Backdrops....

[qmr55]

I'm looking into purchasing my first backdrop for doing in studio portraits. What size do you guys recommend? Any suggestions before I make a purchase? I'm looking at a 12' wide kit from BH, is that wide enough?

Thanks!

 

[KmH]

It will be wide enough as long as you don't have more than 4 subjects (people) wide.

Many new to using a backdrop aren't aware that to be effective subjects need to be 6 to 10 feet in front of a background.
On way to maximize the width/height of a background is to use a telephoto lens for portraiture. A telephoto lens captures a smaller portion of the background.

 

[qmr55]

It will be wide enough as long as you don't have more than 4 subjects (people) wide.

Many new to using a backdrop aren't aware that to be effective subjects need to be 6 to 10 feet in front of a background.

Thanks for the reply KmH, I understand that! I have about 25-30 feet to work with so it should give me enough room for a start!

 

[astroNikon]

Are you looking for a solid color? white, grey, black, a textured pattern, etc ? For Full body shots, head shots, etc?
What "kit" are you looking at?

 

[Derrel]

Yes, a 12 foot wide backdrop is quite nice to work with; much wider than the standard full-width seamless paper roll, which is 9 feet across. With APS-C cameras in-studio, you need to really watch the use of shorter focal length lenses on 9-foot rolls on "tall" shots,and also on "wide"ashots that have as KmH mentioned, multriplepeople in them, due to the angle of view behind the subject when the lens length dips to about 35mm or shorter.

 

[qmr55]

Are you looking for a solid color? white, grey, black, a textured pattern, etc ? For Full body shots, head shots, etc?
What "kit" are you looking at?

This one here, Photoflex Pro-Duty Backdrop Support Kit DP-SHDBGSPKT B&H Photo.

I will probably get both white & black, but about 75% of my work will be on white. Mostly head shots but might work on some full body.

Yes, a 12 foot wide backdrop is quite nice to work with; much wider than the standard full-width seamless paper roll, which is 9 feet across. With APS-C cameras in-studio, you need to really watch the use of shorter focal length lenses on 9-foot rolls on "tall" shots,and also on "wide"ashots that have as KmH mentioned, multriplepeople in them, due to the angle of view behind the subject when the lens length dips to about 35mm or shorter.

Thank you for the info!

 

[photo1x1.com]

12 foot is awesome! However, be aware that the longer the background, the more it tends to sag (sorry if that´s the wrong word ) I have used steel tubes to prevent that and also had this kit from B&H. If you only use it for a short time, that won´t matter much, but in the longrun it will create ugly patterns on your background paper (not that important if you want to shoot on plain white, but for everything else). Keep in mind, that backgrounds are best stored upright for that very reason. If you have the chance to store a shorter one upright, it might be a good idea to reconsider the length.

Also keep in mind that getting the paper back on the roll is not that easy - something like this can be handy: Manfrotto 046MCG Expan Drive Set with Gray Metal Chain 046MCG

If you have the opportunity to put it on a wall instead of on a stand, look at these: Manfrotto 045 Background Triple Hooks for Three Backgrounds 045 That would be cheaper and better!!!

If a wall is not an option, maybe this is interesting: Impact Deluxe Varipole Support System (Silver) BGSS-VK3S B&H I love these autopoles - can´t tell you anything about the quality of the varidrive though - the heavier the background, the better the chain has to be.

Just a few thoughts

 

[qmr55]

12 foot is awesome! However, be aware that the longer the background, the more it tends to sag (sorry if that´s the wrong word ) I have used steel tubes to prevent that and also had this kit from B&H. If you only use it for a short time, that won´t matter much, but in the longrun it will create ugly patterns on your background paper (not that important if you want to shoot on plain white, but for everything else). Keep in mind, that backgrounds are best stored upright for that very reason. If you have the chance to store a shorter one upright, it might be a good idea to reconsider the length.

Also keep in mind that getting the paper back on the roll is not that easy - something like this can be handy: Manfrotto 046MCG Expan Drive Set with Gray Metal Chain 046MCG

If you have the opportunity to put it on a wall instead of on a stand, look at these: Manfrotto 045 Background Triple Hooks for Three Backgrounds 045 That would be cheaper and better!!!

If a wall is not an option, maybe this is interesting: Impact Deluxe Varipole Support System (Silver) BGSS-VK3S B&H I love these autopoles - can´t tell you anything about the quality of the varidrive though - the heavier the background, the better the chain has to be.

Just a few thoughts

Ah man awesome information, thanks so much! Truthfully, I never even thought about doing a hanging system from the wall! I do have the wall space available to do it too, great idea!

 

[zombiesniper112 12]

I have a similar system for from Amazon 3 backdrops but it came with roller chains I mounted mine to the ceiling.
The images below show how I mounted a 1"x24"x36" board on each side to cover 2 ceiling joists then mounted the supports to the boards. Just need to paint now.

 

[photo1x1.com]

12 foot is awesome! However, be aware that the longer the background, the more it tends to sag (sorry if that´s the wrong word ) I have used steel tubes to prevent that and also had this kit from B&H. If you only use it for a short time, that won´t matter much, but in the longrun it will create ugly patterns on your background paper (not that important if you want to shoot on plain white, but for everything else). Keep in mind, that backgrounds are best stored upright for that very reason. If you have the chance to store a shorter one upright, it might be a good idea to reconsider the length.

Also keep in mind that getting the paper back on the roll is not that easy - something like this can be handy: Manfrotto 046MCG Expan Drive Set with Gray Metal Chain 046MCG

If you have the opportunity to put it on a wall instead of on a stand, look at these: Manfrotto 045 Background Triple Hooks for Three Backgrounds 045 That would be cheaper and better!!!

If a wall is not an option, maybe this is interesting: Impact Deluxe Varipole Support System (Silver) BGSS-VK3S B&H I love these autopoles - can´t tell you anything about the quality of the varidrive though - the heavier the background, the better the chain has to be.

Just a few thoughts

Ah man awesome information, thanks so much! Truthfully, I never even thought about doing a hanging system from the wall! I do have the wall space available to do it too, great idea!

Cool, glad I could help . That will save you an awful amount of space. Keep in mind that anything you buy has to fit the diameter of your background paper-roll. Most of it will fit anyway, but make sure you doublecheck.