How to Paint Your Own DIY Photoshoot Backdrop
When putting together a photoshoot, it’s easy to get stuck when some of the styling details…aren’t quite right. Trust me, I’ve been there!
A common problem I’ve run into a few times? Trying to find the perfect background color for a shoot and failing. Sometimes you just can’t find that perfect shade of seamless paper or wrapping paper or wallpaper.
But guess what? You can make your own with an easy photography hack! Here’s what you need to paint your own backdrop — so you can create your own version of this:
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Step 1: Grab a sample size of paint
Head to your favorite hardware store or craft store for some supplies and paint! Choose the color that you want for your backdrop and grab a sample size of paint in that color. Sample sizes are usually pretty cheap and less than five bucks.
Also, pick up a sheet of wood or a piece of thick foam board that will be large enough to act as a backdrop for your photoshoot. You’ll be painting the wood or board, so add a paint roller to your shopping cart if you don’t already have one!
Step 2: Paint and spray
Once you have all your supplies, it’s time to paint your backdrop. Using your paint roller, apply a thin coat of paint to your wood or foam board. Make sure you add multiple thin coats so the paint looks nice and even.
If you like, you can add a matte finishing spray when you’re done to protect that fresh paint. Matte spray, like this one by Rust-Oleum, is awesome because it protects surfaces from food stains, drink spills, and anything messy that you might be using in your shoot.
Step 3: Put your new backdrop to work!
After your wood or board is completely dry, your backdrop is ready to go! Now you can add objects on top of it to create the perfect flatlay. Or you can set it up vertically and pose items in front of it. Pretty cool, right? That’s how I created my own backdrop for this photo!
Want to watch this entire tutorial in video form? Stop by my TikTok and watch the backdrop creation process here.
Join my course for more photography hacks and tips
Getting creative with photo backdrops is all part of the fun of being a stylist and photographer. But that’s not all there is to it! If you want to learn more photography and business skills, check out my course, Slay the Flatlay!
When you sign up for Slay the Flatlay, you gain access to over 4 hours of content and over 20 modules. In addition to photography and styling, you’ll also learn about the business side of things, like location scouting, personal branding, file storage, and other essential topics to launch your biz.
Ready to sign up? Save $50 on the course by using the code SLAY here!
