Bill Mac Photography wrote:
Just wondering who out there has build their own backgrounds for shoots in their homes or home studios.

Foamcore--can be painted, wallpapered (careful to use glue that doesn't ripple the foamcore), etc. Makes good walls and such.

For more durable flats, use lightweight stage construction--a thin sheet of luan and a 1x3/1x4 frame. Paint them, wallpaper them--more walls.

Two flats, either foamcore or luan can create a corner; three pieces can create an alcove; some pieces of building insulation panels can create a futuristic set; some conduit and 1x2 pieces of wood can create a jail cell. All of those were shot in a 12 x 20' apartment living room. Or use the hallway outside your apartment.

Even tiny spaces can be used if you limit yourself to relatively close shots--and beautyshots can be done almost anywhere. This half-length image used a 42" piece of fabric immediately behind the model. (Behind the scene photo)

At the top of the forum there's a thread entitled Photography Talk: Rules, Resources and FAQ. In that thread, there are links to key MM threads. One of those is the Studio Reference thread, which has a section on backgrounds, sets, and props, including some other DIY/starter threads--see the Set Design section.

ValentinePhoto wrote:
I have my own photography studio - glamour/boudoir - which I run out of my home (opening it next month) and I also work for Pink Kitty Studios (which we have our first client this weekend). I have converted my two-car garage to be my "studio room" and my den is now my "reception/prep" room.

In the garage I built two main photo sets:
* One is a bedroom, which I call the "Beautiful Boudoir" and is neutral so it can be customized by my clients if they need to. I just built a wall and connected it to my garage wall, used wood paneling as my wood floor (you have to find the right wood paneling that can pass as a faux wood floor) and I put in a bed, night stands, props, etc. Looks just like a bedroom in all my photos I've taken.
* The other is a kitchen, which I call the "Kinky Kitchen". It's a colorful, retro themed kitchen with teal walls and olive green cabinets, white countertop (Which is actually paneling that looks like white tiles) and a black & white checkered floor. We used the fronts of old cabinets my dad gave me from the apartment complex he works in and we built the rest of the cabinets from scrap wood. I even put in a faux window, which has curtains over it so I didn't have to create any outside look to the window part - it's just there. I use my stove for the meantime in the sets (I just drag it out and put it back in when I'm not using my studio), but I plan to get a retro looking one in the future once I start making some money. I've also added a ton of colorful props to the kitchen set and use flour, whipped cream, cupcakes, etc. during shoots to make it look like the client is baking.

The bedroom photo set gets cleared out and is then the space I use for my backdrop/flooring/prop combinations. I use clamps to hold up my fabric backdrops (which I clamp to the wall I built), but I only have three of them. The rest are all made backdrops, which I just purchased sheets of drywall and painted each side a different color (just $5 or $6 per sheet). Yes, they're heavy and a little delicate, but if you know how to handle them properly and don't have to move them very far, then they're okay. Plus, they're easily replaced. I can stand them straight up to get full body shots or waist up shots, or I can turn them on their side and use them when my clients are laying, sitting or kneeling. I also purchased more paneling, this time a faux brick, as a backdrop. I'm going to purchase some wallpaper to use too on drywall or foamcore.

I have several faux fur blankets/throws that I use as flooring options. I also got lucky and my local Home Depot was selling their "sample" rugs for $7 each. They are big in size and even though a piece of the rug is cut out and says "sample", they're still good to use since they are so big and that part can easily be left out of the frame or fixed in PS.

Besides the props I used to make the photo sets look real and believable, I also spray painted wooden chairs I had from a table set I don't use anymore. I purchased a faux leather croc patterned ottoman and a zebra print arm chair from Ross for cheap.

I also use the foamcore (painted black on one side and white on the other side) to use to bounce/absorb the light. My husband built "t" stands for me to hold the foamcore pieces.

I also encourage my clients to bring their own props to customize the bedroom photo set - such as a picture frame with their significant other in it, or a special stuffed animal or other significant item they keep in their bedroom. That's why I painted the walls a neutral light beige and the bedding is white, although I do have black, pink, and gold satin sheets they can use, plus the faux fur blankets/throws and the faux fur pillows. The night stands are black and the lamps/accessories are all black, silver, brown, white and off-white. I stay in those colors and add to the set to fit the client's taste. If need be, I adjust the wall color in PS to fit their taste.

That's all for just starting out and I plan to add more as I go along. Just recently I purchased an ironing board, clothing pins and combined it with an iron (which I spray painted), and laundry basket I already had, plus I will use the client's lingerie to hang on the clothing line I will make and then I have that as a set option for my clients to pick from. I plan to have many more "themes" like that too. I've already got a few in the works, but need a few more things to make them complete and believable.

My post is long, I apologize, but I just am in a chatty mood today I guess (that or being up till 2:41am just makes me a little off).

Thank you so much for the wealth of information. I'll have to try the drywall.

Summer Rain Photography wrote:
Thank you so much for the wealth of information. I'll have to try the drywall.

You're very welcome! Glad I could be of help :-)

Magnus Hedemark wrote:
Most images shot against backdrops like you speak of look very cheesy to me.

Yes, I have one in my port with such a backdrop.  I did it that way on purpose because I wanted the cheesy Olan Mills element for the concept.

Get outside more.  Look around.  Do something new & different.  Don't waste your time or money on a fad who's time has passed.

ha-ha!

Summer Rain Photography wrote:

Thank you so much for the wealth of information. I'll have to try the drywall.