Do It Yourself Portrait Background

A cluttered, distracting background is one of the things that distinguishes an amateur snapshot from a professional portrait. However, studio backgrounds are often expensive and unsuited for a photographer on a budget. Any beginning or advanced photographer makes professional-looking backgrounds at home using materials available at your local craft shop and home improvement store.

Instructions

Painted Wall

1

Select a blank wall, preferably in an interior room or one with heavy drapes over the windows. A dark room gives you more control over the portrait lighting.

2

Paint with a neutral base color, such as white, gray or beige.

3

Sponge paint with one or two other muted colors, if desired.

Fabric Backdrop

4

Fold over the top of a velvet or muslin rectangle to create a loop large enough to slide over a one to one and a half inch PVC pipe. Sew along the bottom of the fold.

5

Make two shallow cuts approximately two inches apart near the top and bottom edges of the backdrop. Fold the resulting flap backward to double the fabric

6

Mark an area in the middle of the doubled fabric where you will place a grommet.

7

Center the grommet hole punch over the mark and hit the end with a hammer.

8

Cut out the area marked by the punch.

9

Place the front grommet through the hole on the right side of the fabric and the back grommet behind it.

10

Hold the two pieces together and place them on the grommet base tool with the wrong side up.

11

Place the cylindric grommet tool through the hole, then hit the top with a hammer until the pieces are firmly attached. Repeat this process to install all four grommets.

12

Drill equally-spaced holes into two 5 ft. pieces of 2 in. PVC pipe and two 5 ft. pieces of 1-1/2 in. pipe.

13

Slide the 1-1/2 in. pipes into the 2 in. pipes and secure with a nail or hitchpin.

14

Slide the backdrop onto the 8 ft. pipe, then attach elbow connectors on the ends.

15

Insert the top of the drilled 1-1/2 in. pipes into the end of the elbow connectors to create the sides of the frame.

16

Slide a 1-1/2 ft. length of 1-1/2 in. PVC pipe through the bottom of each T-connector. Connect these to the bottoms of the side supports to create the feet of the frame.

17

Wrap bungee cords around the outside supports. Slip the bungee hooks through the grommets to pull the fabric tight.

Paper Backdrop

18

Screw two bell pipe hangers to the ceiling.

19

Unscrew one of the clamps, insert the end of the metal pipe, then screw it back together.

20

Slide the roll of background paper onto the other end of the pipe, then insert the it into the second clamp.

21

Pull off enough paper to cover the wall and floor around your subject. Make sure the paper creates a smooth arc between the wall and floor.

22

Smooth the paper free of wrinkles.

---

A cluttered, distracting background is one of the things that distinguishes an amateur snapshot from a professional portrait. However, studio backgrounds are often expensive and unsuited for a photographer on a budget. Any beginning or advanced photographer makes professional-looking backgrounds at home using materials available at your local craft shop and home improvement store.

Instructions

Painted Wall

1

Select a blank wall, preferably in an interior room or one with heavy drapes over the windows. A dark room gives you more control over the portrait lighting.

2

Paint with a neutral base color, such as white, gray or beige.

3

Sponge paint with one or two other muted colors, if desired.

Fabric Backdrop

4

Fold over the top of a velvet or muslin rectangle to create a loop large enough to slide over a one to one and a half inch PVC pipe. Sew along the bottom of the fold.

5

Make two shallow cuts approximately two inches apart near the top and bottom edges of the backdrop. Fold the resulting flap backward to double the fabric

6

Mark an area in the middle of the doubled fabric where you will place a grommet.

7

Center the grommet hole punch over the mark and hit the end with a hammer.

8

Cut out the area marked by the punch.

9

Place the front grommet through the hole on the right side of the fabric and the back grommet behind it.

10

Hold the two pieces together and place them on the grommet base tool with the wrong side up.

11

Place the cylindric grommet tool through the hole, then hit the top with a hammer until the pieces are firmly attached. Repeat this process to install all four grommets.

12

Drill equally-spaced holes into two 5 ft. pieces of 2 in. PVC pipe and two 5 ft. pieces of 1-1/2 in. pipe.

13

Slide the 1-1/2 in. pipes into the 2 in. pipes and secure with a nail or hitchpin.

14

Slide the backdrop onto the 8 ft. pipe, then attach elbow connectors on the ends.

15

Insert the top of the drilled 1-1/2 in. pipes into the end of the elbow connectors to create the sides of the frame.

16

Slide a 1-1/2 ft. length of 1-1/2 in. PVC pipe through the bottom of each T-connector. Connect these to the bottoms of the side supports to create the feet of the frame.

17

Wrap bungee cords around the outside supports. Slip the bungee hooks through the grommets to pull the fabric tight.

Paper Backdrop

18

Screw two bell pipe hangers to the ceiling.

19

Unscrew one of the clamps, insert the end of the metal pipe, then screw it back together.

20

Slide the roll of background paper onto the other end of the pipe, then insert the it into the second clamp.

21

Pull off enough paper to cover the wall and floor around your subject. Make sure the paper creates a smooth arc between the wall and floor.

22

Smooth the paper free of wrinkles.

---

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