Easter Photography Ideas

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Easter Photography Ideas

If you haven’t started planning your Easter mini session you may want to hop on it! More often than you might think, photographers will put all their eggs in one basket and  find out that their customers want something different than they planned! In this post we will show you some awesome ideas for your upcoming Easter Photography sessions!

Too chilly still to hit the great outdoors for your sessions? Snag one of our fantastic Scene Photography Backdrops to accomplish this look in the warmth of your studio!

Tired of the same ‘ol floor you always use? Try one of our brand new 2-in-1 Photography Backdrops! They’re perfect for switching things up without breaking the bank!

Want to keep it simple? Try one of our Solid Photography Backdrops and add your artistic touches to make it festive!

Lastly, we have a HUGE collection of Pattern Photography Backdrops that could not be more perfect for Spring and Easter Photography! Try one in our excellent poly paper material!

Starting Your Photography Studio On A Budget

Are you one of so many photographers out there that would LOVE to start their own photography studio? Whether you’re just starting out in the photography business or perhaps you just want to do it in your time, you will need a space you can get your creative juices flowing, store all your gear and let the magic happen. However many entrepreneurs just don’t have the extra cash to dedicate to a professional photo studio. Luckily, we have a few tricks that might help you get a head start!

1. Use Space in Your Home

No doubt, the largest expense you as a future studio owner would have would be buying or leasing studio space. The easiest way to conserve these funds would be using a space that you already own or rent. Of course, you’ll probably want to tradition out of your home at some point when the cash starts flowing in but until then, save yourself the headache of writing that check every month.

Now, when choosing your new creative space, you’ll probably want to select an area that is secluded to some extent for privacy during the many sessions that you will be booking. The tough part about starting a studio in your home is finding an unused space that has enough room for your photos. It is probably best to have at least 20 feet of space to work with. Basements would certainly work, but you will need to be aware of low ceilings as, of course, that would not be best for photos. It is also very likely that light will bounce off the ceiling and you won’t be able to use a hair light, as it requires about 3 feet of space above your subject. A high-ceilinged room, attic or even a garage space are great potential spaces for your new studio!

2. Lighting

For you natural light photographers, you’ll want to select a space with large windows, a skylight, or some other source of light. However, if your preference is studio lights, you’ll want to choose a room where ambient light from windows, skylights, reflections and existing room light won’t be an issue. If ambient light is there, in many cases you can manage it with studio lighting, flash and shutter speed.

When you’re ready to start purchasing lighting equipment, you’ll want to start with either constant lights, speedlights or studio strobes (as your wallet or husband allows). A light modifier will help control your flash — choose from soft boxes, umbrellas, strip banks, flash benders, beauty dishes, and more. We highly recommend that you do your homework to help you decide which is the best and most economical solution for the lighting needs of your new studio.

3. Versatile Photography Backdrops

Now, you’ll want at least one Photography Backdrop to complete the list of basic equipment for your new studio. Again, if your wallet or husband allows, try and have one in the brown color family and one in gray. Such as our Sand Dollar Solid Photography Backdrop and/or ourSoft Gray Solid Photography Backdrop. These are both perfect, versatile drops to start your new collection. From there, add a blue-toned option and a solid white either in poly paper or matte vinyl. Depending upon the type of photography you plan to do, you can expand into a roll of black paper and other seamless color choices. When you’re just starting out, versatility is very important. Your first few Photography Backdrops need to give you the ability to shoot all different occasions without breaking the bank.

4. Props

One of the best ways to set yourself apart as a new photographer is adding unique and adorable props to your setups. Now, this is a very broad subject so here are a few pointers: Although there are many adorable companies (& Etsy shops) out there, those expensive props can really add up. You might consider starting with some DIY projects for now. You can find a ton of ideas on our Pinterest boards on how to create some custom props until the cash starts flowing. You can also find some very cute (and inexpensive) props if you keep your eyes open on your next trip to Hobby Lobby or Michaels. Just remember to check out RetailMeNot.com or similar sites before you make your purchase!

