DIY portrait backgrounds from Jake Hicks

[abennettphotography]

https://jakehicksphotography.com/latest ... ting-setup

[Iggy]

Thanks Andy.
That is helpful.

I was wondering what cloth like material is suitable for a black backdrop for small still life arrangements?

Iggy

[Mike Farley]

I was wondering what cloth like material is suitable for a black backdrop for small still life arrangements?

Black velvet.

https://www.creativeislandphoto.com/blog/black-velvet

[Iggy]

Thanks Mike.
Peter Baumgarten does produce some wonderful images with the black velvet.
I was just wondering where to get the high quality black velvet required.
On some of the sites selling black velvet, photographers have kindly left a comment saying that it was not suitable for photography backdrops.
Some pointed out small particle reflection or too see through.

So what and where do I get the photographic grade black velvet?

Kind regards,
Iggy

[Mike Farley]

So what and where do I get the photographic grade black velvet?

Google is your friend when it comes to answering that. All I can tell you is that I bought mine from a shop called MacCulloch and Wallis which sells fine fabrics and is located just off Oxford Street at 25 Dering Street W1. It was a few years ago now and seemed damned pricey at around £20 per metre as I recall, but seems to be doing the job.

Fern with black background

Fern-3.jpg (80.4 KiB) Viewed 3759 times

[Iggy]

Thanks Mike,
MacCulloch and Wallis are still listed but there a few outlets in Croydon that probably do black velvet.
Also many on google.

Thanks for sharing that lovely image.
Did you follow Peter Baumgarten's suggestions or do your own set-up?

Regards,
Iggy

[Mike Farley]

Thanks for sharing that lovely image.
Did you follow Peter Baumgarten's suggestions or do your own set-up?

Thanks for the comment. As I had never previously heard of Peter Baumgarten until I used Google to find an example of using a black backdrop, I can safely say that the shot is all my own work.