It takes more than a great eye to snap some pretty awesome photos. Got your own photo studio? Jazz it up with some of our picks of the best photo background accessories, including props, tables, tents, support equipment, and (what else?) backgrounds.
Amateur? Professional?
Regardless of your level of experience, here are some tips anyway. Just remember, ''you'' are in control of how the picture turns out, not the subject, and not the accessories...
* You could have a studio that is ceiling based or floor-based
** If you go with the floor, you'll be able to have lightstands and background supports. Don't worry about heavy-lifting, these are usually light enough to be carried around to locations. Just watch where you step and where you're going because you'll be in danger of knocking lights over.
** If you go with the ceiling, you'll need to mount background rollers to the ceiling along with a system of rail lighting that will make it easy to position the lights anywhere.
*** This will be more pricey than a floor-based one but it's a better studio atmosphere so you don't have to worry about tripping over things and creating fire hazards.
* Lighting is incredibly important, but, you already knew that.
** Depending on the format of your camera, you will have to decide how much lighting you will need.
*** Bigger cameras + smaller apertures = more light
*** Size matters, when it comes to your subject. A typical headshot will require less light than something larger.
** Sunlight
*** With windows, don't worry about artificial lighting.
*** Don't forget: sunlight coming in through a window is different than direct sunlight outside.
** Hot Lights
*** These will burn continuously and are made of tungsten or Metal Halide Iodide, or HMI.
*** Though versatile, just like their name, they are quite hot.
** Warm Lights
*** Fluorescent light bulbs: as bright as tungsten, but not as hot.
** Cold Lights
*** More of a flash or strobe system.
* Background
** Here's a secret: it's basically multicolored seamless paper or muslin that come in various sizes.
* Support your camera
** Without a tripod, you'll risk an awkward photo taken with a shaky camera, especially if your camera is huge. And your hot lights require a sharp quality to your photos.
** If you don't want to bother with lugging around a tripod or with adjustments, go with a studio stand, complete with lockable wheels and crossbars to support tripod heads.