Certainly one of the simplest methods to separate your photos from "the crowd" is to focus more on your photography background.
Recent cameras are so sophisticated that just about everybody will get a reasonably exposed, in focus shot. Notice, I said reasonably exposed as well as in focus …even considering the superior technology we've got nowadays, we still have to understand a little about good, old fashioned photography procedures to be able to rise above the crowd at the "grabbed shot" level and begin moving into the realm of art.
First up is a method for giving your photography a professional appearance. Which is done with a pro photography background.
Let us face it, when you've got a stunning, white, black or hand painted "Old Masters" type backdrop, you will instantaneously leap ahead of the "grabbed shot" crowd and can soon become the go to shooter in the area.
Once your friends and relatives would like a nice photograph, they're going to think of YOU. (And, they'll stop hiding if they see you approaching - you KNOW what I mean.)
The best part about using a photography background is that it makes it possible to have power over what is occurring behind your model. You will have no more "horns" sticking out of the head - no more annoying elements like traffic, people or even just litter on the ground.
One perceived disadvantage to using a photography background is that everyone assumes you should use a large studio along with a bunch of pricey pro lighting to make it work.
This isn't the case!
Aided by the astute use of your on camera flash, a few reflectors and maybe even a mirror or mirror finished plastic, it is possible to generate the equivalent of a five light set!
I've seen it done and on the finished shot, you cannot tell it had been all reflectors and mirrors.
By the way, rather than your on camera flash, the same effect could be done by means of the sunlight as the light source. Suspend your backdrop from the branches of a tree, employ some reflectors and shoot away! Your friends will think it had been all done in a studio!
The essentials that should be in every shooter's collection are - at the very minimum - a white background, a black one and then a gray "Old Masters" variety.
The white one could be a bed sheet, piece of muslin, canvas or some other white fabric. You should not fold it up or you won't like the results - the white will tend to show wrinkles and creases. At the outset, iron the backdrop after which you can roll it onto a tube. (Buy some PVC piping at your neighborhood DIY store. Around three or 4 inches in diameter ought to do nicely.)
The black photography background can once more be any type of material, but "Duck Canvas" is my favorite. With black, wrinkles are less of a problem, however the background - actually every one of the backdrops - ought to be rolled up as well.
For the "Old Masters" design, I recommend gray because by hitting it with a colored light source, gray is a simple color to modify. This way, you can create any color background you desire.
Test getting some photography background fabric and shoot several pictures of a loved one. You'll not look back!
To get more information about the photography background take a look at my Squidoo lens.
If you've reached the point where you would like to start making money with your camera…look at: http://www.PartTimePhotography.com.
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