The amateur studio photographer has his fair share of technical challenges that he more often than not has to face with DIY methods. Unlike the all-natural-light portrait photographers who just put on a fast prime and go out shooting, the photographer who spends most of his or her time shooting in the home studio has to be innovative in ways that leave many interior designers jealous. With that said, one of the most annoying parts of setting up a home studio is hanging the backdrop. Assuming you’re just starting out and want to save the money you would normally spend on a professional system, we have some good news for you. In terms of raw materials you actually don’t need to spend a lot of cash. Besides the obvious backdrop material, you’re going to need something that can be found in any hardware store: plumbing pipes. A one inch plumbing pipe coupled with a half inch pipe and an elbow and you’re good to go. For aesthetic purposes, have a little fun and paint the suspended plumbing. It’ll give your personal studio a much more personal vibe.
The cool thing about using these DIY materials and techniques, besides the obvious cost factor, is that you can customize your setup to your needs. You can use large backdrops to shoot video scenes or you could put together a system of multiple backdrops with various colors depending on your needs.
Speaking of backdrop colors, if you’re just starting out, I recommend using black or white. They work with just about any kind of subject and they’re a lot easier to learn on.
Here’s the complete video tutorial on how to hang your backdrop from The Slanted Lens.
Learn more about studio photography from these recommended books:
- Light it, Shoot it, and Retouch it: learn Step by Step How to Go from Empty Studio to Finished Image
- Photography Lighting: Ultimate Guide to Home Studio Photography Lighting!
- Photography Lighting: The Techniques of Creating Photography Lighting in Your Home Studio