9 Ways to Create an Interesting Background in Your Photos

Shutterbug Photography,  Rookie Photographer

By Josh Dunlop 

 

Why Is It Important to Have an Interesting Background?

You may have noticed by now that there are no photos of models on a white background on this site.
There’s a good reason for this. I find these photos boring and unimaginative. The shooting environment isn’t conducive to interesting photography.
The way I see it, every single pixel in a photo bares equal importance with the next. It’s your job as the photographer to ensure that every part of the photo looks good.
When you start to make your backgrounds more interesting, you’ll find that people spend more time looking at them. More often than not, they do this without even realising.
There are plenty of ways to do this. We’re going to have a little look at a few methods now.

Bokeh

This is a term used quite frequently on this website. I’ve spoken in detail about in this post. Essentially, it’s the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas of a photograph. If you have a close subject, a distant background and a wide aperture, you magnify the bokeh effect.
Check out the photo below.
The soft circular blur in the background is an example of good bokeh. In this photo, the background has as much appeal to the viewer as the subject – the BBQ. I really like using a strong bokeh as the softness is very appealing and easy to look at.

Lights

When light shines directly into the camera’s lens and the aperture isn’t too wide, you can end up with some really cool ‘star’ effects on the light source.
As well as lighting up the background and providing interesting detail, the subject is also lit up in a way that don’t typically see.
Use the lighting to illuminate your background and provide a point of interest. Arrange your lights so that they provide details to the most important parts of your background.

High ISO

If you’re shooting at night, in order to reveal any detail in your background, you’ll need to raise your ISO.
Even in the photo above, I used an ISO of 1200 as it allows us to make out the finer details, attracting the viewer to the photo.
The photo below was shot with an on-camera, external flash unit at ISO 1600 and an aperture of f/2.8. As you can see, this has produced a very shallow DoF but, by providing more detail, has turned a simple photo of a man on a street into much more than that.

Rule of Thirds

As you can probably see from the photos I’ve use so far, I like to adhere (roughly) to the rule of thirds when trying to include an interesting background.
The rule basically dictates that photos should be split into 9 equal parts divided up by two equally-spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines. The important features within the frame should intersect with these lines at some point.
This allows me to include a background that people can actually see.

Background Subjects

There’s no reason why your background shouldn’t be another subject, like my example below.
This, believe it or not, was a candid photo. The foreground subject was looking in the same direction as the background subject. The moment he looked towards my camera that I took the photo.
This contrast in subjects’ interest makes you wonder where to look – no longer is it a simple photo of a person.
Contrast in background and foreground is key here.

Lines

I’ve written in depth about horizontal, vertical, diagonal and converging lines in photography and the power that they convey, directing the viewer’s eyes in a certain direction. I recommend that you read about that in further detail.
The great thing about using lines in your background is that they’re remarkably subtle – you may like the background in my photo but, without mentioning lines, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what it is that interests you.
Once again, there’s contrast present in the photography and, this time, it’s also present in the background – the lines are sharp and soft.

Paths

The great thing about paths in photography is that, if you include a subject as well, together, they can provide dynamic tension.
By this I mean that your eyes don’t know whether to go up and down the subject or along the path, which causes a tension in your eyes. This is a superb trick to convince your viewer to look at the photo for longer without them even realizing why. The added sense of wonder keeps the viewer entertained.

Background Focus

Sometimes, I like to use a frame within a frame to focus the attention towards the background.
In the photo below, I’ve used two parts of a banister to act as a sort of tunnel, directing the attention towards the subject.
Frames do an excellent job of providing context to a photo while adding a soft border by providing an out-of-focus blur around the edge of the primary subject.

Color

This is at the end of the list because it’s probably one the easiest techniques to implement, especially if the colours you’re using in the background contrast with those in the foreground, as mine do below.
Contrast is the most important point to make here; if your background and foreground are too similar, they merge into one, ceasing to be two effective and different points of interest. I love using color in my photography when possible as it really helps to make the photos stand out from the rest of an album.
 

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How to Make an Infinity Curve for Product Photography

Tags: Shutterbug Photography,  Rookie Photography

By Chad Verzosa 

When you look at e-commerce images, do you ever wonder why you can’t find where the floor ends and the wall starts in the background? This is because product photography often uses a photographic term called the infinity curve.

In this article, We will show you how to create an infinity curve (or infinity cove) you can use for product photography at home or in the studio.

What is the Infinity Curve?