5. Insurance & Taxes

Lastly, make sure that you are ready for the unthinkable. Little Sally could trip and fall in your home, or heaven forbid, your precious possessions might go missing; insurance would be a small monthly premium that will bring you security and that peace of mind that you need when starting a business. You should also contact an accountant and make you are set up for proper tax filing. You’ll be able to write off many expenses, including the percentage of your home rent/mortgage and utilities for the portion of your home used as your studio.

We hope this has been helpful!! If you have any thoughts or comments please leave them below!

5 Photography Tips for Beginners

Having years of professional photography experience is not necessarily a requirement to capturing absolutely stunning photos. Even amateur photographers can get lucky and snag breathtaking photos. Photography is a very hands-on field and practice makes perfect, but anyone would love a few tips from the pros, especially when you’re just getting started. Here are some photography tips for beginners who are looking to excel in their camera knowledge and capture some of those award-winning shots.

1. Equipment

As you’ve likely already noticed, there is an endless amount of photography equipment you can use. Finding the right equipment depends entirely on the type of photos you are looking for. You certainly don’t need to buy all of the top of the line equipment right off the bat. But you will need the essentials: a camera body, 50mm lens, zoom lens and external flash. These will help you get started and you can always upgrade and add to your equipment as your photography skills (and budget) improve.

2. Know the Terms

To help you better understand how to use your new DSLR, it is important for you to know the different terms related to the camera’s manual settings. ISO, aperture, shutter speed and other terms can sometimes confuse a beginner who is unfamiliar with these settings. Let’s take a look at some terms you will regularly come in contact when shooting photos.

Shutter Speed – Shutter speed refers to how long the shutter stays open when shooting a picture. Slower shutter speeds are used to allow more light in through the lens when there is an absence of light. Faster shutter speeds work great in bright situations and when shooting moving objects.

Aperture – The aperture is measured in F-Stops and relates to the size of the lens opening. Using a lower F-Stop will focus on a single item in your picture making the photo background appear blurry. A higher F-Stop will ensure more of your photo is in focus.

ISO – ISO is the adjustment you use depending upon the amount of light you are working with. For example, the lower the ISO number you set, the less sensitive the camera is to the light. You can use a low ISO when shooting outdoors on a sunny day and a higher ISO when it is cloudy or when shooting indoors.

3. Use a Tripod

When shooting in low light or taking a long exposure photo you probably won’t be able to hold the camera still long enough to capture the shot without causing camera shake. Even some of the most seasoned photographers use tripods to eliminate the slightest effects of camera shake.

4. Learn From Others

One of your most valuable resources is going to be other more seasoned photographers; they are a great asset when looking for photo tips. Every photographer had to start somewhere so most veteran photographers are more than happy to help out a newbie. Remember what they do and what they say about their experiences when on a shoot. You can also check out photo books or online sites and study photographs taken by professionals. Then, take what you have learned and try to replicate what they do. As we said, photography is a hands-on learning experience. So play with your camera and the settings until you get shoot the photographs you are looking for. Another thing to consider is taking a photography class at a local college or attending a photography workshop at a local gallery. Learning as much as you can will make experimenting with your camera much easier and much more fun.

5. Experiment

There is only one way to really get not just familiar but experienced at shooting in manual mode and that is practice. In addition to playing with the settings, try shooting in different situations, indoors and outdoors, from different angles and a variety of subjects. Ask family members to be your guinea pigs and experiment shooting portraits of them using different lighting equipment and photography backgrounds. The more you practice, the less you will feel like a beginner. Do not let the fear of trying something new stop you from improving your photography skills. Even the most seasoned photographers have to practice and experiment. Remember, we are all beginners at one time or another. One final tip: carry your camera with you everywhere because you never know when the perfect photographic opportunity will arise.

