2024 Photo shoot!! New Tools, Ann and Jan get new toys!
Just before Christmas, Ann and I were chatting about photo shoots for things we had made from felting.
I had been using my, by now quite old, camera (Lumix DMC-FZ70 by Panasonic) and an older Flannelette half sheet as my backdrop. The sheet is attached to bulldog clips, which are hooked on S-hooks. This has worked but I can only set it up directly in front of my computer, so conveniently located but not portable. It also is limited in colour, white. I guess I could get another sheet colour…
1) sheet clips and ring light
2) Close-up of bulldog clip hooked over a large S hook.
3) using this set-up for a photo of Moose bag #3
The sheet is working OK, but I think I can do better.
Ann and I had looked at full-size photo backdrop set-ups, but they require a lot of floor space, which neither of us has extra of. (if you have floor space why are you not adding more wool?) We had looked at the smaller photo boxes but they work for small things, so would not work well with a felt hat or Mer-person.
Then we spotted a tabletop version of the large photo backdrop, which looked like it may work. It has a tripod base with an extendable upright, which supports a crossbar. It came in a few size variations, and after looking both, at those available through Amazon.ca and Aliexpress I selected this one. I ordered it from Amazon and let Ann know when it arrived.
4.1-4.3) 2.2ft Wide 2.6ft High (adjustable height from 1.5ft to 2.6ft)
This is one of the smaller tabletop versions. It has a sturdy wide base and comes apart to fit in a small bag. There are other models, which are both higher and with a longer cross arm. After considering what projects Ann or I would likely want to photograph, the smaller tabletop version should work for most of the projects.
5) Un-assembled stand and clips. In the background, you can see the white styrofoam that the backdrops were warped around for shipping.
6) all the parts fit in a bag for easy storage and transport.
I could use the flannelette sheet attached to the crossbar with the clips provided, but I would like more options as a background. The size that seemed to be the best option for backgrounds was 57cm by 87cm. As I investigated the options I found that there are 2-sided options (with different images or colours) as well as lots with the same colour on both sides.
I found some I liked at Aliexpress and ordered two options which arrived much quicker than expected. One was black and white. The other was two mottled tones of rose and grey, which I suspected would be a more versatile option.
7.1-7.2) The first two PVC sheets I ordered cost C$7.24 each.
I had taken Photography as one of the practical art options at university, but it was more focused on experimental composition and darkroom work. I am now working with digital photography, the darkroom work has changed to mostly adjusting the colour balance and a bit of cropping. While I didn’t study studio photography, I have a rough understanding of the concepts. It will be fun to explore this further.
The local guild Ann and I belong to was having a last social/spin-in of the year on Dec. 30th, from 1-4 pm. We decided to come in early, so she could see the stand and the backgrounds that had arrived. I brought the two Moose bags and Ann brought the samples for her Valentine’s Day workshop (No peeking, she will be showing you shortly).
The 2 background options had been rolled tightly around a Styrofoam core. then wrapped in packing foam and plastic which did protect them during their travels. It feels like a stiff plasticized paper and is described as “PVC Double sides printing Waterproof Photo Studio Photography”. Whatever it is, it left them not inclined to stop curling immediately after unwrapping. I think they will stop curling if I can store them flat rather than rolled. With a bit of sneaky persuasion (some mettle book ends, a clip and a magnet), we were able to proceed with the photo shoot.
8) mettle book end with extendable handled magnet, usually used to pick up fallen needles.
9) Ann and her phone taking pictures she will show you later.
Ann tried both sides with her bags but I only used the mottled grey. I had a bit of trouble with deciding how to display the handles of the moose bag while shooting Moose bag #1, Glenn’s Moose.
10.1-10.4) Moose #1, Glenn’s Moose
11) Moose #2 Jetta’s Moose
With moose 2, Jetta’s moose, I figured out I could have the handles looped over the top bar wing-nut to keep them out of the way.
