While I agree that a great photographer can create incredible images using basic tools, it is no secret that great tools can help a good photographer achieve greatness. Over the last year or two, new strobes, new lenses, and a plethora of modifiers have helped elevate my studio photography to new levels, but one tool has brought it to a new level more than anything else: painted backdrops. And so, I wanted to share some resources on how to get painted backdrops without putting a second mortgage on your house.
I'll start by saying I love seamless paper in my work. Cleaning and reorganizing my studio, I found that I have over 25 nine-foot rolls of seamless paper in a large variety of colors that help me create different looks and styles with my work. But when I want to add a different element to my work, I love using painted backdrops to help create an added dimension, and over the last few years, I've found some great studio pieces from a couple of different sources.
Why Painted Backdrops Are Better
Hand-painted backdrops can easily take criticism from those who are trying to save a few dollars. Sure, a backdrop can be digitally made; a gray roll of seamless can take a texture overlay in Photoshop and give believable results. But the difference is pretty vast in dimensionality. There is no way to truly and accurately explain the depth you get from a well-made painted backdrop. But like how a veteran photographer can tell if their client is a smoker by simply taking a photo of them using studio lights, hand-painted backdrops work in essentially the same way, and it comes from the underlying layers. In short, there is a reason why custom backdrop makers explain how many layers of paint they often use in their work, and it's not just marketing jumbo.
Before putting this list together, I'll start by saying I'm not sponsored or getting paid by any of these backdrop companies. I really love their products and felt that they needed additional attention to their work. Secondly, I'll fundamentally disagree that you can get the same effect by adding the texture and tones in post-production. Lighting backdrops painted using multiple layers of various paint tones gives a specular depth to the images that isn't easily described in a series of verbs. Let's go through the list and share four painted backdrop options that won't break the bank.
Fine Art Backdrops
The first on this list is certainly one that I have the most experience with. Run by Ashley and Joshua Simmons in Minnesota, Fine Art Backdrops has built quite a positive reputation among portrait photographers over the last few years. Using locally sourced canvases, Fine Art Backdrops has an extensive range of custom-painted backdrops in various sizes and ships throughout the United States and internationally. I've used Fine Art Backdrops for a few years now, and they are the creators behind the small gray backdrop that I've used for a few dozen beauty sessions at this point.
Ethan Alex Backdrops
Among another favorite backdrop maker of mine is the work of Ethan Alex at Ethan Alex Backdrops. Like Fine Art Backdrops, Ethan custom-makes his backdrops and sells the individually numbered pieces on his Instagram on a first-come, first-serve basis (and they usually go pretty quickly). While Fine Art Backdrops are known and loved for their lighter and airier tones, Ethan really specializes in making the darker, more dramatic backdrop shades, though he will occasionally surprise us with a light blue or two.
Obsidian Studios
Of the four backdrop companies mentioned in this article, Obsidian is the one brand I don't have personal experience with, but felt was worth shouting out based on the reputation they've built among my friends and colleagues. Obsidian Studios is a New England-based backdrop company put together by Derek Soohoo and Jay Coy. If Fine Art Backdrops are known for their bright, rich colors, and Ethan Alex is known for his dramatic tones, then Obsidian Studios specializes in textures and industrial looks. In addition to purchasing backdrops, Obsidian recently opened up a rental program for their backdrops, available on their website.
Gravity Backdrops
And the final mention in this article is the company that really got me started in hand-painted canvases to begin with, Gravity Backdrops. Based in Europe, Gravity Backdrop ships worldwide and has created over a thousand backdrops in its nearly 10 years in business. While shipping can be expensive, Gravity has the largest selection of custom backdrops available, with a large store and plenty of photos.
Summary
To summarize, here is my list of recommendations to bring a new element into your portrait photography work. Over the last couple of years, no other piece of equipment has changed the style of my work for the better, and that has resulted in a pretty large collection of backdrops to use in my work. While it’s easy to justify buying a new light or lens to “better” your photography if you’re a studio photographer, consider looking into a new custom backdrop.