In simple terms, infinity curves are seamless backgrounds that do not have lines or corners. The main use of an infinity curve is to create a clean photo background with no corners. That way, your main subject is the only element in the image where your audience’s eyes can gravitate.

To help you envision what they do, we’ll compare it with an example of a regular background containing a wall and a floor.

And now, here’s an image with an infinity curve. As you can see, it has a smooth transition that you can’t see where the floor ends and the wall starts.

How Do You Make an Infinity Curve for Product Photography?

It’s common for a photography studio to have what’s called a cyclorama or an infinity cove. It’s usually made of wood, drywall, concrete, or similar construction materials.

Unfortunately, an infinity cove can be difficult to build, even for seasoned DIYers. The entire construction process needs a lot of equipment, not to mention various skills that will most likely require a team of people.

Infinity coves are also notoriously difficult to maintain. Since people step on them all the time, they often get dirty. Consequently, they often need to be repainted to retain their clean appearance.

Thankfully, there are other ways to build infinity coves apart from concrete, drywall, or wood. The best option is to use seamless paper as your background.

When people talk about the infinity curve, they often think about large cycloramas in studios. But product photographers use smaller options that are only as big as a table when taking pictures of small products.

Normally, photographers would often use a still-life table which you see below.

For Small Products

But you don’t have to buy one to create an infinity curve for product photography. All you have to do is set up a small table against the wall. Tape the upper part of the poster board to the wall, let the lower half rest on the table, and tape it so it doesn’t move around.

For Medium Products

The poster board background is perfect for small products, but how about medium-sized ones? This time, the best option is to use a seamless paper background.

Seamless paper backgrounds come in various sizes. For tabletop product photography, the most appropriate size is 4 ft  (1.22 m) because it fits most tables.

To set up your seamless background for medium-size products, you will need a background stand. The kit often comes with two stands and horizontal rods you can connect depending on the length of your seamless paper.

If you have an eight-foot seamless paper, you will need to attach all the rods. But since you are only using a 4 ft option, you only need to connect two to three—just enough to run the length of your background. Once you attach all the rods, insert them into the background tube.

Now, open up your two stands and set them about 4 ft apart. Grab the background and align the holes at the tips of the horizontal rods with the tips of the stands. Once the seamless paper is in position, screw the butterfly nuts to the stands to secure the background.

For Large Products

For large products, you will need longer, seamless paper. The best option for you would be an 8 ft (2.4 m) background.

Setting up an 8 ft seamless paper is technically the same as what you would do with a 4 ft version. The only difference is you will need to connect all the rods in your background stand kit to create an 8 ft pole.

You also do not need to use a table for your large backdrop anymore. Instead, you can let it drape down to the floor. Lay down at least 4 ft length of the seamless paper on the floor. That way, you have enough space to position your product to take photos.

Using a large white seamless paper creates a heavenly space appearance because it bounces a lot of light around. The clean background also ensures that your product stands out.

When using a large seamless paper, consider taking off your shoes and walk on the floor with your socks on. That way, you do not end up with messy shoe prints all over your background.

The corners of the seamless paper also tend to curl. To avoid this issue, you can use sandbags to weigh down the corners and the middle of the background. Alternatively, you can use tape. But we do not recommend it because there is a good chance you might end up tearing the paper.

Care and Storage

Using seamless paper for infinity coves is an affordable option. But since your background is made of paper, you need to be careful with it all the time.

We already mentioned earlier to not step on the background with your shoes on if possible. But you also need to make sure you do not place your products too close to the background curve. Otherwise, there is a good chance you might rip it.

If you need to store your background, make sure to do so vertically. That way, you don’t have to worry about the paper ending up with creases that are difficult to remove in Photoshop.

If you do not need to use infinity coves all the time, then seamless paper backgrounds are your best option. They are not only cheap but also easy to set up, even in a small room.

The best reason to use seamless paper is that it does not limit you to single color background. All you have to do is swap out the background, and that’s it! Apart from using white, you can use just about any other colour from yellow to black without repainting.

Of course, the seamless paper does have its limitations. But as long as you take care of it, it can last you a long time. And most of all, you do not have to pay a lot of money to use it.

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How to Choose the Right Camera Settings for Portraits

Tags: Shutterbug Photography, Rookie Photographer

By Natalia Robert

 

Choosing camera settings for portrait photography can be difficult. And knowing which lens is best is even more so.
Let’s take a look at each basic setting to know and lens options so that we can clear up some confusion for you.
 

