Thursday, January 6, 2011

Photography Backdrops

I've been wracking my brain trying to come up with different ways to take photos of my art and not break the bank while I'm at it. My goal is to create art with the art! Photo stylist I guess? 

Yesterday I went to The Christmas Tree Shop looking for something else and came out with a whole new idea in mind. It all happened when I stumbled upon the clearance gift wrap. Nice looking stuff for .50 cents. They had pastels & little flocked dots, flower patterns and then I saw it. Woodgrain. Stuff looks like a floor. I instantly thought "Photography Flooring". I've been researching backdrops & flooring for portrait photography and someone out there is making "faux" flooring. It looks like real hardwood floor but it's freakin' rolled up vinyl. OMG! It's awesome. BUT. Big But. It's super expensive. So when I saw this woodgrain roll of gift wrap my heart skipped a beat. Then I saw the price and I cried on the spot. $1. I ran & got a shopping cart. I try to fool myself and say I won't need a cart when I go there. Never make it through without running for a stinkin' cart, but I digress...

A shopping cart full of clearance wrap later, I make my way home & dig out more I've been hoarding. Like that houndstooth or that pink damask. Oh be still my little heart. The ideas are endless. 

This is what I came up with. Gift wrap backdrop & gift wrap floor! Say it ain't so. My little crafts are going to be stylin' from now on. 
Check it out:
I've gone off the deep end and I couldn't be more thrilled. I am getting up at the crack of dawn tomorrow in search of every single store in Maine that carries gift wrap! 

Here is a sneaky peeky at how I did it.
Ok a few things I am going to do next:
1. Tape it to the wall and photograph the kids.
2. Buy some small wooden mouldings from the craft store & take it to the next level.
3. buy some huge posterboards or tri fold display boards & cover them for future use.

Ps. That is my new Purse! And about right now Karen is thinking that looks awfully familiar! 
Off to play some more, those kids don't need dinner...
Tracey

23 comments:

Heather Martin said...

So stinkin' cool! Question: what setting do you use on your camera to have the main image in focus but the background blurred out? I know NOTHING about photography, but I'm trying to learn...and that little trick keeps eluding me!! :o)

Tammy Hall said...

OMG that is so cool. I totally love it. It really is a trick of the eye as well. It looks like the items are much larger than they really are. Nice job!!!

Amy Pitts said...

I was going to sugest # 3 to you. I do think perhase you have lost your mind but in a good way ;) and thank you for sharing the loss with us ya know to enable the rest of us.
The purse is super cute.
The projects are even cuter.
I LOVE this post!

Unknown said...

Hey, that's me in them thar pho-tos. And, that's my purse's twin in that thar pic-shure. Doo-Dah-Dippidy! PS....LOVE IT ALL!

Rick and Kori said...

Very cool! The floor paper looks so real! The backdrops really add to the photos and are definitely "must haves"! PS. I love the pic of you and my mom. PPS I LOVE the purse you gave her for Christmas. So cute!

Lorrinda said...

Awesome idea! I've been propping up my stuff in front of a window because I can't find any decent artificial light that is also free. (I'm cheap) Now I gotta rig up some backgrounds, you do realize you're an enabler don't you?
Like Heather (1st commenter), I also would like to know how to get good bokeh on my pics. I've been playing with my camera and that trick is eluding me too!

Anonymous said...

wow - that is awesome! I wanna go find some now too!

Nancy Ball said...

Ahahahaha, now I'll look at wrapping paper in a whole different way.

I guess the wood stuff would be much better than having to clean mine to use for photos....hmmmmmm.

I have a nylon light box, as pics in the daytime never seem to happen.

Thanks for your genius!

Gina Brandstetter said...

Awesome! Thanks for sharing.... and I LOVE you art!

Anonymous said...

Tracey, I love your photos and the way you did them are sooo creative ! Love all your props as well - thanks so much for sharing !

Katy said...

LOVE it!! Thanks for sharing the "behind the scenes"! My favorite "scene" is the last one with you and your hubby :0)

Jessica said...

Oh my Miss Tracey Mason I wanna know how you got to be so cool? please tell me cause I wanna be cool like you! Honestly this is fabulous and I am pretty sure I am going to copy you!

Unknown said...

thanks bunches for sharing your tips & fantabulous art, Tracey!

life documented said...

Ok, so I already have a really fabulous BFF, but I have room for a really fabulous #2 BFF...if you're ok with long distance relationships!

You are always an inspiration to me Tracey...thank you for helping the rest of us pump up the creative juices ;)

Paper doll said...

Awesome idea, your creations are going to be FABULOUS. So professional looking, magazine worthy for sure!

Martha Barnett said...

Awesome Tracey! I actually have some of that woodgrain gift wrap but never thought of this! At my cheer Christmas party the mom in charge wanted photos of each girl and she used gift wrap for the backdrop. It turned out very cool. Great ideas! I think I recognize some of that art!

April said...

You're a genius!

Stampin n da Hood said...

you leave me awestruck over freekin gift-wrap paper!
yeesh!

Lorrinda said...

Hey Tracey! Love the new blog look! BTW: I've passed on a blog award to you..pop on over to my blog to pick it up!

Welcome to Sara Batkin's Legacies Of Love said...

Girl - you blow me away - everything you do looks so professional - here I am on the floor trying to look through the lens finder with my nose an inch from the carpet with my art propped up on an old quilt - hhhmmmm - would you be my professional photographer :O)

Beth said...

LOVE IT!! I'm not worried about your kids eating..I'm wondering when you sleep? You have def. made my creative juices flow!! Thanks!!!

Tracey Mason's Studio said...

Thanks everyone! I appreciate your kindness! For those of you who wanted to know more about my equipment & settings- I've created a new post & page link on this subject. Check it out!

Doda said...

Fab, I'll need to try something like your setup for photographing my stuff. You did a great job!

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Who is Tracey?

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I live in Maine with my husband and two kids while my oldest is in San Fran attending college. I am happiest with my camera attached to my face or making something crafty with paper. I am going on 9 years as a CTMH consultant, I am a Stamping Royalty Contest Winner and have been published many times in Papercrafts & Stamp It.

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