The perfect photography backdrops and floor drops for kids and newborns

Perfect for Newborn Photographers

The perfect Photography Backdrops and Floor Drops for Child and Newborn Photographers: Dropsprops.com.

Drops & Props is a one-stop-shop for the highest quality vinyl and poly paper Photography Backdrops with over 300 different Photography Backdrop designs to choose from!

Our Photography Backdrops are the perfect backdrops and floor drops for child and newborn photographers. We have a wide collection of Photography Backdrops that will be an exceptional choice for any type of photo shoot. Our backdrops and floor drops are designed in such a way that, when you purchase one backdrop they are versatile enough to be used for many types of shoots!

Some of the perfect backdrops for child and newborn photographers are listed below:

1. Pink Damask Photography Backdrop

Damask backdrops are one of the best backdrop pattern styles and will be best suited for vintage photography, newborn photography and dozens of other studio set ups.

2. Silver Bokeh Photography Backdrop

Bokeh Photography Backdrops are perfect backdrops for children and newborns with a very specific photography effect. Bokeh is the aesthetic quality of out-of-focus blur in a photograph.

3. Dark Wood Photography Backdrop

Our Dark Wood Photography Backdrop will bring a certain elegance to your photos. It is rich and attractive for your backdrop or floor drop.

4. Grass Photography Backdrop

This Grass Photography Backdrop is perfect for your Newborn Photography! Add few objects and you have a beautiful outdoors shot without having to go outside.

Check out the rest of our collections HERE!

New Year Photography Backdrops - Dropsprops.com

Drops & Props has added Photography Backdrop collections for this New Year with over 300 different designs. Drops & Props is your one-stop shop for all your Photography Backdrop needs.

Drops and Props is your one-stop-shop for the highest quality vinyl Photography Backdrops available. Our wide collections range from 2-in-1 Photography Backdrops, Bokeh Backdrops, Custom Photography Backdrops, Damask Backdrops, Elegant Backdrops, Floor Drops, Photography Backdrops for Little Gents, Pattern Backdrops, Pink Backdrops, Rustic Backdrops and so many more!

Some of the Photography Backdrops that are newly arrived for this New Year Eve celebrations.

1. Snowflake Wrapping Paper – Photography Backdrop
   
2. Let It Snow – Photography Backdrop
   
3. Frozen Snowflakes – Photography Backdrop
   
4. Winter Day – Photography Backdrop
   

Christmas Photography Backdrops

1. Tree & Presents – Photography Backdrop
   
2. Holiday Fireplace – Photography Backdrop
   
3. Christmas Ornaments – Photography Backdrop
   
4. O Christmas Tree – Photography Backdrop
   
5. Holiday Bokeh – Photography Backdrop
   

Properly Light A Vinyl Photography Backdrop

Properly Light A Vinyl Photography Backdrop

Lately, we here at Drops & Props have received one particular question pretty often: How do I properly light a vinyl photography backdrop?

Now, this is a bit of a loaded question. Drops & Props is certainly not a photography studio, but with a bit of experience in the field, we feel that we can offer some helpful suggestions.

We strongly believe in helping our customers as much as possible in their photographic endeavors and we definitely want to help with anything regarding our backdrops. So we decided to put together a little blog post on this very topic.

How To Properly Light A Vinyl Photography Backdrop

Starting off, I decided to use one of my personal favorite Photography Backdrops, the Gold Bokeh Photography Backdrop. Bokeh Backdrops are very versatile and this one had great contrast for my model. This being a bit of a last minute project, I used the model that I happened to have on hand, my little Ragdoll kitten.

Fist off, I unrolled the Gold Bokeh Backdrop. We store all of our backdrops rolled up (but not too tightly) with both ends secured. As you can see the backdrop looks great even though there is a tiny hint of wrinkling; perhaps from the rubber bands used to secure the backdrop. If you’ll notice, we don’t see any of that wrinkling in our final photo courtesy of the magic called Depth Of Field. However, if you need to get rid of wrinkling we have a very detailed blog post explaining exactly how to do that.