Which Lens?

Before we even talk about camera settings for portraits, let’s discuss the lens. Many focus on the camera brand and model.
But the piece of gear that has a major effect on the final look of a photo is the lens.
It’s hard to know whether you want a telephoto lens, a mid-range prime lens, or a wide angle. To be honest, it often comes down to personal preference and what you have envisioned for the final look.
If you want a classic portrait look with a very soft bokeh, use a telephoto. The 70-200mm/f2.8 is a great example of a solid lens for this look.
If you’re tight on space or want to have the background play a bigger role in the photo, try a 50mm or 85mm lens.
If you’re looking for a more dynamic and off-beat effect, try a wide lens for portraits! You do need to keep in mind subject placement in the frame, though.
The lens distortion will be much stronger with a wide angle. It will become more noticeable on the edges of the frame.
I also encourage renting lenses before purchasing. A lens can cost just as much as, if not more than, your camera body.

Shooting Mode

You know what I’m going to say here. First, you need to get out of Auto mode!
You want to be shooting in full Manual mode. It gives you the most control and consistency. This can be tough at first, though. If you’re not quite ready to take the leap to Manual mode, try switching to Aperture Priority mode.
This will give you control over aperture. And it will let the camera choose the shutter speed. The ISO is set to what best fits your shooting conditions.
By controlling the aperture, you’re ensuring that you have a nice shallow depth of field. You’re most likely going to be doing outdoor portraits with a good amount of light. The shutter speed won’t be as much of a priority.
If you’re in conditions with low light, you’ll want to either be on a tripod or use Shutter Speed Priority. Keep in mind that you’ll need to check your focus to make sure that it’s on your subject. The aperture will be determined automatically by your camera.

Aperture

You’ll find that an f-stop of 2.8 or lower is the best aperture for portraits. The reason for this is that it creates a shallow depth of field.
Using a shallower depth of field directs the viewer’s eye. It blurs everything except the focal point. In portraits this should always be the eye closest to the camera.
By having everything else in the image off-focus, even if subtle, it also creates a flattering look. The skin in the rest of the face is a bit softer.
By having the rest of the face a tiny bit softer, it also makes the eyes pop a bit more. This helps create a connection between subject and viewer.
If you want both eyes in focus, you can position your subject’s face so that it’s looking straight at the camera. Both eyes are about the same distance from the lens.
If you’re doing a couple or group, use a bigger f-stop – somewhere around 5.6 or so. That way, you’ll get each person in focus.

Shutter Speed

If you’re in full sunlight, shutter speed won’t be a big factor. Typically, you want to be using a speed faster than 1/100th to avoid hand shake.
If you’re using a flash, you’ll most likely need shoot no faster than 1/200th of a second so that the flash unit syncs in the correct way.
Of course, if you’re not using a flash then you can use faster shutter speeds and be fine!
If you want to capture some motion, the ideal speed will depend on how fast the action being photographed is. To capture some motion blur, you’ll want to shoot as slow as you can to avoid hand shake.
This can be as low as 1/50th of a second for those with a steadier hand. A bit of experimentation will help find your ideal speed.

Metering Mode

Spot metering is usually the best for portraits. It gives you control over exactly what area is exposed properly. Spot metering will read the light in the center spot of the frame, and use that to evaluate your exposure.
If you’re not using a flash, then this point will most likely be your subject’s face. If you are using a flash, then you’ll want to expose for the background. Then the flash will illuminate your subject’s face.

ISO

Higher ISO is more light-sensitive and lower ISO is less so.
Higher ISOs always increase the appearance of grain, so keep that in mind. To avoid grain, you always want to use as low of an ISO as possible. I like to stay at either 100 or 200, but you can push the ISO higher if the light is low.
Different cameras will handle grain differently. An ISO of 800 in one camera may look clear, while another camera may be very grainy at ISO 800.
You’ll want to test out your camera in different light conditions. Try different ISOs before you’re at a shoot with a client.

Portrait photography can be incredibly varied and experimental. There are many options for gear and camera settings for portraits. These can be overwhelming!
Playfulness and experimentation are key in finding your groove.
But the basic settings and guidelines above will get your portrait photos started off on the right foot. 

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 # People, Images

12 Dos and Don'ts of Family Portrait Photography

Tags: Shutterbug Photography, Rookie Photographer

By Sarah Rodriguez-Martinez

 

A family photo shoot is a big responsibility for a photographer and can lead to some stressful situations.