I always thought the voice of a true photographer was "Fix it in camera, don't fix it in post, that's lazy". So has that messaging changed then?
Maybe you should ask your boss. Not two hours before you posted this, Patrick posted an article where he replaced the entire sky in a photo and didn't bat an eye. That's way more than adding some subtle texture to a studio backdrop. You even sell a freaking "sky library".
Not that I care either way, but if you're going to bang up one of your readers you should at least have a consistent message with the brand. Sheesh.
I don't work for Fstoppers, this is a guest post I submitted. I'm just trying to help people get the resources for those who want to buy hand-painted backdrops.
However, building a fake background because you don't want to buy a hand-painted one is quite a bit different than swapping the sky out on a photo for one more interesting, don't you think? Studio photography is all about controlling the elements within the photo, whereas being on location might involve fixing something beyond your control in post. What you're presenting here is a false equivalency, and pairing it with some general inaccuracies across the board.
Yeah, I don’t really care if you *actually* work for FStoppers. I punched up the language to make a point, which is that you’re representing a position that’s at odds with the very site you’re posting for. And a stupid one at that.
It’s not a false equivalency at all; adding/replacing something in post is adding/replacing something in post, period. When your argument against backdrop texture is “get it right in camera”, you can’t selectively choose when someone “has to get it right” vs. when it’s ok to do it later. And saying sky replacement is ok but backdrop texture isn’t is even more ridiculous, because you’re far more likely to find people who take exception to altering the conditions of nature than you are to find somebody who actually cares whether or not a studio backdrop is “real”. What a weird thing to be a purist about. Commercial studio photography is full of post production wizardry. Nothing new or shocking here. Expecting a commission on some backdrops are we?
Also, adding texture to a seamless backdrop is not the same thing as completely swapping a background (which makes it even less of an alteration than swapping an entire sky). You still have to “control the elements” to ensure the backdrop is properly lit for the way you intend to modify it later.
If adding texture to a backdrop in post is cheating, then so is removing blemishes from people’s skin. After all, you could have added more makeup during the shoot. You’re going to tell me your images aren’t retouched? GTFO.
What a strange hill to die on.
"What a strange hill to die on."
Finally, we agree on something. Though I worry you're projecting more than you might realize
Hang on, I think I have my douchebag-to-English dictionary around here somewhere.
Translation:
“All I had to say to the first poster was ‘Yup, good point, that’s an option as well!’ but instead I decided to act like a pretentious prick and got called out for it. Then I discovered that I didn’t know what I was talking about because my response completely contradicted itself, but instead of trying to talk my way out of it (which I can’t, because I don’t have a leg to stand on), I’ll deflect by accusing somebody of a logical fallacy (again), which I like to do a lot because I think it makes me sound smart.”
But by all means, feel free to double down some more. It only adds to the classiness of your other comments.
You're both saying I'm behind the times and telling me to ask a photographer who died nearly 40 years ago. Instead, let's look at the work of legends like Annie Leibowitz, Patrick Demarchelier, Mary Ellen Mark, Martin Schoeller, and David LaChapelle who are very much alive (Aside from Mary Ellen Mark who died a couple of years ago) and very much promote hand-painted backdrops.
In what world did you think I said I was against retouching? You're building your own false narrative to try to help your case. I simply said that if it can be achieved in-camera, then it should be...and you argued against that fact.
"...was 'Fix it in camera, don't fix it in post, that's lazy.'
Black and white statement, no shades of gray here.
"I always thought the voice of a true photographer..."
Implies you agree.
"So has that messaging changed then?"
You invited this discussion when you asked the question. Then you contradicted yourself a bunch in an attempt to save face after making the original dismissive comment, instead of just saying, "yeah, adding texture to a background in post is also a viable option, which in no way detracts from my article, just offers an alternative."
The hole you're digging for yourself is only getting bigger. Just stop. Your ego is clearly too fragile to write here.
