The holiday season is the best time of year to have a great assortment of backdrops.
It's cold outside, and in my neck of the woods, mostly very wet until the snow flies. In fact, it's cold and wet WAY BEFORE the snow finally decides it is time to freeze our landscape.
So the studio has afforded both myself, and my clients, a nice, dry place to be on blustery pre-winter, winter and post-winter days (our early spring is not grand).
Do I still do outdoor sessions? Sure.
But, when mother nature whacks us with weather woes, I have an alternative.
Seasonal Backdrops vs Paper
It's cold outside, and in my neck of the woods, mostly very wet until the snow flies. In fact, it's cold and wet WAY BEFORE the snow finally decides it is time to freeze our landscape.
So the studio has afforded both myself, and my clients, a nice, dry place to be on blustery pre-winter, winter and post-winter days (our early spring is not grand).
Do I still do outdoor sessions? Sure.
But, when mother nature whacks us with weather woes, I have an alternative.
Seasonal Backdrops vs Paper
My Christmas backdrops have become an obsession, since I started offering personalized greeting card design as a service. I may need an intervention soon.
As any photographer who uses backdrops will tell you, the price range for good products can be steep, depending on the size you need.
That's why I wait until Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, or Cyber Monday to grab a great deal. All but my hand painted drops, were purchased at discount prices. If there were a Filene's Basement for backdrops, I'd be there.
As it is, I have amassed a wealth of knowledge about when and where to buy, the best Etsy and small business oriented vendors to frequent for quality purchases, as well as the types of material to utilize for quick/easy turnaround once a backdrop arrives.
Savage Universal seamless paper is my go to for other than seasonal activities (I have 8 colors that come in rolls). My husband built a great paper backdrop unit, patterned after one we found on Pinterest, which effectively houses my smaller (5 ft wide) rolls.
As any photographer who uses backdrops will tell you, the price range for good products can be steep, depending on the size you need.
That's why I wait until Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, or Cyber Monday to grab a great deal. All but my hand painted drops, were purchased at discount prices. If there were a Filene's Basement for backdrops, I'd be there.
As it is, I have amassed a wealth of knowledge about when and where to buy, the best Etsy and small business oriented vendors to frequent for quality purchases, as well as the types of material to utilize for quick/easy turnaround once a backdrop arrives.
Savage Universal seamless paper is my go to for other than seasonal activities (I have 8 colors that come in rolls). My husband built a great paper backdrop unit, patterned after one we found on Pinterest, which effectively houses my smaller (5 ft wide) rolls.
The Newest Addition to My Seasonal Backdrop Collection
I always look for backdrops that can be used not only with pets, but with people, and people AND their pets together.
At Christmas time, step one in developing the right holiday cards for clients, is using a backdrop they can relate to and enjoy. I photograph all of my backdrop set ups/stages, and show them to a client in our initial pre-session discussion, so they can pick the drop they like the best.
I was very excited last year to find a great Black Friday sale, a week before Black Friday, at Denny, It's where I purchased the background featured below, and put it aside to use this year. Denny usually has some Cyber Monday deals as well.
I always look for backdrops that can be used not only with pets, but with people, and people AND their pets together.
At Christmas time, step one in developing the right holiday cards for clients, is using a backdrop they can relate to and enjoy. I photograph all of my backdrop set ups/stages, and show them to a client in our initial pre-session discussion, so they can pick the drop they like the best.
I was very excited last year to find a great Black Friday sale, a week before Black Friday, at Denny, It's where I purchased the background featured below, and put it aside to use this year. Denny usually has some Cyber Monday deals as well.
Backdrop set up with and without kids.
This year, I found a great Etsy sale on backdrops, and ordered two that would work well with both pets and kids.
One is a conventional microfiber background, and the other is a set of digital backgrounds. Microfiber backgrounds are my new go-to, because they hang perfectly out of their shipping container, with no need to steam or wait out the fold wrinkles. They can also be washed on delicate/cold water washes and come out looking exactly like they did when you opened them for the first time. I always order the backgrounds with the pockets sewn in for placement on my backdrop stand.
Digital backgrounds, on the other hand, don't require any hanging. They just require you to have some Photoshop skills.
One is a conventional microfiber background, and the other is a set of digital backgrounds. Microfiber backgrounds are my new go-to, because they hang perfectly out of their shipping container, with no need to steam or wait out the fold wrinkles. They can also be washed on delicate/cold water washes and come out looking exactly like they did when you opened them for the first time. I always order the backgrounds with the pockets sewn in for placement on my backdrop stand.
Digital backgrounds, on the other hand, don't require any hanging. They just require you to have some Photoshop skills.
My newest backdrop addition.
Works great for pets.
Works great for kids.
Digital Backgrounds
A few years ago, I might never have been tempted to use digital backgrounds. But seven Photoshop and editing classes later, sixteen hours of digital background tutorials, and great vendor/creators, have shown me that digital backgrounds can be worth the investment.
Again, Cyber Monday deals from small businesses, like myself, is how I like to purchase. Typically, I will purchase a bundle that comes with about 10-20 backgrounds, brushes, and additional elements that can be used with the backgrounds.
I found a great deal at Tara Lesher where I am also a member of her "village."
I must admit, I am having WAY too much fun with one particular background in the bundle.
A few years ago, I might never have been tempted to use digital backgrounds. But seven Photoshop and editing classes later, sixteen hours of digital background tutorials, and great vendor/creators, have shown me that digital backgrounds can be worth the investment.
Again, Cyber Monday deals from small businesses, like myself, is how I like to purchase. Typically, I will purchase a bundle that comes with about 10-20 backgrounds, brushes, and additional elements that can be used with the backgrounds.
I found a great deal at Tara Lesher where I am also a member of her "village."
I must admit, I am having WAY too much fun with one particular background in the bundle.
See what I mean?
My husband always asks me, "what do you want for Christmas?" Well, I really don't need anything. But wait...maybe there is another backdrop..........
Click Into the Circle
I am part of a weekly blogging group of professional pet photographers located all over the planet. To see what others have blogged about in this week's topic on what they treated themselves to over deal days, start the blog circle with Tracy Allard of Penny Whistle Photography, Dallas - Fort Worth's award-winning pet photographer, as she shares what she invested in this Black Friday. Then find the link at the end of each blog to click to the next photographer.
I hope you found a great deal last week. Enjoy your weekend!
My husband always asks me, "what do you want for Christmas?" Well, I really don't need anything. But wait...maybe there is another backdrop..........
Click Into the Circle
I am part of a weekly blogging group of professional pet photographers located all over the planet. To see what others have blogged about in this week's topic on what they treated themselves to over deal days, start the blog circle with Tracy Allard of Penny Whistle Photography, Dallas - Fort Worth's award-winning pet photographer, as she shares what she invested in this Black Friday. Then find the link at the end of each blog to click to the next photographer.
I hope you found a great deal last week. Enjoy your weekend!
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