As you can see the hole set up is not large, easily fitting on a 6×2 foot fold-up table, but it is large enough to photograph a large project bag. Since the backdrop is only clipped on, if you needed more width, you can position it horizontally rather than vertically. When set up vertically you can use the curve of the PVC to not get a distinct edge as you would find looking at a backsplash and kitchen counter. If you want to have that hard edge change, You can use a second background as a ground to position your subject on.
12) 2 backgrounds, one is used as the background and one as the surface the item sits on.
The third way to use the PVC photo backdrop paper is as a surface to place your item and shoot directly down. When Ann shows you her photos you will see her doing this.
Since we had fun with this photo shoot, when I got home I continued looking at PVC backdrops and ordered a few more options. I hope you will get to see them for some upcoming blog posts.
13.1-13.5) This second group was from a different seller and should arrived Jan 18. The cost was $6.65each
If you are photographing your felting and fibre arts, having a stand and a few backgrounds would be fun. Consider what size most of your work is, to decide what will work best for you. I would suggest considering the double-sided PVC sheets since they give you more options than the single-colour options. If you decide on the PVC versions, they can be used with wet felting, while it is still wet! (this would not work out the same with cloth or paper).
That said, You don’t have to invest a lot of money to photograph your work. you can still do a lot with a couple of bulldog clips, a couple of S-hooks, an old sheet and a couple of ring lights or even a couple of flashlights or a window. My last frugal idea was some heavy-weight Christmas wrapping paper. Although it is not as sturdy as the PVC sheets, it will work for a single or a few photo shoots. The wrapping paper comes in lots of interesting patterns. Some are double-sided, so don’t forget to consider the back too. Even better it’s on sale just after Xmas!
14) Christmas wrapping paper Moose with hat and copper snowflake
If you are looking for something in between the PVC and wrapping paper for backdrops, I can think of 2 other frugal options. First, as I originally started my fibre journey as a weaver, I have a few rolls of cheap wallpaper stored with the table looms. I went for the ugliest, cheapest, rolls of wallpaper from a second-hand store. You could keep an eye out for the slightly less hideous patterns than I have, as possible backgrounds. And lastly, I have various weights of canvas left over from painting which can be dyed or have washes of paint added to it to make a backdrop. lightweight canvas drop cloths are large and could be cut up into many pieces. Oddly, I still look at something and see that it could be used in some other way. I am not sure I will ever outgrow the frugal “starving art student brain” setting.
I know we haven’t chatted yet about lighting options. You can see one of my 2 mid-size ring lights in photo #1 (ring light from Dollerama and the stand is an articulating desk stand from amazon.ca). Your lighting choices will depend on what you are photographing, where you are set up and whether you want a diffuses or more raking light source. The topic of lighting options can wander off into a big blog on its own, maybe a chat for another day.
Do you have favourite photo shoot equipment you use or cool tips for photographing your work?
9 thoughts on “2024 Photo shoot!! New Tools, Ann and Jan get new toys!”
That looks a very useful piece of kit Jan. I had to laugh when you mentioned not having outgrown the frugal “starving art student brain”! I’m very much the same and often search the house for an object or material to utilise for a purpose it wasn’t originally intended for to save me spending money!🤣
My photo shoots often involve two large white foam boards, one flat on my table with the other stood up, lent against my sewing machine. I don’t like the hard line that’s visible where the two boards meet so sometimes I will drape a roll of white wallpaper, Lutradur or heavy weight interfacing over the board to create a soft curve behind whatever I’m photographing, much like you’re getting with those pvc panels. I must bite the bullet though and invest in a ring lamp!
i am hopefull the stand and backgrounds will work well for both Ann and i. this also meens i have to cleen my desk space so i can set it up!!!
i have both black and white foam core borads but have found they get dinged easily and i am getting smaller and smaller working erieas on them! but you are right i can drape somthing over top of them. i have used them as a base with my buldogclips and flanelet sheet too.