First, I posted a question, by saying --
"I always thought the voice of a true photographer was "Fix it in camera, don't fix it in post, that's lazy". So has that messaging changed then?"
Context is important here. Any implication from that statement is your own.
Secondly, again - context. The entire article is posed under studio photography, and the immediate counter-argument was landscape photographers. The immediate straw man fallacy was comparing sky replacements on a gloomy day to a backdrop in a controlled environment.
You've continuously jumped to false conclusions on my statements, projected your own condescending views onto others, insulted others, and built false equivalencies. You've even created the falsehood that everyone is against my statements here when the voting system within the comments system itself suggests otherwise.
The fragility here is your own. After all, you're the one criticizing others whilst using an anonymous account without any examples of your own work here.
Take care, "Dave F"
As for the continual criticism of me hiring a retouching. I have put a retoucher on staff only after I no longer had the time to meet my shooting goals and retouching in conjunction. I ended up hiring a retoucher full-time so that I could take on more shoots. However, much of the work found on my website, and plenty of work on my social media has had the retouching done by me. In fact, I work with my retoucher daily, and do a lot of editing on my images (often referred to as finishing) before they get sent to clients.
"You've even created the falsehood that everyone is against my statements here when the voting system within the comments system itself suggests otherwise."
Hahahahaha YOU'RE THE ONE CLICKING THE DOWNVOTES! HAAHAHAHAHAHA. Please tell me you're getting paid per comment.
You're still giving false context, my man. It seems that I'm not the only one downvoting your comments.
There, now we have the same number of downvotes. Haha you're a clown.
> Next we'll have articles like "LR sliders are evil," or "Digital is not photography" or maybe "If it's not in the darkroom, it isn't real."
Total strawman, I didn't get any gatekeeping vibes from the article. Zach just explained another great tool to have.
It's better to have or know more options. Just like the option of using a studio or artificial light or a digital camera...
Also, it can be interesting to use background or props to the image as part of the story or composition, e.g. here
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/183662491041586059/
or here
https://youtu.be/-3KCWTzEO5Y?t=265
For very simple background replacements a digital texture can work, but I ask myself why limit yourself? You can hang a backdrop PLUS even more adjustments in post... just like one actually puts on clothes and makeup then enhances them in post.
Even hollywood is going back to having actual visible stages (Stagecraft) instead of acting only in front of green screens. It gives everybody on set more creative fuel.
Anywho...Nice, concise article. Thank you for the suggestions. I had never heard of the first company you mentioned; I’ll check them out.
Thanks for taking the time to read, Frederick!
Weird that the author of a a guest op-Ed gets ripped for defending the opinion expressed in his op-Ed.
does anyone have suggestions on more european based backdrop and "wood flat-lays" for product photography ?
Started making my own. I am too cheap to buy professional ones :D
Pre-Primed canvas is around 5-10 euro per meter and comes on a cardboard roll, very handy. Bought normal wall paint, 1 litre bottle as base (plenty for 2*2 meters) and then some of the "sample" sizes to create different colors. Add plenty of water and go ham.
They of course lack the artistic ability of professional painters but certainly add something interesting. Also makes the result easier to visualize on set. I really hate changing background in photoshop, it's easy to fall into uncanny valley territory.
The homemade solution looks great! I stained a few Apple Boxes last week, and I think I ruined two pairs of clothes in the process, so I think it's best if I leave the backdrop making to the professionals.
Love my Oliphant collection and looking forward to an Ethan christening my studio wall soon.
I love that you incorporate them as part of the composition into the image! Are those bulldog clips to hold them?
I first caught your article when you first posted it, really dig it, made me revisit these companies, as well as a few not on the list such as PaintX and Unique, I've been trying to decide for months who to go with. I went with Fine Art Backdrops, Ashley Simmons was on point with answering my emails right away and kept me posted when the color and texture I wanted would be created and in stock, my Fine Art Backdrop should be here sometime next week, looking forward to it arriving.