After the backdrop is hanging quite nicely on our Photography Backdrop Stand I simply placed a throw pillow from my couch onto the portion of the backdrop that flowed onto the floor about 6 inches in front of the backdrop. For a larger subject you might need a larger space between the subject and backdrop. You can see that I set up our little project in front of a large natural light source on the left. I personally prefer using natural light but this exact scenario could have easily been accomplished using studio lighting as well.

For this first image, I did not have the reflector set up and it is quite obvious! However, you’ll notice that, because the light is not directly facing the backdrop and our subject is not right up against the backdrop, there is no glare.

After getting this first result, which, I must admit doesn’t look too bad, we’re going to fine-tune it a little by adding a nice silver reflector, which is not very pricey and a great addition to any photographer’s bag of tricks. As you can see in the next image, this makes all the difference! The light is being reflected back to the subject, not only lighting the right half but feathering the light to brighten the entire image.

VOILA! We have a darling photo (if I do say so myself) by Properly Lighting A Vinyl Photography Backdrop! As you can see, my model is not terribly excited about our little project but I am very happy with the results! If we can get these results last minute, anyone can do it!

Here is one more photo of the full set up! Still not convinced? Check out our growing collection of Customer Appreciation Photos using Drops & Props Photography Backdrops!

How to choose the right Photography Backdrops for any occasion: DropsProps

Create magic with backdrops

Use of creative Photography Backdrops during a photo shoot has the potential to create impactful photos. Hence, the selection of a creative backdrop is considered to be one of the major challenges that photographers face. Though a backdrop is considered as anything that enhances the look of photography, it is only the right selection of backdrops that can create wonders in photography.

Leveraging the advancement in science and technology, modern- day photographers choose to use a digital backdrop, rather than traditional ones. Earlier, photographers made use of physical items that could be used both inside and outside the studio – muslin backdrops, paper backdrops and painted canvas backdrops. Colored muslin material in black, red, white are some of the standard colors used as backdrops. Also, the ones that feature artistic images of landscapes or buildings are also considered as standard backdrops.

It makes no sense if the photographer limits himself to a few backdrops when excellent backdrops like muslin, canvas, poly paper and vinyl backdrops are available. These backdrops can be utilized for all kinds of photo shoot including a product photo shoot, making a portrait or photographing a professional model,

Now that Christmas is round the corner, taking a family portrait is a Christmas tradition for many families. The photographer’s responsibility lies in using a background that reflects the season and the holiday. Brightly wrapped presents, garland, Christmas tree ornaments, fireplace logs, Santa hats can add brightness to the Christmas Photography backdrops. Likewise, a winter scene can also be a great backdrop for a Christmas photo.

Photographers can add more colours to wedding photography wedding photography with the appropriate selection of backdrops. From frames and curtains hanging out of trees to arches made of everything from foliage to umbrellas with a touch of art add a wow factor to the look of the joyous ceremony. Be it decorating a dull room or creating an altar space outside, these wedding photography backdrops help tie themes together.

Additionally, choosing the right background adds depth to your overall professionalism of photo shoot. If you are planning for indoor photo shoots or in-studio shoots, then opting for Vinyl photography backdrop helps. As vinyl plates have the ability to soak up light, they are preferred by many photographers. Moreover, these backdrops come with a matte finish which helps to keep out glare. They also have sturdy cores that prevent wrinkles. As transporting these backdrops can be difficult, they can be used in high key photo shoots in permanent locations. Vinyl photography backdrops provide photographers with an immense opportunity to shoot portraits, commercial photography, and videos.

Your choice of the backdrops portrays the mood you want to convey with your shoot. Rely on your own experience, observation, and feedback from others and select a perfect backdrop.