Hello everyone...MY VERY FIRST Post. I just spent the last hour reading post in the forum. WHAT a great source of information. One of these days I will be brave enough to post a photo for critique. :) I wanted to get my FIRST white background for portrait photography. I just started getting into this whole photography thing so I can use all the help possible. Are there websites that you would recommend to look for backgrounds which are reasonably priced? I mostly take pictures of my kids would you recommend a white or a black?

Thanks so much,

Let me be the first to say "Welcome"!  You will learn so much from this forum.  Are you just starting out in portrait photography?  If so, I wouldn't recommend starting with a white backdrop.  They are the hardest to learn to shoot against.   You have to have at the very least 2 strobes, but 4 would be the best.  There are ways around this, but to begin with, I would recommend a gray, blue or brown.  Black is all right, but then you might have issues with separating the subject from the backdrop.  I have gotten a lot of my backdrops off of Ebay.  If you really watch the auctions,you can get some nice ones. There are some controversies on this online place that I suggest, but I have never had a problem with them.  It is www.backdropoutlet.com .  If you buy during their sales you can get some really good buys (I got a $400 backdrop for $75!).  If you don't have a lot of money to start with, you can always buy a Fantasy Cloth when on sale.  I use these all the time and you can pick one up for around $20.  The big problem with BO is that sometimes the shipping can take FOREVER!!  If you are in a hurry I wouldn't buy from them.  A lot of people on here will tell you to stay away from amvona.com to, but once again, I've gotten tons of stuff from them and never once had a problem.  I get a lot of their backdrops off of ebay for around $40.  There's also an ebay store thats named something like Joe's Photo Auction.  I just bought a gorgeous backdrop from them for $80 which included shipping. (They all kill you with shipping!).  I hope you can find something you like!

I agree, don't start with white it will look gray and disappoint you!  I started with black, but it tricks your camera's sensor a little, so just be careful of overexposing.  I got a black king size vellux blanket from jcpenny.com for about $40 and started with that.  I still use it a lot.  It's not huge (I think it's 9-1/2 foot x 6-1/2 foot) but it's workable for little people :) or for one adult.  Because of the material, it absorbs the light so there is no shine on the backdrop which can be a problem with some other materials.

I've had success with backdropoutlet too (have only bought props from them).  I've gotten my backdrops from Silverlake Photo, they're on ebay under photo4u2.  They photograph really well!!!  They come in 6'6" x 9', 10' x 12', and 10' x 20' so you can pick what will fit your space.  Lots of variety in colors.  They list constantly and you can get some really good deals.

Black is much easier than white. My black backdrop is a large piece of velvet and it photographs beautifully! I bought it as a remnant at a remodelling sale. A jewelry story had bought the bolt to line their showcases with and this was what was left. It's about 5 ft wide by about 12 ft long and that works well for me. You might have good luck looking at winter fabrics that are being clearanced out at fabric stores.

Also - we are having ameet up in Oklahoma City next weekend. The details are in the General discussions thread, but you are welcome to come. There will be a lighting demonstration on Saturday evening. Melissa will be teaching high key (white backdrop) and low key (usually black backdrop) lighting techniques and this would really help you out. If Olathe is in southern Kansas it might not be too far.

Welcome to the Forum!!  I get my backdrops from ebay.. mostly J&K group and Amvona... If you keep track of the auctions you can get them for around  40 bucks...Good Luck!

Pamela

THANKS everyone...You have all giving me some great options.