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Before and After Step-by-Step Edit: Creating Stunning Silhouettes with MCP’s help
The MCP Show and Tell Site is a place for you to share your images edited with MCP products (our Photoshop actions, Lightroom presets, textures and more). We’ve always shared before and after Blueprints on our main blog, but now, we will sometimes share some favorites from Show and Tell to give these photographers even more exposure. If you haven’t checked out Show and Tell yet, what are you waiting for? You’ll learn how other photographers are using our products and see what they can do for your work. And once you are ready, you can show off your own editing skills using MCP goodies. You might even make new friends or gain a customer…. since you get to add your website address right on the page. Bonus!
Today’s Featured Image:
By: Leigh Williams
Studio: Leigh W Photography
Equipment Used: Canon 5D Mark II with Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS at 40mm
Settings: ISO 400, f4, SS 1/320
MCP sets used: Quickie Collection Photoshop Actions
This Photoshop action set is only available for Photoshop (not Elements)
- Steps taken to achieve desired look:
- Urban Ocean – 100%
- Contrast Flair – 33% (Default)
- Light It Up – Turned Off
- Over Exp. Fixer – 28% (Default)
- FLATTEN
- Urban Sunset – 54%
- Contrast Flair – 9%
- Light it Up and Over Exp. Fixed Turned Off
- NEW LAYER
- Circular Gradient at 75% in Orange/Yellow to accentuate the sun itself. Brush a little off the grass.
- Urban Ocean – 100%
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I have taped newspapers up and used them as a fashion background before….works rather nice. 🙂
Great idea!
Burlap, old records glued to a piece of foam insulation, colorful paper from the teachers mart, paneling from Lowes, old shutters
I recently used a table cloth for Valentine’s day!
I love the fact that you can find awesome backdrops anywhere now. I have been finding old sheets and curtains at thrift stores and on clearance racks. I have also dyed and spray painted plain white sheets. Sometimes you can get them from a hotel cheap.
Laundry Basket with a blanket over top.
I bought school billboard paper and used that, modge podge it to a plywood board, I have several of these for inside and they work great! I just store them along my wall, they hardly take up any space.
I am currently working on a backdrop that I seen on a fellow photogs site that she paid for but I am gonna make it myself. You take material and cut it into strips it is actually very pretty. To see what I am talking about check out wild hearts photography on fb
A plain backdrop or wall decorated with paper chains or cut-outs. I also like the fabric scraps idea mentioned above. I have seen these ideas on freshartphotography.com. Love their creativity!
Hi Carrie! A friend saw your comment and mentioned it to me! I just wanted to say thanks! 🙂 We use fabric scraps and torn fabric constantly! Another favorite is yarn or ribbon tied to your backdrop stand… that can get kind of expensive but Hobby Lobby or other craft stores have such great sales I watch for ribbon to go on sale and scoop it up!
I bought black denim fabric from a discount craft store. It made an amazing, solid color backdrop! The suggestion came from my motorcycle-riding brother.
The walls!I just got done shooting publicity/headshots for a theatre group that rehearses in a 140-year old brick building. The interior walls are bricks. I just move the subject 8+ feet away from the wall and the bricks go out of focus into a great background. This might not work for all instances, but this group identifies with their rehearsal space and they always like them.
Throw blankets are my fave, so many colors and designs for $5. I also built my own backdrop stand from pvc for under $20
I also have a built stand from pvc! 🙂 And blankets are a favorite!
Do you have pictures of how you made.the backdrop holder from PVC?
Glenda, using the PVC is very easy and cheap! I did it also! 🙂 But you can easily google a how to on it or use Pinterest if you have one! Good luck!
I found what Brandy was talking about on Wild Heart Photography’s site. very cute! http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150495714929055&set=a.108359454054.95295.104540334054&type=3&theaterThey bought it from http://www.facebook.com/OLDCHATEAU.
I know that they bought theirs but I decided to make my own… I think I can do it cheaper than they want for it!
