Creating a background for still life photography with your own hands - 3 methods
Published: 10.02.2022
The right choice of background is crucial for creating a successful photograph. Even perfectly chosen lighting and correct composition will look bad in a photo if there is an unattractive background. It is especially important to choose a good background for product or food photography, advertising photo shoots. Surfaces made of wood, brick, stone, plastic, etc. can be used as backgrounds. Light textured surfaces that complement the composition look interesting. A recognizable background can become a photographer's signature style, adding uniqueness and recognizability to their photos. Not all photographers have a fully equipped studio with a quality background for product photography. If you rent a photo studio, it can be quite problematic to constantly carry a bulky background with you for shooting. Let's consider how to make a cheap, lightweight, and practical background for product photography with your own hands, which can be easily moved to different locations.
"Three ways to create a background for still life photography by yourself"
You can make the background yourself, spending a minimum amount of money on its production. Options for a background for a still life photoshoot:
1. Photo printing on foam board.
Foam board is a durable and lightweight material that is perfect for use as a background for a photoshoot. To make it, follow these steps:
- Find the appropriate foam board. It is preferable for it to have a thickness of at least 5 millimeters, otherwise it may get damaged during shooting. Choose the length and width depending on your needs. For using the foam board as a background, it is better to take a size of 100x140 centimeters. If you need a background for laying objects on it, a size of 50x70 centimeters will be sufficient.
- Choose an image for photo printing. It is best to choose neutral images for the background, such as marble, wood, stone, or brick. Make sure that the image for printing has a sufficient resolution, it should be at least 250-300 dpi.
- Find a printing center that offers printing services on foam board. Before picking up and paying for the order, make sure that the work is done with high quality, all colors are accurately reproduced, and the background has an attractive appearance.
2. Vinyl wallpaper.
A vinyl backdrop is lightweight, compact, suitable for various types of photography, and easy to make. Head to any hardware store and go to the wallpaper section. Vinyl wallpapers are available in various colors, choose a not too bright shade that will not distract from the composition in the photo. You can measure the surface of your wall or table in advance to understand what length of roll you will need. After purchasing the wallpapers, you just need to attach or stick them to the background and enjoy the photoshoot. Some photo stores sell pre-made vinyl backgrounds, but they can be quite expensive. If you want to save money, cut the necessary length and width of the wallpaper and attach it to the background yourself.
3. Self-adhesive film.
Creating a background for still life photography using self-adhesive film will cost just a few cents, and its production will take a minimum amount of time. Beautiful self-adhesive film can be purchased online, in hardware stores, and art supply stores. To create a background, you will need:
- "film;"
- "scissors, foam board or another sturdy surface where the film will be adhered;"
- "ruler;"
- "pencil;"
- clean and dry cloth;
- "Office knife."
Measure the dimensions of the surface that will serve as the background. Then, cut out the same shape on the film surface using a utility knife and ruler. Carefully separate the protective layer of the film from its adhesive side, apply it to the background surface, and stick it on, smoothing it out with a dry cloth. When applying the film, make sure that no air bubbles form, otherwise your background will look rough and not very attractive.
A stylish background for still life photography can also be made from fabric, kraft paper, cardboard, laminate, it all depends on your imagination and the availability of free time to make a backdrop. Experiment with different shades, textures, and shapes of the background, over time you will understand what looks best in photos and effectively highlights the objects being photographed. And remember that even an unsuccessful background can always be corrected with the help of graphic editors. We hope that the tips on making a background by hand will be useful to you and help you create beautiful photos that you can preserve by ordering a photo book or Light album from Mapi.
From the great photos you will definitely take, create a Light album. You don't need to print the photos separately for this. We will print your photos directly on the pages of the Light album. Upload your images to the free editor Mapi7 and create a thematic Light album. You can upload photos from your phone.
"Do not try to follow all the trends. Take photos of what you love, whether it is popular at the moment or not. If all your friends are posting selfies, but you enjoy macro photography and love taking pictures of insects, do what you love. A photograph that is made with love and passion will always be appreciated and resonate with others."
