Photos with plain white backgrounds are unimaginative and boring.
Interesting photography requires a conducive shooting environment with the right things in the background.
Every photo pixel is significant.
And…
It’s your job, as a photographer, to make sure that each pixel and aspect of your photos look great. Interesting photography backgrounds attract more people to look at them.
People spend more time staring at good photos. More often, people do this without realizing it.
For instance, a colorful background makes photos pop and fun to look at. Whether you opt for a DIY photo background or a costly professional backdrop, you can add interest to your photos.
You also need to use a high ISO of about 1200 to make your photos detailed; ISO 600 for the external flash unit. Additionally, deploy the rule of thirds for more background interest.
Divide the photos using vertical and horizontal lines into nine equal parts. When the most important frame feature intersects, you create a visible background.
With DIY photo backgrounds, you get the creative control to shoot stunning photos, be it a newborn photo session or a birthday party shoot.
Tired of the traditional white backdrop in your photos? Here’re a few tips to make your photography background more interesting:
- Texture and bokeh
- Lines
- Background focus
- Lights
- Background subjects
- Easy curtains
- Paths
- Color
8 Ways You Can Make Your Photo Backdrop Interesting
1. Texture and bokeh
Bokeh is the aesthetic quality of your photo’s out-of-focus areas.
Magnify the bokeh effect if you’ve got a wide camera aperture and a close subject to shoot.
A good bokeh comprises of a soft blur in the background. It’s as appealing as the photo subject itself. The softness of a strong bokeh is appealing and easy to look at.
You can use an editing program or Photoshop to improve simple photo backgrounds. First, shoot a photo with a simple backdrop, such as a white wall.
Edit the backdrop to include bokeh and your favorite texture for improved background appeal. Use online photo resources like Unsplash to get photos you can use for practice.
Alternatively, seek inspiration from other people’s photos online to create your own images with great texture and bokeh background.
Consider taking a photo editing course to improve your Lightroom editing skills.
2. Lines
Vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and converging lines direct the eyes of viewers in a specific direction. Lines are subtle when used in the background of your photos.
Lines add interest to the backdrop of photos. Sharp and soft lines add contrast for visual appeal.
3. Background focus
A-frame within a frame can direct viewers’ attention to focus on the background. You can then create some tunnel to direct that attention from the background to the subject.
Apart from giving your photos context, frames can also create a soft border between your subject and its background. The frames create an out-of-focus blur along the edges of your photo’s subject.
You can also use interesting things such as vases, gardens, and trees as background subjects.
For instance, the best pellet stoves improve the warmth of your home in cold weather. When in use, they can also create interesting background focus in your photos. The stoves are both functional and attractive.
4. Lights
Create a cool “star” effect on a light source to capture great photos with interesting backgrounds. You can create this effect using a moderately wide aperture and directing light to shine into your camera’s lens.
The light illuminates the subject and the background while offering interesting details. It offers an interesting point of interest in the photo.
Setup and arrange the lights in positions where they offer details to the essential aspects of your photo background.
5. Background subjects
A subject can also make an excellent background in your photos.
For instance, a candid photo may feature a subject in the foreground and another in the background, with both looking in the same direction. Take a photo once the subjects look into the camera.
This creates an interesting look in the photos.
6. Easy shower curtains
Curtains make the easiest DIY photo background ideas.
Create interesting textures and folds on your curtains to take great up-close photos. This ensures that your background appears, and the subject brightens. It gives you control over the amount of light to use.
Choose colorful curtains or those with beautiful floral prints to capture great photos with attractive backdrops.
7. Paths
Adding a path in the background of your photos with the subject in the foreground offers dynamic tension.
The eyes of viewers experience tension, failing to know whether to walk down the path or look at the subject from top to bottom. Viewers end up looking at the photo for longer, even without any particular reason.
Paths add a sense of wonder to photos, entertaining your viewers.
8. Color
Color is easy to deploy in your photography background, especially if it contrasts with your foreground. It makes the two aspects of your photograph effective and distinct interest points.
Make your photos stand out with color.