Ep 314: What are the best backgrounds for portraits

Great backgrounds can make or break your photo. When doing portraits, we can sometimes be so focused on the person, what they’re wearing and how they’re posing, that we don’t pay enough attention to the background. Furthermore, there are often situations where the background of your shot is simply out of your control. The background you choose for your portrait shoot can make or break an image. The right background can isolate your model, making them the hero of the shot or give valuable information to help tell the story you want to tell. Great backgrounds have the power to elevate your portrait to look high end and expensive. The wrong background choice can make your portrait look low end or tacky. In this episode, you’ll discover how to make any background work and the simple hacks you can use to ensure that your portrait backgrounds appear perfect.

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Show Notes

  • The background you choose for your portrait shoot can make or break an image.
  • The right background can isolate your model, making them the hero of the shot or give valuable information to help tell the story you want to tell.
  • Great backgrounds have the power to elevate your portrait to look high end and expensive.
  • The wrong background choice can make your portrait look low end or tacky.
  • In this episode, I’ll share my favourite background choices for portrait photography, why I chose them and how to achieve them.

Detailed backgrounds vs simple or clean backgrounds

Minimal backgrounds

Image: Gina Milicia Textured backgrounds add depth and layers to a portrait
Image: Gina Milicia Block colours completely isolate your subject.

Detailed backgrounds

Image: Gina Milicia A detailed background can help tell a story about your model.

Blurred Natural Background

A messy background is distracting

– Detailed Background

Image: Gina Milicia
Image: Gina Milicia

A detailed background tells the viewer something about the model.

– White Seamless Background

– Black Background

– Colour Background

clashing colours
complementary colours

– Textured Background

– Gobos

Image with no Gobo
Image with Gobo
Some examples of professional gobos

– Green Screen Background.

– Pop Up Backgrounds

DIY BACKGROUND SUGGESTIONS

How to direct and pose like a pro

About Gina

About Gina

Gina Milicia is one of the most widely known and respected photographers in Australia. She is the master of capturing that ‘magical moment’... READ MORE

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