10 Budget creative DIY photography backdrops

When people think of studio photography, they often believe this requires a specialised building with lots of lights and equipment. True, this can be the case, but the good news is you don’t actually need a lot of equipment to pull off studio-quality images.

Two simple strobes and diffusers are all you need for lighting, and you can then get creative with photography backdrops.

Ideally, you want at least a 3m wide by 7 m long backdrop that hangs on a stand so that you can do both full length and group photos as well as headshots, but if you don’t have the budget for that, then you can DIY it (more on that below) or buy a smaller option.

One of the best places to purchase backdrops in South Africa is Backdrop Shop ≫, with an extensive range of choices and options in every different size available!

There are many different types of photography backdrops you can purchase, but you ideally want to have something that is not reflective and is easy to clean after the photoshoot.

Our studio at Renphotos ≫ has a plain white PVC backdrop that we love to dress up with balloons, paper decorations, and banners to celebrate birthdays ≫ and cake smashes ≫.

The white backdrop is exceptionally versatile, and because it is PVC, it has lasted a really long time!

And it means we can create almost any look you may want by adding in the décor you would like – white is also a clean neutral background, so it’s like a clean slate.

Here are a few options for photography backdrops and tips.

1. PVC photography backdrops are durable and easy to clean and are primarily non-reflective when using diffused lighting. Particularly with a white background, you won’t get much reflection or highlights as you do with black or coloured PVC options. However, they are more expensive than the other options.

 

 

2. Fabric photography backdrops are reusable but tend to be a bit see-through, so you may get background shapes or colours coming through. It’s also difficult to keep completely flat and unwrinkled, which can also cause shadows and unwanted textures.

3. Paper backdrops. These are a relatively cheap option, but the downside is that they often cannot be reused after one or two photoshoots as they tear or get dirty.

4. Digital photography backdrops are a bit of a cheat. Still, they can be very cost-effective if you cannot get the look you want anywhere else – you can often find the backdrop you are looking for on a store such as Etsy ≫ and then Photoshop an image into this.

This is not something I have done before, but it’s good to bear in mind when you find fantastic photos online and want to get that set up in reality – particularly with newborns.

5. DIY photography backdrops – You can get creative with so many different elements that don’t cost an arm and a leg – check out these ideas below!

The options are endless to make your own DIY photography backdrops, depending on the look and feel and texture you want. If you don’t have the funds to buy a whole photography backdrop and stand just yet, try these DIY photography backdrop hacks until you can!

Firstly, if you need something to hang things on, you can use a pipe, rod or beam – even a curtain rail. However, if you want a more permanent solution but still can’t buy a backdrop stand, then try this PVC photography backdrop stand idea.

 

 

1. One of the easiest and more versatile options is to use paper streamers tied to a stand – you can choose any colour you would like or have a few different colours, so take your pick.

2. Similarly, you can use paper decorations stacked close together to create a wall of colour for your backdrop.

3. For a patterned backdrop, why not try to find wrapping paper that you like and tape this to a sheet or even a wall.

4. Balloons are also an effortless way to create a backdrop. You can make a balloon stand or get a few balloons filled with helium and tie them to weights. We use this very often in our photoshoots.

5. Leaves clipped to pieces of twine can make a really subtle and natural backdrop. Be sure to use pretty durable leaves that don’t need a lot of water. Such as eucalyptus.

6. Hessian cloth can create a calming earthy tone and adds great texture to your photography background.

7. Stacked pallets create an excellent wood effect and are an easy and cheap alternative to a textured PVC wood backdrop. If you want to get a bit more colour in there, you can even use chalk or chalk paint to colour the pallets any way you want to.

8. Geometric shapes like stars, triangles etc., create fantastic designs and patterns – all you need is some coloured paper and scissors and tape to get creative!

9. Yarn balls or paper lanterns are also a great way to dress up a backdrop. And yarn balls are actually easy to make – check out this link.

10. Fairy lights have to be one of my favourite ways to dress up photography backdrops and can create a beautiful bokeh effect in your background if you get it right.

 

 

The more lights you use, the more bokeh you get, but it doesn’t actually take more than one string of lights to add a bit of flair to your photos.

 

Some items don’t actually need an entire photography backdrop – for product photography, or newborns or little people, you can get away with much smaller options.

You don’t actually need a lot of backdrops to create beautiful photos. All you need to do is downsize the options above. These are some ways we have used these items for smaller subjects.

If you are looking for a creative backdrop photoshoot with Renphotos, you must contact us to discuss the look and feel you want from your photos.

With so many ideas out there, it’s impossible to have every look available, but we will be happy to work with you and try to give you a solution to get the photos you want on a photography backdrop.

 

 

Here are some tips to help you get the look you want from your photos.

 

1. Be realistic with your budget and time constraints. With so many ideas, it’s impossible to have all of the props and backdrop items available to create your vision.

So we may need to spend some time gathering the things you need, and sourcing these items can also add up, sometimes to more than the value of the shoot itself.

Again, this is all good if you have the budget but just be prepared for this cost.

2. Many of the images you find on the internet are not taken locally in South Africa. Unfortunately, the range of items we have here can be a bit limited, so it’s impossible to get them on short notice and may need to be imported which can also add to the cost and time

3. Plan well in advance to make sure we can have the items in time for your photoshoot – also for the above reasons.

4. Have some images you like ready to show us, but try to be flexible in the look you want – replicating an image entirely is plagiarism, so not actually legal – but you can take inspiration from pictures and make your own.

Also, some items may not be available for the shoot. It may change the final look of what you had in mind, so you need to be prepared for that.

5. The actual setup of the studio also takes time, so depending on how many looks you want, you may also need to book extra time if you want more than one setup and different outfits etc. Remember, less is often more, and you can get exceptional results with very little.

6. Remember that you will be in front of whatever backdrop or decor you choose, so sometimes these things can get hidden from view. Be selective with the items you select, and if you are a big group of people, maybe choose a simpler backdrop.