Make my photos look better!

B

bibbymim

Registered Guest
Hi everyone, sorry another questions...although I've been selling for a while, I've got a half decent camera but mostly I take my pics just up against a plain wall in my house. I've noticed that many of you guys pics look much better with plain black backgrounds etc, I've tried using the cutout feature of MS Photo It but its very time consuming and doesn't give great results. Has anyone got any tips on making mine look more professional - easy software to use or just a way of perking them up a bit?
Heres an example:



Thanks once agin in advance!
Abi x
 
Abi
you could try buying a backdrop fabric, nothing expensive just something that doesn't crease easily. It could be pinned to the wall before photographing the garment.
Louise
 
as louise said, a backdrop is pretty useful and has saved me many hours of airbrushing! i use photoshop and only the basic functions, and have a black (matt, so it doesn't reflect too) back drop, and also a creamy white one that i have yet to sew (so am currently only listing light colored items that can go against black, lol!)

before i made the backdrops i kept meaning to try using a lightish blue sheet pinned to the wall to make it easier than a white background to photoshop out - don't know if anyone else does that or has tried it, i'd be interested to know if it's easier. i think the white wall reflects the light and makes it hard to select large areas of background to fill. it is a load of extra work though!

i am waiting eagerly for the photography workshop coming up on the workshop boards!:USETHUMBUP:

your pics do look fine though, they're really clear. :)
 
Thanks Harriet, I'm going to try and make a black one, and get photoshop, my photo software is pretty basic it came free with the computer a couple of years ago! Do you know what the fabric is you've used, or is it just a case of going to a fabric shop and picking something crease-free & matt to sew together? I'm pretty lazy when it comes to trawling round shops especially with a 3yr old and 11 month old in tow, if I can I'll try and order on the net :D lazy I know! Anyway thanks for your advice
Abi
 
i've just had a look and maybe a black muslin? i need to change mine as i end up going over the pics in places with black airbrush as my fabric is just a black cotton lining fabric and a little too shiny in places. i bet someone else knows better than me!


(oh and thanks! although they take me so long you wouldn't believe it, certainly not professionally executed, my mannequin is on an old tv stand as hers broke lol! :BAGUSE:)
 
The lighting on your photo is good, Abi! Really good actually. I would do as others say and get a backdrop. Actually though, the background is simple and uncluttered and if it were me, I would be tempted to use it as it would make your photos distinct, but the backdrop might better able you to take photos when the sun was out or not, so a plus. I have photoshop and it is much easier to do cutouts or paint out the background so there are other programs out there too. I would be tempted either not to cut the head off the manni, or crop it even more to focus on the dress. that abrupt cut makes me focus on the head that isn't there versus on the dress.

PS GUys...stick around June 20-27th...photoworkshop with COnnie. She knows her stuff!!! She will talk all about setting up your workspace, fixing photos and more :)

Check out some of her photos
http://www.cosmiccatvintage.com/40s50s.html
 
If you are going to invest in a backdrop, try a neutral gray.

When using black or white, the camera reads that information as well as that of your manni and dress. With white, any light coming in through your window (or from lights) will be read as additional light. That will make your camera adjust it's shutter/aperature settings, and may make your dress a bit off in color or brightness.

When you use a black backdrop, the camera will read a lack of light and overcompensate with it's settings. This causes your flesh tones to wash out, and your manni will look like a ghost.

Gray is a neutral tone, something right in the middle between black and white is best... think gloomy day gray.

I recently found a great two sided fabric, solid color of course, on the $1 a yard bin at Wallmart. I use the darker gray for black, blue, and darker toned dresses and the lighter for white, cream, pinks, etc.
I got two 2 yard chunks ($4!), spread them out and pinned them right along the edge, and ran a long stitch right up that line. Now my backdrop is super wide and long enough.
I use those screw in circle top screws-like a closed cup hook- and safety pins as hooks.

...oh, and Photoshop is good, too. I think there's a junior version of it, somewhere.

