Hi there from NW Indiana

[storm1230]

I decided to start photography, first because I have always wanted to try it, and secondly my daughter models for childrens boutiques. It is expensive to pay for pro shoots all the time. I believe I can do this myself and learn to expand. I am a stay at home mom of 7 kids, 6 are teenagers, and a 2 yr old little princess. I need lots of advice as she has shoots almost weekly for different items. I bought a white seemless backdrop, but she always looks overexposed and the background a dingy grey color...I will be on this forum aLOT!! LOL

[TPF Sponsor]

[Big Mike]

Welcome to the forum. 7 kids...wow.

I bought a white seemless backdrop, but she always looks overexposed and the background a dingy grey color...I will be on this forum aLOT!! LOL

For a white backdrop to look white in a photo, there are a few things you need to know. Firstly, the auto modes on all cameras, are calibrated to get a middle grey tone...because that is the 'average' of most shots that people might take. But a white backdrop is much more reflective (bright) than middle grey, so when you photograph it with the auto modes, it's comes out grey (under exposed). The solution is to adjust your settings to overexpose from what the camera's meter is telling you.

Another key thing to know, is that light falls off over distance...so if you have a light pointed at your subject (daughter), and the backdrop is behind her. There is less light on the backdrop than on her. This would cause the backdrop to be under exposed.
Or even if the light is even, you'll likely need more light on the background, for it to really appear white in the photo.

So when shooting for a white background, the trick is to have one (often two) lights pointed just at the background, so that it is getting more light than the subject.

I do encourage you to try this yourself, rather than paying someone else to do it all the time...but on the other hand, I have to say....It's not as easy as they make it look, is it?

[cnutco]

WoW! Looks like your are building toward some type of team!

Welcome and goodluck!!!