. Light it? Hi key. Need pure black? Turn it around. Very, VERY versatile.....

ETA: Forgot that you're in the UK. Check around to see if Jessop's or anybody do something similar? Or maybe even order from the US (with exchange rate as it is might not be so bad.....?)

Bend The Light

divamum wrote: »

The Botero black/white double-sided. Around $80 from BH. I don't even use a stand but just prop it up against a wall, or use a work clamp to hook it to anything handy (eg a bookcase).

Move the subject forward and don't light it? Looks grey. Light it? Hi key. Need pure black? Turn it around. Very, VERY versatile.....

ETA: Forgot that you're in the UK. Check around to see if Jessop's or anybody do something similar? Or maybe even order from the US (with exchange rate as it is might not be so bad.....?)

Thanks...I looked at those sort of things...they look quite useful. I'll look into it some more.

Thanks