Portable Backdrop/Stand on the Cheap

Llywellyn · October 20, 2007

I have searched through these forums and found tons of great information, but I haven't quite found the answer for a truly portable backdrop on the cheap (the DIY ones I've found have a more permanent mounting set-up for at-home use only). Perhaps I should ask specifically for backdrop stand how-to's or inexpensive ones (I saw the recommendation for a $100 one, but I just can't spring that much for a stand right now).

I will be having my first portrait shoot in a few weeks, and my (brand new) lighting/backdrop will become at-home studio pieces until I can dig up more portrait jobs.

I wouldn't even bother with the backdrop, except the mother loves, loves, loves high-key B&W images with a solid black background. Not everything I shoot during this session will fall into this category, but I would like to offer her a few images that fall in line with her idea of a "good photograph."

Thus my new backdrop conundrum. Any suggestions? :dunno

Icebear · October 20, 2007

Cheap backdrop stand
Use 1/2" schedule 40 pvc pipe. You probably won't need it to be more than 7' high, unless your models are professional basketball players, so cut two 7' lengths and glue 90 degree sleeve (not threaded) fittings to one end of each. These are your legs. Now a third piece of 1/2" pipe, cut to 2" longer than your chosen roll paper width becomes your cross piece. You just run it through the roll like a toilet tissue holder, and press your legs on either end. Lean the whole apparatus up against a wall, and voila! Cheapest portable backdrop stand I've ever found. The whole thing probably won't cost you $10.00 US. If you can't handle 7' long material in your Miata, cut the legs in half and use sleeves to rejoin them on location. The 1/2" pvc is pretty flexible, and not too strong, so I wouldn't try to use it for really wide paper. For wider (heavier) material, you could use beefier pvc. Home Depot rocks.

ChatKat · October 21, 2007

We like cheap...
This is perfect for me too. Setting up a real studio and need cheap and practical. This works. I have backgrounds and stands but want to be able to do multiples around the camera room for quick changes of backgrounds....Thanks!

LiquidAir · October 22, 2007

For a black background, I have a 10x10 Won muslin. The Won muslins have a loop sewn in them (like a curtain) which you can thread a pole through. I have a 10 foot pole than hangs in a couple hooks on my ceiling. The black muslin is about $100 at B&H, a 10' piece of PVC and some hooks will run you less than $10 at a hardware store.

BTW, black muslins work pretty well as long as you keep your light off them so the wrinkles don't show. For a white background, seamless paper works better.

rwells · October 22, 2007

Llywellyn wrote:

...but I haven't quite found the answer for a truly portable backdrop on the cheap...

I will be having my first portrait shoot in a few weeks...

I wouldn't even bother with the backdrop, except the mother loves, loves, loves high-key B&W images with a solid black background...

Any suggestions?

Well,

I've probably misunderstood your request, but if your going to be shooting head/shoulder shots, why not just use a 42" reflector -- the black side?

I've done this and it works good. If your shooting a little wider you can always clone in any areas that were off the black background/reflector.

I don't know if you own a reflector or not, but it's an idea anyway.

YMMV

Llywellyn · October 22, 2007

Thanks, all, for the suggestions! Much appreciated.

I especially like the reflector idea (the few shots I need this for immediately will be close in), but I don't have one in my grasp yet...and I may need it for actual reflecting.

mtopham · October 24, 2007

Since I'm still kinda new around here, I don't know if this has been posted here before. You might want to check this link out for some ideas as well if you haven't already.

http://www.software-cinema.com/tinkertubes/tt-book.pdf

Mike

Llywellyn · October 24, 2007

mtopham wrote:

Since I'm still kinda new around here, I don't know if this has been posted here before. You might want to check this link out for some ideas as well if you haven't already.

http://www.software-cinema.com/tinkertubes/tt-book.pdf

Mike

Oh, wow. That rocks!

Thank you for the resource!

Art Scott · October 24, 2007

Here was what I used to use.....I went to a theatrical supply and purchased 30 feet of 108 inch muslin (paid about $30 for it) and then off to a freight damage building supply store for 1 gal of blk govt surplus exterior house paint ($6.95)....already had a paint roller and covers...laid it out on my deck and and rolled away.....now I was not looking for a perfectly smooth background and wanted the strokes to be every which way....but I covered every inch of one side with blk (oh yea....I did thin it a bit to make sure itcovered the whole muslin)....then I got a piece of 10 foot alum. conduit (almost as light as sch 40 PVC but one hell of a lot stronger, it won't bend under the stress of a muslin).....this was hung from a pair of 10 inch plant / shelf brackets ($2.95 at home depot or wally world)....why 30 feet long, because my walls were 9 feet and I want plenty of room for doing full length shots with backdrop coming in front of the subject (on the floor)

1 background grows to almost and infinte number of backdrops....I had four lights (2 mains and 2 back ground lights) I purchase a pair of Z-FRAMES to hold 12 x 12 inch colored gels....each sheet of gel mat'l make approx 4 usable gels and I had 10 different colors to start with............

For coloring the backdrop blk is the best as it absorbs the colors and white or grey will reflect most of it back at you and not get the desired effect......

If your want quick change backdrops and do not want to go the gel way then save your money for a cable or track sliding system...do believe you can have a really good one for around $500 that would put backdrops on all four walls.....but I personally would opt for 2 muslins blk and white..gels for coloring the blk and possibly a green or blue screen for really exotic shots (by exotic I mean you create your backdrop in photoshop or some other software and do a cut and paste) or you can shoot land / city scape's for use with the blue / green screens also....

Here is a couple of links tha may be of interest:

If you it on the cheap her is AMOVNA lots of things to peruse thru

the not cheap but still a worth while retailer for the serious pro or serious non pro..............PRO STUDIO SUPPLY always have gotten great service from them...............lastly here is a shot from that era of gelling the background:

below is a scan of an almost 15yr old B-card of mine showing a gelled backdrop

I would normally shoot with the background lights set a 3/4 or full power depending on the intensity of color I wanted...............

HTH

Llywellyn · October 24, 2007

Art Scott wrote:

Here was what I used to use... <snip>

Yowza! <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/eek7.gif" border="0" alt="" > I...don't even know if I grasped half of that! <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/rolleyes1.gif" border="0" alt="" >

I think I could categorize myself as "serious newb."

I am definitely saving this thread so I can reference it as I continue to grow with lighting and studio work. It's a whole new world for me. Thank you very much for the detailed information, Art. Some things I never would have even thought of.

...and here I thought figuring out what all the buttons and dials on my camera did would be the most confusing part of learning more about photography. <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/mwink.gif" border="0" alt="" >

pathfinder · October 25, 2007

Kerry, I shot a series of family portraits with a black background, a single studio strobe opposite an Impact reflector.

I used a 60 inch wide piece of flat, black vinyl cloth that I purchased at JoAnn's Fabrics.

I got shots like this with it - I just suspended it from the ceiling with some wire and a piece of Al tubing

More here - http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/gallery/2125297/2

Llywellyn · October 25, 2007

Thanks, Pathfinder! Unfortunately, I can't suspend from the ceiling as I'll be taking this to the client's home, not having her come to mine.

I did get to scout her home and think I'll be able to finagle something good for an interim solution. Once that's done, I'll use what I have for the in-home solution, which many of these suggestions would be perfect for.

And thanks for the gallery link!

Portable Backdrop/Stand on the Cheap

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