Jenn
 
there is a free trial version if you go to adobe.com

Jenn, i have never thought of gray! I use blue sheets when i use a backdrop, but i end up editing them out. It does make photgraphing colors much easier though.
 
Thank you everyone! I've just bought some grey gabardine which was on special offer, hopefully this will do the trick, and you can get Photoshop Elements which is HUGELY cheaper than the full version - I'm sure this will have enough features for me to use we will see....thank you again x:USETHUMBUP:
 
I just purchased a professional backdrop this Spring. Have not had time to set it up properly yet. I will see if I can find one pic I used it with. brb
 
I bought an inexpensive pair of black curtains, curtain rod & clips from Target. I have it hanging in front of my office closet (really a bedroom...I have one of those old two sliding door closets with cupboards above and drawers below- a Pasadena closet) and since I can't put furniture there anyway it's great. Doesn't take up extra room. I also have a plain white sheet clipped up there, too... I just slide them around as needed.
But now I'm thinking I need to get gray, too....

I also use photoshop and boy does it have a lot of buttons! ;)
 
Here's my backdrop. Sorry it took so long to post back. It costs about $100 but I plan to use it a long time.<br><br><center><img src=http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/magnolia05/stthomasskirtset14.jpg><br><br></center>
 
Abi, for what it's worth - I think the pics in your current auctions are fantastic - they're sharp, well-lit and good sized. You can <i>see the garments</i>, and that's the bottom line!

I use 2 backdrops, a white sheet and a length of black poly for white/lighter things - but even though the poly appears to be matte, a flash (I take all my pics with flash) reflects off of the fabric -- not so good. Harriet's suggestion of black muslin sounds excellent, as it should 'read' flat black.

Photoshop Elements will give you plenty to work with - it's not nearly as intimidating (to use or to buy!) as the full Photoshop programs but the tools in it are the same as the ones in the professional versions and your results will be the same as you'd get from them.

:)

Carolyn
 
If you are going to buy Photoshop elements, buy it on eBay and buy version 2.0. you don't need the newer version at 70.00 when you can get the last version for 12.99!!! I bought it and have been so pleased with it. for certain items, I drop the background and fill it with color.

I also use a shower curtain as a backdrop. I'm thinking of getting a solid color though. Less distracting!

There is something to be said about the presentation of items though. Someone on the VC&A board told me that perceived value is just as important as real value. I agree with that.
Sandra
 
Personally I use a piece of black polyester jersey. I picked polyester as I can store it folded and it won't wrinkle - or not much anyway. If you want something that is really BLACK and have the money to spend you should get a piece of velvet. Cotton velvet especially soaks in the light. My main problem with velvet is that it picks up lint and can look messy in photos.

I need to pick up a nice grey/neutral fabric but haven't been up to my favorite fabric store in a while. I pick up backdrop material at Vogue fabrics in Evanston, IL. They have huge section of already cut fabric that was returned. They sell it at really good discounted prices. I doubt I paid more than $20 for my backdrops.

Connie
 
Does fabric content matter as far as the end result? I like the poly no wrinkle idea. I have some cotton sheets i use from time to time but they really end up looking like cotton sheets. But maybe they do to me because i know what they are.


Chris
 
Well if you want something that doesn't look like a sheet, I'd suggest going for heavier fabric. I picked a jersey/knit type of fabric because it is fairy heavy and drapes really well. Lightweight cotton wrinkles very easily however professional backdrops are generally cotton. I used to paint sets and backdrops for a living. Mostly for photography/video. We used heavy cotton canvas but that was in part due to the fact that we were painting on them. Something like that wouldn't be washable.
Or you can bypass all that and get a fabric that is suppossed to be wrinkled. :P

Connie
 
I also have a vinyl backed material. Pink on one side and vinyl on the other. Not sure what it is used for. This works very well and doesn't seem to cause shadows.

I also have a black and white sheet.
 
Oh, and something else I use for smaller items, like shoes, etc.

Pick up an old movie projector screen at the local thrift. I usually see dozens. They are fantastic!
 
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