When it’s cold, raining and uninspiring to be outdoors, the next best thing can be a daylight photography studio. For Horseshoe‘s “Spring Break and Vacation trends” photoshoot we needed a setting that would look warm and inviting. Since we would have no other choice to be indoors for this particular project, we decided that using earth tones as our background would be the perfect and unique way to express a feeling of “warmth”.
Don’t be afraid to use off-beat colors, and experiment with natural light if you have the opportunity.
I started with a 9′ Olive Green Seamless from Savage Universal. A look I prefer is to roll out enough paper that is tall enough for a model to stand in front of, but then keep the rest rolled on the floor so you can see the exposed wood. I used the 9′ so I would have enough space to fill the frame for a horizontal or square crop – and still be able to see the entire outfit from head-to-toe. The shorter seamless papers are hard to use for full-length, which is why I always choose the 9′ for fashion images.
When using natural light in the studio, I always recommend placing your backdrop as close to the window as possible, and to have the light coming in from the side. This will give you beautiful dimension with a nice fade from light to dark across the background of the paper.
You can see how lovely the Olive Green looks with the natural light. It is the perfect transition color between seasons!
We were able to capture a number of poses and looks using the Olive Green paper (and a few props) before we moved onto the next color.
For our next two outfits, I chose to mix it up with a deep rich orange color, Sienna*. The light had not changed too much outside, so I set-up in the same exact spot as before.
(*Sienna by Savage Universal is discontinued, but continues to be one of my very favorite paper colors!) I love these warm rustic colors the most – and I feel like they are truly under-appreciated and under-utilized.
Using these colors with natural light (vs. studio lighting) lends itself to such beautiful rich tones. Again, I went for the 9′ size so we could maximize the background space, and account for any cropping the client would need.
Even though it was a dark overcast day out – the natural light was just enough to give this image a warm inviting, beach-day vibe! I just cannot get enough of this color.
Moral of this story? Don’t be afraid to use off-beat colors, and experiment with natural light if you have the opportunity. You can always set these up in your garage, or living room and do quite a bit with a small space. Savage papers come in all sizes, and the smaller ones are easily transported via car (big or small!)
Client, Horseshoe Boutique
Location, Larimar Studios
Model, Kayla Eyles
Equipment used,
— Canon 1Dx
— Canon 50mm 1.2L
— Photoflex Crossbar
— Savage Universal Background Papers in Olive Green and Sienna
— Gaffer’s Tape
— Avenger Light Stands (x2)
This is not a sponsored post – Michelle is a loyal Savage Universal user and loves their products. Images and text are original and solely the opinion of Michelle Moore.
Check out more of our original reviews!
Have more questions about our experience with using background paper in studio? Email us and we’ll add your question & answer to this review.
Need new photography content? Sign up for our monthly subscription packages or contact Michelle directly for an estimate for a full-day destination lifestyle session.
