DIY Inexpensive Photography Backdrops

This post is all about how I create my inexpensive

photography backdrops.

You can create any size backdrop boards using this simple method.

My boards measure 2 feet x 3 feet.

I buy a 2 x 4 foot MDF board and have it cut down to

3 feet at no extra cost to me. I make sure I save

that extra piece that was cut off. You never know

when I could use a scrap piece of board

 to create a new sign.

 Cost of a 2 x 4 foot MDF board, $6.46.

I can get 2 backdrop boards per board simply 

by painting the front and back different colors.

Cost of board per each side, $3.23.

We're off to a good start!

Supplies needed:

MDF board - 1/4 inch thickness

Paint - you will only use a few tablespoon

of each color

Inexpensive chip brush

rag

paper plate

water

I buy sample pots of paint in a flat finish which cost $2.94.

You can get these little sample pots of paint mixed into

any color you want.

For my boards I try to only use 3 different colors of paint,

otherwise the boards get a little too busy and the colors

blend together too much making them look like one

solid color.

For this board I used white, medium gray and dark gray,

which I happened to have in my paint stash,

cost for paint, $0.

Let's paint a photography backdrop!

Once I had everything set up and all the supplies ready,

I was able to paint one of these boards in 15 minutes time.

I poured out a little of the white paint onto the paper plate

then diluted it with water so it wasn't so thick and was

easier to paint on a thin layer using the chip brush, 

plus it would dry quicker. By the time I was done

painting the board the top half was already dry

and I could start adding the second color.

I diluted the medium gray and applied it with a wet rag that I

dipped into the paint and randomly dabbed onto the board leaving

part of the white showing through.

Once I had 1/3 of the board painted

I re-wet the rag with water only and lightly pounced over
the painted area again to blend the colors together.
I continued using this method until I had completely covered the board.

I randomly applied the dark gray the same way.

I let the boards dry overnight then applied 2 coats of

a matte polycrylic to protect the finish from spills and dirt.

How's that for quick and easy and inexpensive?
There really is no right or wrong way of making these boards.

This photo shows the board being used as a countertop

and a darker gray backdrop used as a wall in the background.

Each board has it's own unique design.
For something so simple and inexpensive
they sure do photograph beautifully.
A close up of the dark gray backdrop board.

By placing these boards in different rooms of our home,

I can completely change the shades of color,

along with the mood of the image.

Believe it or not,

this is the same board in the next 2 photos.

You caught a glimpse of this board

when I posted my pizza sauce.

These boards are so addictive to make.
To date, I have made 12 of these backdrops.
Here are just a few I created.

Oh, how I love this moody looking dark blue board I created.
Same flowers on different colored backdrops.

These boards will be used a ton in my photography.
Why buy professional backdrops, which can be
quite pricey, when you can create your own for
a few dollars? These DIY backdrops
 photograph just as well as the professional ones.
Don't you think so?

To store these I stack them on top of each other
and lay them flat under our bed.

That's it for this week.
Until Next Time,
Veronica

Waiting For Spring

Spring is finally arriving here in Wisconsin.
We've had a couple of warm days
that melted a lot of our snow.

On Wednesday our Robins returned

and covered our front lawn.

To me, this signifies that Spring

is just around the corner.

Then on Friday our Sandhill cranes arrived.

It's so good to hear their loud

rattling bugle calls as they fly

over our house.

I can hardly wait for Spring to arrive

so that we can open our doors and windows

to let in the fresh air and hear the birds chirping.

Springtime is such a pretty time of year

that brings a new fresh beginning.

I love to see everything waking up

and coming to life from the winter solstice.

Speaking of a new fresh beginning,

I thought I would give this tired looking

metal urn a new life.

I found this at Goodwill last year for $1.00.

I just can't seem to pass these things up.

Before I started to transform this urn,

using a piece of sandpaper, I lightly roughed

it up so that the paint would stick to the surface.

I pulled out 3 different paint colors from my stash,

white, light gray and dark gray,

and started dabbing on the paint with a wet rag.

I just kept dabbing on the paint until I achieved

a look that I was satisfied with.

It went from a tired looking vessel to this.

Isn't that pink background pretty?

I swapped out the flowers and started to play around with
different colored backgrounds that I created.
I like to create my own backgrounds when I can.
I'll do a tutorial later on how I created them
in 15 minutes and cost less than $15.00 per board to make.

                                   From this.......                                     .......to This

                      

It will be fun to fill this fresh new urn with a
real bouquet of flowers.
Hurry up Spring and get here!

That's it for this week.
Until Next Time,
Veronica