How a Little Creativity and Improvisation Led to This Unique Photo Backdrop

A lot of the time, being a photographer is less about pressing the shutter and more about being a creative problem-solver. This video demonstrates how a bit of ingenuity helped to create a convincing backdrop when the photographer couldn't find the location he wanted.

Coming to you from Jeff Carpenter of Readylight Media, this helpful video shows how he created a simulated recording studio without spending much on his materials and without leaving his studio. The need arose when a client booked him for some shots for her podcast. She wanted to do the shoot in a recording studio, but when they were unable to find a location to reserve in time for the shoot, Carpenter came up with some creative improvisation. Using just a cardboard box, a peg board, and some light gels, Carpenter was able to recreate the look and feel of a studio console in the background, which made for a more interesting and compositionally balanced portrait and of course, met the client's needs. I was particularly impressed by how inexpensively Carpenter was able to accomplish this; it only took the most basic materials, some ingenuity, and careful thought about lighting to make it all come together in a convincing manner. Check out the video above for the full breakdown.

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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