My partner and I want to make our garage a photo studio. It is insulated, heated and very nice for a garage really. I NEED some suggestions for props and backgrounds.. I will be able to buy some backdrops and stuff eventually but for now I would love suggestions from things around the house or items at the thrift store.. We have a couple appointments set up in the next couple weeks and I am so intimidated.. I see the beautiful portraits on here and I don't know where to start....
Kristina is the photographer really... but I like setting up the picture and helping with editing.... So any ideas are welcome!!!!!
Fabric from fabric store are great for backdrops as well as sheets. Also painters canvas can be painted or stained to make a great canvas backdrop. You can get a pretty large canvas at a paint store pretty reasonable. As for props I use just about anything and everything.
For a start black and white backdrops, fabric or matte papers can be used, though the paper can be rolled out when it gets dirty/crumpled the massive roll is heavy and takes a serious stand.
King sized sheets are a viable option for smaller spaces if the fabric's thick enough.
Is the ceiling white? It doesn't have to be but I find a white ceiling great no matter where I go since you can reflect off it from above or at angles... In places with wooden rafters or black above I occasionally bring a few sheets of A3 and stick them up as a make shift ceiling. Admittedly this makes me look like a crazy person.
Have you got lights for it, either flashes or lamps?
For furniture, props etc. try IKEA's as is section, Free cycle or your local equivalent and charity shops that do larger items. IKEA's great for finding furniture that can be generic and unobtrusive to photos. Interesting pieces of old furniture can be great to add interest or a certain spin to a photo and don't need to be expensive antiques.
I'm not big on portraits but that's general advice and some from when I had access to a studio, which was terribly equipped in some ways, the only backdrops to be found were a black roll of paper and a huge crushed velvet one that was filthy...
For backdrops like scenes, I'm not sure where you get them but they must come from somewhere, one thing I would say is that for the price I've heard some of them cost you could eschew the traditional bookcase one that every one uses for school photos *always exactly the same, I've checked* and fill up a bookcase with books from a charity shop...
architectural salvage and reclaimation yards are brilliant for odd props old metalwork benches stone columns old cart wheels ,add a couple of plastic plants entwine some fake ivy around the props perfect.
I'm a big fan of chairs. I found these at a downtown bookstore in my city. Check out antique stores and garage sales. Also on craigslist people give away furniture. It's super easy to cover things in some fun fabric. Just get a staple gun. And if it's just for props, it's doesnt have to be perfect. And you can get re-covering to suit your needs. Good luck with the studio!
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King sized sheets are a viable option for smaller spaces if the fabric's thick enough.
Is the ceiling white? It doesn't have to be but I find a white ceiling great no matter where I go since you can reflect off it from above or at angles... In places with wooden rafters or black above I occasionally bring a few sheets of A3 and stick them up as a make shift ceiling. Admittedly this makes me look like a crazy person.
Have you got lights for it, either flashes or lamps?
For furniture, props etc. try IKEA's as is section, Free cycle or your local equivalent and charity shops that do larger items. IKEA's great for finding furniture that can be generic and unobtrusive to photos. Interesting pieces of old furniture can be great to add interest or a certain spin to a photo and don't need to be expensive antiques.
I'm not big on portraits but that's general advice and some from when I had access to a studio, which was terribly equipped in some ways, the only backdrops to be found were a black roll of paper and a huge crushed velvet one that was filthy...
For backdrops like scenes, I'm not sure where you get them but they must come from somewhere, one thing I would say is that for the price I've heard some of them cost you could eschew the traditional bookcase one that every one uses for school photos *always exactly the same, I've checked* and fill up a bookcase with books from a charity shop...