So I had this bright idea that for National Pet Month I would get my friend in who is a start up photographer (mostly weddings and stuff but has done some of my spotties) and do free photo sessions for people and their pets in the back room of the shop.

Well apart from the fact I haven't got anything sorted for lighting and now have to work out what do about lights (I only have fluorescent tubes in the back room) we don't have any backdrops!

Fair enough we have white walls but the floor isn't great in the back room (chucked some old carpet tiles down over a wooden floor) and what if we get a white animal in??

We're both doing it completely voluntarily just to promote National Pet Month and hopefully raise some funds so as it's not equipment she would usually use it's not something she wants to buy and I simply cannot afford it...

Any ideas for cheap backdrops that would work??

A white sheet hung from part way up the wall and allowed to drape over the floor too?

I think that white would be really boring. Especially if there's going to be any black and white sessions happening I think a black sheet would work better.

Sheeting material is really inexpensive from either the fabric shop in Hillsborough or the big Dunelm fabrics shop that's just the other end of the Rotherway. You could have a few colours to choose from for £20-30.

depending on the type of camera you are using you can buy filters which take into account the light you are using as different light sources emit different heat and its the heat that effects the photo
if using flash a darker background will reduce shadow i had used a peice of material purchased from hillsborough and dyed it dark blue

brilliant - thanks guys.

I thought we could probably do with white, black and blue?? At least then people can have a choice and a white animal won't get lost like it would if we only had white and a black animal won't get lost like it would if we only had black...

I may just get a blue material because at least then it doesn't really matter what colour animal we have!

Thanks for the info Roger

If you have enough space it might be a good idea to build a little set for the pets to sit / stand in rather than just a plain background - maybe a small kennel and a few terracotta plant pots on their sides or a few bits of branches (the large ones sold for big aquariums) - just a thought

I have a metal backdrop stand, a black sheet to hang off it, and two continuous lights if you want to borrow them? The continuous lights are much easier to handle than flash if you're a little inexperienced (which is why I have them!). If you have some other sheets, they'll just hang off the stand quite easily. It is about 6 foot wide and stands at over 7 foot fully extended.
The lights do get VERY hot...so I'd make sure that the animals arent under the lights for too long...they'll cook!
Just let me know if you want them for a day or so

I have a metal backdrop stand, a black sheet to hang off it, and two continuous lights if you want to borrow them? The continuous lights are much easier to handle than flash if you're a little inexperienced (which is why I have them!). If you have some other sheets, they'll just hang off the stand quite easily. It is about 6 foot wide and stands at over 7 foot fully extended.
The lights do get VERY hot...so I'd make sure that the animals arent under the lights for too long...they'll cook!
Just let me know if you want them for a day or so

How generous! :thumbsup:

I have a metal backdrop stand, a black sheet to hang off it, and two continuous lights if you want to borrow them? The continuous lights are much easier to handle than flash if you're a little inexperienced (which is why I have them!). If you have some other sheets, they'll just hang off the stand quite easily. It is about 6 foot wide and stands at over 7 foot fully extended.
The lights do get VERY hot...so I'd make sure that the animals arent under the lights for too long...they'll cook!
Just let me know if you want them for a day or so

mmmmmm - hot dogs.

I don't have anything constructive to add, but good luck with it. I wish I had my doggies with me so I could get some shots of them.