However, when you know certain tricks, taking family portraits becomes fun and enjoyable.

They are a great opportunity to take photos that convey lots of love and joy.

I have put together 12 Dos and Don’ts that will help you successfully start with family portrait photography.

 

1. Tell Them What to Do to Make Posing Easier

If your clients are enjoying themselves, you’ll have a higher chance of beautiful family photos.

You might find a family that is experienced in photo shoots and who like posing in front of the camera. But it is not common.

Posing is not a natural thing for most people. Some of the family members (if not all of them) might feel a bit uncomfortable. This discomfort will appear in the photo and make it look fake.

Instead of directing and ordering them to pose, organise the session and plan things for them to do.

Ask them to walk, run, dance, play, lean on a wall, or hide behind a tree and peek from the sides. You could make them hug each other, make shapes, play games etc.

Take candid photos while the family is having fun. Your images will look beautiful and will also remind them of the great time they spent together.

2. Do Not Pose Your Clients Facing the Sun to Avoid Unwanted Shadows

If you can, avoid having the family looking towards the sun or strong light sources. A lot of people still believe that taking photos with the sun at the back of the subject is not right.

You might think that posing with the sun in front of them offers more light, but the end results can be extremely unflattering. Ugly shadows will appear under their eyebrows, nose and neck.

Direct sunlight is also not ideal because it’s a hard light. It makes the skin look older and less smooth as it enhances small flaws.

On top of that, the family will be annoyed by the light shining into their eyes. They will either close their eyes or squint until the torture is over. To avoid all this, just have them turn around.

Another way to avoid direct sunlight is to shoot family portraits in soft lighting conditions.

You can get great images if you choose a time of the day which is not too close to midday. Capture the family during a nice sunset and see how much it softens the light.

Or simply have the photo shoot in a shadier environment or during a bit cloudy day.

If you choose the first option, when it comes to settings, pay attention to exposure. Take into account the backlight entering into your sensor.

If you are shooting in semi-automatic mode, one trick is to meter the image using Matrix Metering (in the case of Nikon. Evaluative Metering for Canon cameras). Then overexpose 0.3 steps.

For Manual shooting, you can meter the light using the spot metering on the family. In both cases, the family will be well exposed and the background overexposed.

But as the important thing here is the family, a slightly burnt background is a fair price to pay for avoiding photos with closed eyes.

3. Communicate and Engage With Your Clients to Make Them Enjoy the Session

Most families don’t pose for professional photos often. They are not used to it and might feel a bit awkward.

You usually want natural-looking family photos. Besides the technical aspects of photography, you should also take special care to make the family feel comfortable with you.

I play and talk with the kids as much as I can. With the adults, I start a conversation about random subjects until I find something they like and we go from there.

I ask questions like how they met each other and encourage them to tell their story. This is a great step towards building rapport. Ask them personal but discreet questions.

I avoid potentially stressful subjects such as politics or job situation. I prefer talking about travelling, holidays or hobbies.

I also make it clear that if they don’t like a pose or feel strange doing something, they don’t have to do it. All they need to do is say the word and we’ll do something else.

Knowing that they are in control and won’t be forced to pose one way or another builds trust and makes them more comfortable.

Establishing a good relationship is important because you are a stranger to them. And they need to show intimate and personal moments and feelings in front of you.

4. Pay Attention to the Surroundings to Keep the Shooting Comfortable

Before pressing the shutter release of your camera, you need to take care of a lot of things. For example, composition, camera settings for the right exposure, and checking that your models are feeling fine.

It’s easy to forget that there are other things you also need to be aware of.

For example, if you are at the beach, you don’t want them to get their shoes wet by a surprise wave. Or you can’t tell them to move backwards without checking first if they are going to collide with something.

It is good to get used to always paying attention to the environment. Then it gets natural to do it.

5. Tell the Family How to Pose to Get the Look You Want

There’s always a chance that a family of three will interpret your posing directions in different ways.

If this happens, the situation can turn into a mess. Each person would be doing a different thing.

To avoid this, simplify your instructions and try to make them as precise and clear as you can.

Use your body to show how to pose, where to stand and so on. You can even go ahead and demonstrate poses yourself first if you can.

For example, I always show my clients how to lean against the wall by doing it myself first.

If you need to add instructions, use short sentences and reference objects instead of direction.

Avoid “to the right” or “to the left”. Your clients won’t know if you are talking about your right or their right.