I used a $5 twin sized black sheet from Wal-Mart for this shot. I just burned in the background in PSE9 with the burn tool set to burn in shadows. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=246550942090190&set=a.170365676375384.41827.130886420323310&type=3&theaterand $8 in fabric at a fabric store for this shothttp://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=246178768794074&set=a.170365676375384.41827.130886420323310&type=3&theaterI’d love some actual backdrops, but just can’t afford them right now. I think sheets and fabrics have made great fill-ins.
Britneye, I followed your facebook site and your pictures are wonderful with just the sheet and the $8 fabric!!! You couldn’t tell! Looks like you bought them from one of those expensive places! Great job!!!
Podiums of different heights topped with item reflecting the theme/season, as well as multiple sized and shaped hand made wreaths with colors tying into one another, also reflecting the theme/season
How would you hang these things? (i.e. bath towel)
You can hang with clamps – like the ones you squeeze and clamp on (like a jumper cable clamp). And you can use shelf hangers on the back of trim at the bottom of whatever you choose to hang……to make it look like a wall.
So, for us beginners, what are the best backdrop dimensions for child/baby photography?
Thabk you so much. I love these ideas. Very cleaver. Some I have never even thought of!
if you go the fabric route – look for double wide quilt backing. It’s usually 100% cotton, or a blend, and about 110″ wide for large bed quilts. . . usually it is plain colors, or subtle prints. Here’s an example:http://www.joann.com/wide-prints-108-white-on-tan-etchings/zprd_10216638a/a few more options:http://www.fabric.com/SearchResults2.aspx?Source=Header&SearchText=backing&CategoryID=1d5f47dc-9991-4088-93f3-26a376046a5e
and I’ve used this idea from the photojojo store – tied colored crepe paper on a pvc pipe – put on backdrop stand. I did red, white, and green for a Christmas party; school colors for a graduation, etc. here’s the photojojo link:http://cdn.photojojo.net/store/awesomeness/productImages/9e55fcc.0000001297539204.jpg
Those ideas are especially applicable to newborn portraits. There is so much you can do with fabric and throw blankets – much more budget friendly (and easier to collect a large variety of choices for clients) than expensive backdrops!
What fun ideas!!
I scope out the wall hangings area in World Market. I love he fun prints with the earth tone! 🙂
Thanks for the ideas!
Great ideas, thank you for sharing! I have once spread a silk dressing gown to use as a backdrop.
LOVE the photojojo idea, thanks for sharing… I use black velvet for pictures on black – it’s soft, easy to fold and no wrinkles (there are several kinds out there, I use the soft and matte one, not shiny)! The advantage of velvet is that it absorbs light (imho) better than other black fabrics, really works well for me. In addition to what’s on the list, I used YARN for building fun backgrounds (similar to the photojojo idea) AND rolls of yarn are great for posing newborns too!
Brittney I have that same fabric in blue and green. I love that you can use the solid side or pattern! 2 yards of fabric = newborn backdrop for under $10
I have used fabrics and wall paper from specialty wallpaper stores. All above are great ideas!
I used clothing line tied onto two trees, and let 2 kids go crazy with paint slinging…then used the paint splattered white sheets as a backdrop for them 🙂 They had so much fun creating the mess haha
I love the ideas, but I too am curious to how you pin them up or make them stand as a backdrop? Please help us, proffs!
I use 5 yards of the widest fabric I can find at a local discount fabric store — usually 45-50″ wide. Solids, patterns whatever. Outdoor fabrics have a nice texture and are wide. Makes a nice sweep from background bar to floor and plenty big enough for small children. I’v also shot two adults and a child with this set — nice tight crop and people close together.
Baby Blankets (for small ceramic items)! My son has plenty, and won’t notice if I borrow one for a few minutes 😉
I have not yet to do this but have thought about it a lot. So hopefully it pans out seems like a great idea. Taking a plan color sheet and going to the craft section of any store and getting my self some stamps ive seen all kinds of them. But plans are to stamp the pattern onto the sheet and make my whole backdrops. Im sure some sort of paper would work as well instead of a sheet. if anyone trys this please let me know how it works out!