i perchesed a smaller ring light (at a real store for full price), it lasted aobut 6 moths and died. the next one i got at the discount Dallerama store, it was bigger, it has 3 not 4 tones of light as well as adjustiblity in the intesity of the light. as well as off and on which the expencive one had too. the cheep one came with a tiny detachable 3 leg stand which had a standered camera threading mount on it. this means the “Cheep” light also had the threading to fit in a camera mount for a trypod or the articulated stands with clamps attaching it to my desk. i picked up 4 of them (one is a “mike stand” the other 3 are just diferent sizes that can inter change parts. once i get the desk respectible or just use the sheet again i will show you in a post. in the mean time here are some links to look at. these may not work for your space but it may give you insperation about something else.
Web cam ect stand (i got 2 of these)- https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08D3H7BJ9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
mike stand no longer avalible -https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08PYBT66R/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
tablet stand – https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0919MS5GG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
i also picked up a cuple swizel ball joints for a trypod that i have on one of the stands to give the light more angles of operation. i bot 2 i have to figure out where i put the second one since i now have a second cheep ring light but is dosnt have the flexibility of posisioning the first dose. i got it from Aliexpress and found it browsing with the camera supplys.
Any hints, tips and advice on photography are very welcome! Thank you both for your work.
Backgrounds are difficult – no-one wants to see detritus alongside or behind your item and the right background can show your work well.
We’ll be interested in your post on lighting – we have soft boxes on tripods and they are a nuisance to store and in use they are easy to topple over. Also they can ‘flatten’ felt whereas natural light shows the texture.
Annie and I dread photographing felt and fibre. The camera doesn’t like loose fibre and it can be very difficult to catch the colour turquoise as it often comes out blue.
We often feel that the photograph takes twice as long to do as did the making of the item because we both keep going until the photograph is as faithful to the actual item as is possible to get. Then we end up with hundreds of photos to sift through ….
That’s why tutorials are so tortuous to make with the stopping at each stage to get the photo.
Thanks for this information on the backdrops. I have been meaning to get some but usually use a sheet or white foam core board. I have a big setup for photography but don’t have a space to keep it up. So it doesn’t get used much.
Ooooh this is a topic I know a few things about! My one true love before fibre was photography, and I’ve been doing digital editing for more than a decade. (I also have a portrait business and license some images through Getty Images.) If you ever want more tips or to chat about editing, iPhone photography or lighting, let me know!
Thanks for this post, Jan. I tried to go the road of proper photographing my works at the beginning, and bought some cheap lighting and a foldable box with backgrounds that was supposed to help getting the proper white light 🤦♀️ the whole setup took ages and photographs were not notably improved! My blood pressure was surely not improved also, and I just stopped using the lot. Now I wait for the occasional sunny day, lol. I have to say, my situation was complicated by having to put everything away each time my family needed the table to eat… I guess a foldable tripod like yours would be much easier to use than the d***ed box.
Any help with taking photos would be so useful to me. I never know what to do, other than crop any of the photos I take! I use my iphone only, and I feel that it can do more than I think it can, and all/any advice would be wonderful.
I have a few trusty cardboard professional backgrounds, some of “wood” and one of “a cracked white wall.” I use these all the time for my photos, and my trusty iPhone has replaced my DSLR camera. All of my product photography is done the same and I do a little tweaking on my computer, and voilà! 🙂
This is a really useful article on backdrops Jan. Thank you for all your research.
I have two items. I have a profession light box which after a lot of consideration I purchased o Amazon a couple of years ago. It has a number of different colour backdrops but I have found that the black and the white ones are the most used.
I also purchased a large pull down white blind in Ikea. We mounted this on the wall behind my work table but I got it primarily for when I made the videos for the felted spiral course. There were no distractions behind me! My husband brings in the industrial lighting and takes out the Canon when I need good photos. Sometimes we feel the phone cameras have become so sophisticated that they do just as good a job.
Lastly, plain wall in the lobby plus industrial lighting for my wall hangings. Thank goodness for painted walls!
Helene x