If you're a portrait photographer or an aspiring portrait photographer, one of the most essential things to have in your photographer's toolkit is a collection of studio backdrops and floors.
Why?
Simple - having various backdrops and floors allows you to customize photo shoots and transport the subject to places far and wide.
What's more, high-quality backdrops like those from the companies on our list look like a million bucks and can be used to add beautiful touches to your portraits.
That being the case, here's a few companies to keep your eye on if you're in the market for a top-quality portrait backdrop.
Click Props Backdrops
I first stumbled onto Click Props Backdrops last year at the PhotoPlus Expo in New York City. To say that this company brought attitude and style to a typically “vanilla” industry is an understatement!
Their backdrops are impressive, to say the least. They use super high-quality materials to create realistic-looking backdrops that look incredible on camera. There’s a reason they’re a three-time winner of the Society of Photographers’ Best Professional Studio Accessory award!
For one thing, these backdrops are handcrafted with 550gsm vinyl, so you know they’re of the highest quality (and are easy to clean, too).
They come with reinforced grommets every 12 inches along the top of the backdrop as well, meaning they’re easy to hang and easy to swap out for another backdrop or custom order without grommets and set them up on a roller system for even quicker set changes.
And all those grommets mean that the backdrop hangs cleanly, so you don’t have to worry about folds or creases making the backdrop a distraction in your photos.
Click Props has an amazing array of products, too. That includes over 200 unique designs that run the gamut from forest scenes to brick walls to abstracts and everything in between.
But it isn’t just the quality and variety of products that make Click Props such a great company. The people that work for Click Props have a lot to do with its success as well.
That includes Kat Armendariz, a studio photographer from Las Vegas who operates Click Props Backdrops.
Kat got involved as the Click Props Backdrops distributor in the U.S. after purchasing her own backdrops from the owners of the UK parent company, Click Connection Corporation LTD.
She was so impressed with the quality of the backdrops she purchased that she wanted to bring that quality and value to the United States to her fellow photographers. If that’s not a great testimonial for the quality of these backdrops, I don’t know what is!
It’s the grit, flair, and determination of folks like Kat that have made Click Props Backdrops such a success here and abroad.
Take it from me - if you’re in the market for gorgeous, well-made, durable, and affordable backdrops for your studio, Click Props is the place to go!
Learn more about Click Props Backdrops
Intuition Backgrounds
When it comes to quality, it’s hard to beat the products that Intuition Backgrounds offers
From solid backdrops to floral designs, hand painted options to fine art, Intuition Backgrounds offers over 700 different designs for you to choose from.
Better still, these guys have a wide range of options to customize your backdrop. That includes the materials used to make the backdrop (Canvas, Fabric, Poly, Dream Weave, and Ultra Pro among them) and a range of sizes too.
On top of that, Intuition Backgrounds also has a great selection of floors and props.
That means that you can truly outfit your studio for beautiful portraits in one stop!
Perhaps best of all, Intuition Backdrops prices their products affordably, so you can get a beautiful backdrop, floor, and various props without breaking the bank.
What makes Intuition’s prices even better is that the products you buy are backed by stellar customer service after the sale.
This includes a 14-day return policy - if you receive a damaged or misprinted product, send the unused product back and they will replace it for you.
Intuition Backgrounds was started just 11 years ago by Becky Gregory in her home. Today, she and her husband Greg still operate the business and do so with a lot of heart, dedication, and drive to succeed.
Their experience in growing their business from nothing means they are all-in on helping their customers do the same.
That’s what sets Intuition Backdrops apart from the rest, and that’s why they’re one of our top choices for backdrops!
Learn more about Intuition Backgrounds
Kate Backdrop
Kate Backdrop is relatively new on my radar, but I just had to include them on this list despite having only seen them for the first time just a couple of months ago.
What's so impressive about Kate Backdrops is that they have an incredible selection of various types of backdrops.
That includes various styles like floral patterns, wood, brick, and doors, holiday backdrops, wintery backdrops, and much more.
In fact, Kate Backdrop also offers hand-painted backdrops that give your images a beautiful richness.
What's more, since their hand-painted backdrops are one-of-a-kind, it gives you an opportunity to create a truly unique portrait for your clients.
Since Kate Backdrop has a team of experienced painters that work on their hand-painted backdrops, you're sure to get the exact backdrop to fulfill your creative vision!
Kate Backdrop also offers complete sets that include a backdrop and a floor.
These combo sets give you the best of both worlds by combining a gorgeous backdrop of your choice and a rubber floor mat to match.
Obviously, the advantage of getting a combo set is that you can get a more consistent look in the shot from floor to ceiling.
Beyond that, with a beautiful floor mat included, you don't have to worry about the floor showing in your photos, especially when you're photographing larger groups.
Of course, price is a big factor for any photographer, and Kate Backdrop delivers on that front.
They've combined high-quality materials, excellent craftsmanship, and good prices to give you the best of all three worlds!
Learn more about Kate Backdrop
Denny Manufacturing
Denny Manufacturing has been around since 1971, and since then, they've established themselves as a premier photography supply company.
Not only do they have a huge selection of photography backdrops, but you can also get custom vinyl banners, photo floors, props, and studio equipment like lights, softboxes, and umbrellas.
And don't think that since Denny Manufacturing is a jack of all trades that they're a master of none. Nothing could be further from the truth!
Their backdrops run the gamut from sequined backgrounds to solid color, hand-painted backgrounds to muslin, and just about anything you can think of in between.
They even have two-sided backdrops, that way you can get twice as much for your money!
What's great about these two-sided backdrops is that light doesn't shine through, so there's no worry about the color or pattern on the back showing through.
What's more, having two-sided backdrops helps you save space because you can have half as many backdrops without sacrificing selection.
If you're after a portrait backdrop that offers you a little more mobility, Denny Manufacturing also has Twist Flex portable backdrops.
These beautifully-crafted backdrops are made with light cloth and bound by a wire frame, making them easy to pop up and collapse.
These easy-to-use backdrops are ideal for headshots, school portraits, sports team photos, and any other type of portrait that requires you to be on-location and have highly portable gear.
Like the other backdrop companies on this list, Denny Manufacturing has developed a reputation for crafting gorgeous products and offering them for prices that won't break the bank.
If you're ready to step up your portrait photography game and need a high-quality backdrop to get started, consider Denny Manufacturing as one of your top choices!
Learn more about Denny Manufacturing Backdrops