Use photography backdrops to elevate your products and effortlessly create a whole new scene without rearranging your whole house! Looking for photography backdrops can be hard, because where do you start and what do you need? Not only are there lots of different colors, styles, and textures out there but you also have different photography backdrops such as vinyl and canvas. In order to get you on track, I'll share my favorite photography backdrop tips and tricks as well as backdrop styles you need when getting started!
Canvas Backdrops vs Vinyl Backdrops
As Club Backdrops explains: Canvas backdrops are ideal for portraiture, video, and larger scale still life, they can replicate the depth and texture of hand-painted backgrounds while remaining easy to handle and store. The canvas backdrops at Club Backdrop are color-accurate, high-resolution 1:1 replicas of the original hand-crafted artwork. Printed to order with durable inks on quality canvas, they look & feel like an authentic painted work of art.
Whereas vinyl backdrops are perfectly portable, durable, and easy to store + they can quickly transform a bland set-up into an evocative and impactful scene. The vinyl backdrops at Club Backdrop are a color-accurate, high-resolution 1:1 replica of the original texture - so in front of the lens, they appear just like the real thing. They have a matte finish to minimize glare which is also very important for photography.
I personally prefer vinyl backdrops because they're easy to store and reusable but also waterproof and easy to clean. As I like to take product photos, I'll often play around with water and textures in order to get the perfect shot so my photography backdrops need to be water-resistant. I also like to re-use my backdrops so vinyl is easy to wipe clean, store and use again. If you're more into portrait photography, I would recommend checking out canvas backdrops!
Where To Buy Backdrops
You can get backdrops at Amazon, Ali Express (but I'm not so sure about the quality though), but also special shops that focus on selling high-quality backdrops such as EveryDayCo. and Club Backdrops.
Club Backdrops are the ones I use and so far I'm very impressed and happy I went with them. The only con I see is that they haven't a huge collection of backdrops yet but the ones they do have are amazing. I have 4 of them and I have 3 more on the way as we speak. I didn't feel the need to try another shop (just yet) because the ones from Club Backdrop are great quality and affordable as well. All the other shops I've found are most of the time more expensive.
This post is not sponsored or in any way influenced by Club Backdrop, I personally use and love their backdrops and that's why I mention them. I do have an affiliate code, which I'll share at the bottom of this post but this has nothing to do with my preferences for Club Backdrop. Check out my portfolio or product photography page to see the backdrops in action.
5 Best Photography Backdrops
I think there are 5 different photography backdrops you need if you're a food and/or product photographer. Let me share my 5 favorites and why I think you need them as a beginner (or as a professional!).
1. A Pure White Backdrop
This might sound a bit obvious but I truly believe everyone needs a pure white backdrop as this is a true, basic must-have. A white backdrop can be used in so many different shoots, can be easily combined with other backdrops and you can even use them to reflect the light if you forget any reflectors. As a product photographer, you need to have a pure white backdrop for clients that want e-Commerce photography for their website but it's also the perfect background to make your bright products or food pop. A plain, white background doesn't have to be boring at all!
If you love minimalistic, clean, and simple aesthetics then this is one of the photography backdrops you truly need. You could combinate it with soft color for a little extra personal touch to your photos.
2. A Marble Backdrop
Just like a pure white backdrop, I think a marble backdrop is a staple item you need in your collection. It's the first backdrop I started experimenting with and I still use it a lot to this day. I think this might be my favorite backdrop ever, even though I love a pretty textured or colorful backdrop too, I'll always fall back on my beloved marble backdrop.
If you're looking for crisp, luxurious, and chic aesthetics then this is one of the photography backdrops you truly need. If you want to recreate bathroom aesthetics, combine a marble backdrop with a tile backdrop and you'll have this luxurious skincare vibe everyone loves.
3. A Tiles Backdrop
These are a must for food and skincare photographers because they will help you create a bathroom or kitchen effect. The tiles make it look like you just cooked that delicious meal or you came right out of the bathroom after you did your skincare. This helps people visualize themselves using the products or eating the food. I also really like tiles for water shot photography as this makes it look like you're in the shower using that product (could be haircare or bodycare too, perfect for beauty content creators!)
If you're looking for cute, cozy, and at-home aesthetics then this is one of the photography backdrops you truly need. Combine tiles to create the ultimate 'I'm in the bathroom' vibe, just like I did in the picture!
4. A Plain Color Backdrop
What color you pick depends on your preferred style and ambiance you want to go for. A plain color could be pink, yellow, blue, green, or any other type of color that you like. As my go-to style is more neutral and pink-toned, I personally like to go for a backdrop that is soft pink or peachy because this fits me and my style best. You need a plain backdrop because these are super easy to combine with other backdrops, such as tiles and textured backdrops. Moreover, because they're just one color they'll put the product in the spotlight.
If you're looking for colorful, yet simple and attention-seeking backdrops, then you need to go for plain photography backdrops. It's a great way to accentuate the color of the product and make it truly stand out in a subtle yet colorful way.
5. A Textured Backdrop
This depends on your style and color preferences, but with a textured backdrop, I mean concrete, wood, stone, or anything with a pattern. As I already said, these a great to combine with a plain color backdrop or a marble/white backdrop. Oftentimes you can also use them in combination with tiles but this is also a style preference.
If you're looking for realistic yet sophisticated aesthetics, with or without color, then you need textured backdrops. I used a pop of color with texture in the photo but I also love to go for a more neutral, stone-like backdrop for a realistic look.
If you use my link, you'll get 15% off your Club Backdrop order! I get a small commission for this, at no extra cost to you.
