The most well liked backdrops for indoor portrait photography is a solid bright white or light color background . The absolute hardest aspects to using a white background is when the subject is also dressed in white or is holding a white product, such as platinum wedding bands. As the photographer you have to separate the white subject from the white background and not tell them they cant wear their choice of clothing. Many photographers seem to never get the separation correct and if you look at adverts in several magazines you will see an absence of detail where the white color wash together .
Some say you’ve got to have plenty of distance so that there isn’t any reflection from the backdrop to the subject. Fine if you’ve got the room but depending on your camera adjustment and lens you still might have Problems even with 15 feet of space between the white background and subject. This reflection is sometimes called spill, wrap or flair depending on where it comes from. Irrespective of what you call it photographers want to avoid it unless you are going for a unusual look. What I do is light the white seamless or paper from behind my subject. I try and permit about 7-9 feet so I have room for my lights. I use from three to five lights. When using four lights 2 are on each side and if required the fifth in the middle hidden from the camera. This is useful for extra wide backgrounds. When using 3 I have one on each side and one behind the model concealed from sight. I’ve used soft boxes and umbrellas with equal results. If using an umbrella be certain to have the black liner attached to stop spill. A black poster can also be used if you feel more light blockage is required.
Using a light meter placed in front of the model slightly below her jaw take a reading. Point the meter toward the camera and fire all of the strobes . If the reading is F11 and you are OK with that setting then move the light meter to behind the model facing the background. Take a reading of the flash and it should be 1 stop under. No more and no less as one is all that is required for detail seperation. You can move the model closer or further away for easy adjustment or adjust each one of the background lights. At one stop or F8 in this sample you would have total separation of the white background and the white clothing worn by the model being photographed. Whatever setting you need for your subject just make sure the background reading is one under.
A good shutter-bug should be able to picture any color of clothing with any background or light conditions. If you book a photo shoot and your portrait photographer tells you not to wear white as it is hard to snap I recommend that you look for a new cameraman. All that statement shows is a dearth of knowledge about photography lighting. In addition if you require more information on the marketing of please follow this marketing photography link.