We have found ol doors and my fav a 4×4 foot section of faux brick at the habitat for humanities builder’s bargains stores and used those for backgrounds. It is always fun finding new ways to use old things. We LOVE goodwill!!!This Picture was done with the curtains from our bedroom thrown onto our Mobile backdrop stand. So essentially free, just the time it took to move them and put them back afterward, like 5 mins total.
I glued textured wallpaper to styrofoam board and then dry brushed with a slightly golden paint.
Here’s a photo list of my backdrops. I use flat sheets, curtains, swatches of unused fabric, painters floor muslin and more. You can find it on my blog and leave some comments! Thankshttp://new-layer.blogspot.com/2012/05/props-and-backdrops-san-antonio.html
I have a wall in my kitchen painted with chalk board paint and framed with some old trim boards. Makes a great backdrop for pictures and we change it constantly for different seasons or occasions and with different coloured chalk. Enjoyed reading all the great suggestions too.
My “Day” job is at a woman’s retail location. Despite the name it is not really a Barn (Hint hint) There are over 850 locations in the US. We change our windows and wall posters out fairly frequently. They are for the most part 4ftx6ft sheets. The poster are thrown away. Most stores if you ask will give you the discarded posters. The backside of these posters are white. I recently painted one to make a backdrop for my daughters wedding reception. We are doing a photo “booth” wall. It turned out really cute!
just brought a back drop to big it is for my flat but your ideas have inspired me especialy sheets as you can get them in any colour these days will be ideal for doing a portrait shoot of my mate and his family thank you for the insparation
I use 4×8 sheets of foam insulation (available at home improvement stores) I spray them with Super 77 spray adhesive and then smooth pretty fabric over them. I place them against the wall and place a piece of painted baseboard trim against it. You can make two backdrops per sheet by using both sides. They take very little space and cost about $30 each.
Love this idea!
How do you hide the seams in the fabric or do you do that when processing pics. Love your idea!
Not a great photo but i have used scrapbook paper bu taking a pic and composed the two pics togeather
big dresser mirror, the holidays door maurls ,and dollor tree has beach door maurls,the holloweens ones are so nice at halloween partys with kids in halloween outfits. and went to yards sales and pick up props. differnt hats at sales. or even drivin down the road people through things out i got a few cool things to use that why two just need your imaganation .
here is another idea for outdoorsi pick the horse up at a yard sale
Loved these ideas!! I’ve been looking at so many different backdrop sites and they are SO expensive!! Thanks!
After reading your tips I come up with this.
For indoors I use one yard $1 fabrics from Walmart they work very well when working with children and babies. For outdoors I seek rustic objects such as old doors, fences, ect 🙂
How do you hang fabric backdrops? Say if you were in a client’s home and not able to affix anything to a wall/ceiling.Are there some kind of stands that can be easily erected, with a rail to clip to?
I just noticed you asked this after I already wrote it below but I used painters tape. itdoesnt leave any moarks on the clients wall.
I went to the dollar tree and bought the jumbo plastic clothes pins to use as clamps. I also use fabric and my favorite is shower curtains so many styles and colors. When i did a session at the clients home I used my “backdrops” and taped them to the wall using painters tape. i leaves no marks on the walls! also I have used wrapping paper before too.
I am interested in doing something with bubble wrap. What have you guys tried that works well? Thanks for your input.
I need to create a beach scene inexpensively and quickly. Any ideas on how to do this?
Hi everyone! saw the newspaper idea, I love it!but I wanna know, I want a backdrop which doesn’t reflect flash?please let me know of some ideas!ThanksMarius.
I am trying to plan for my first photo shoot and really need help. It’s my niece and she is wanting preggo pics done with a Fall theme since she is due in November. Any suggestions on what to use and how to create a very inexpensive backdrop? So far I have ideas in my head but stuck there. Wanting a black background and going to use hay bales and fake fall leaves and pumpkins and somehow try and figure out how to position her for the photo. Any suggestions?
Hi! Thank you for this. I have NB Necessity Action and really love it. But in your step Hush Jaundice @ 42% “ñ Erased back all of image except for baby’s skin– (what does this mean?)Thanks! Appreciate the response.
You use the mask – so that you only use the effect on the skin. See our layer masking videos if you have never used a mask before.