Instead, you can refer to objects that you have around: “Turn towards the tree”, “Look at the sea”.

6. Do Not Go Overboard With Editing to Create Timeless Images

Family photos are meant to last for a long time. They are the type of images that we want to keep and check years later or show to the grandkids.

For that reason, I recommend avoiding trendy editing styles and effects. These will probably look weird or unappealing twenty years down the line.

Your aim is to create timeless images. So stick to classic editing styles and simplicity.

This doesn’t mean you can’t add a personal touch. But before finishing the editing ask yourself if you will like this photo 20 years from now. If the answer is yes, perfect! If not, try to simplify the editing.

7. Keep an Open Mind About the Results to Be Prepared for Changes

This is especially true if you are working with kids in the family photo session.

You might have a list of photos to take that, in your brain, work really well. But if the family doesn’t like them much or the kids feel like doing something else, you should adjust to the situation.

It is always better to take a beautiful unplanned photo showing a happy family than a forced one where you can see they are feeling uncomfortable.

8. Use Burst Mode to Make Sure You’ll Capture the Best Moments

Every photographer knows the terrible feeling of taking a group photo just to later realise there’s something wrong with it.

Someone had their eyes closed or otherwise wasn’t ready for the picture to be taken.

For that reason, with family photography, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Taking several photos increases your chances that at least one will have everyone coordinated.

You can set the camera to shoot in burst mode to take a sequence of images, just like in a sporting event.

Remember to adjust the shutter speed to avoid unwanted blurriness due to movements. Something around 1/250 s is a good starting point for this type of action.

9. Use the Environment to Add a Little Extra to Your Photos

It is not unusual to feel a bit weird posing in front of a camera in the middle of a park or a street. When it comes to outdoor family photos, you can use anything around to help them get over any initial awkwardness.

You can tell them to lean on a tree or a wall, sit on a bench or even on the floor (first make sure that it is clean enough). Keep an eye out for any natural frames, which will add a bit more to the composition of the image.

Location scouting that involves the family is a great idea. You can choose a location together that they like based on their memories.

It can be where the couple got engaged, where they first met, or where their children took their first steps. If they are connected to the place, your family portraits are going to be more joyful.

10. Do Not Set Your Aperture Value too Low to Avoid Blurring a Family Member

Portraits have a special vibe when you manage to get your models sharp and the background blurry.

You can create this effect by setting a low aperture value (a small f-number). Using an aperture around f/2.8 will give you a beautiful blur.

However, there’s a risk to it. If your models move, they might be partially or completely out of focus. This is true also for specific body parts of the same person. If your model looks to the side, one eye could be in focus while the other is blurry.

If you want the whole family to appear sharp in the photo, you might need to increase the aperture number. Choose a value around f/8.

You might not get the background blur effect as strongly as you wanted, but everybody in the family will come out sharp.

11. Offer Family Photo Outfit Advice to Bring Harmony to your Pictures

One of the most common questions before the photo sessions is: “What should we wear?”

The idea is that all the family members should look coordinated to convey a feeling of togetherness.

This doesn’t mean they have to be dressed in identical clothes. It means wearing the same style of clothes. All of them can look casual, or wear elegant clothes and with similar colours or shades.

I always recommend they wear natural shades and avoid bright colours that stand out. The person wearing it will catch all the attention in the photo (unless this is what you want).

The same can happen with big illustrations or signs on T-shirts which are quite eye-catching. Unless it adds to the photo, avoid them.

12. Meet at a Convenient Time for the Kids to Avoid Hard Times With Them

This might complicate the organisation process, but respecting the natural rhythm of the kids makes it totally worth it.

Tired, sleepy or hungry kids are difficult to handle. It is almost impossible to have them cooperate or even make them look happy for the photo.

I usually try to combine a good time for the kids and a frame of time with beautiful light.

This means that sometimes I arrange the photo sessions early in the morning. Kids are awake, just had breakfast, and I can use the morning golden hour.

But each family is different and their schedules will be different, so I adjust the photo session to each one.

With family photo shoots, you need to show both your best technical and social skills.

You have to adjust camera settings to get a good exposure. Learn how to use back light and natural light, adjust the depth of field to get the desired effects and so on.

You also need to have the right equipment for family photography.

However, above all, you need to make the family feel comfortable to show their love for each other.

If you keep all these points in mind your family photos will surely become wonderful memories. Kids grow up so fast. Besides being fun, your portraits will freeze a little part of the family’s life! 

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