Time to re-think your Self Tape backdrop and get one these for under $20
You could say that I am a bit of a connoisseur of photography backdrops. You could also say that I have an Amazon shopping addiction. My husband says it plenty. I wouldn’t call myself an authority on backdrops by any means, but having a collection of 50+ definetely makes me opinionated on the subject. Plus I know a thing or two about Self Tape auditions for actors.
This Parent Course covers it all!
About two years ago I discovered a type of backdrop that put all others to shame. And I have high confidence that if you had one, you would be jumping on my bandwagon in a snap.
But first let me tell you what I do not recommend - ever.
Often times, a parent is shopping online for a video lighting kit to get their self tape gear in order in one click of a mouse. And these video lighting kits have been known to come with a couple backdrops that budding filmmakers find very useful - chroma key special effects bakdrops.
We do not need VFX for Self Tapes!
You know the terribly loud green and blue backdrops that you see often in self tapes. The reason the backdrops are the colors they are is because they are meant to digitize the background. They are only used for this purpose. In fact the colors are chosen because of the unflattering shade of color they are and do not appear that often in a natural environment. I get shivers down my spine when I see people refer to the blue one as “booking blue.” And if the green doesn’t scream GREEN SCREEN - then I just don’t know what to say.
Just No!
I beg of you to not look like “green” newbies and put those backdrops in a box and only bring them out when you are creating a star wars clip for your demo reel. Rant over.
Back to the greatest type of backdrops. One of my gripes about the ever popular Vinyl backdrops is that they came folded and the fold marks are the most frustrating creases to get rid of. I still dount it is possible. Then there are the Muslin backdrops that are very thin and hard to iron and are sometimes silky or shiny. Get a waterdrop on it and you are in for a mess. Paper backdrops can look sleek and smart but are noisy and crumple in no time.
But Fabric backdrops, microfabric to be exact, are the holy grail to self tape backdrops in my opinion.
Let me count thy ways.
They are of a heavier material that does not wrinkle that easily.
You can wash them like clothing if they get dirty or stained.
They are soft to the touch.
They are matte and do not reflect light.
They usually come with a pole pocket sewn to the top. That pocket helps you hang this backdrop in a variety of smart and convienent ways.
The quality of the fabric material tends to outlast the others.
There is a huge amount of designs and colors available.
The price is very reasonable. I am going to show you some of my favorites that are all under $20.
These backdrops are easy to fold and store when not in use.
I have a hack for hanging them that I am sure will make some of your lives a lot less crowded or complicated.
Washable and Easy to Iron
The Pole Pocket!
I think that a five foot by seven foot backdrop is the perfect size for self tapes from child to adult. I am only going to show you backdrops of that size. But you can find larger or smaller versions of these backdrops very easily.
Perfect Size for Self Tapes
One of my pet peeves with backdrops was always how and where to hang them when I needed to use them. I am not a fan of the metal frame backdrop stands. Those things are always cheap and wobbly. They give me anxiety just thinking about it. And after a while you can only put soo many push pin holes in your walls before it starts to look like rival gangs of mafia mice have had a turf war in your room with their tiny machine guns spraying bullets in every which direction.
I came up with a hack that makes life neat and tidy and functional for self taping when you need to set up the gear. The brilliant pocket at the top of the backdrop makes hanging these suckers a breeze. I went and purchased some five foot 1/2” pvc pipes plus the end caps. They fit perfectly in the sewn pocket just like a curtain.
You need 5 feet as that is width of Backdrop
Then I bought some wall hooks that you would use to hang towels or jackets on. Large enough ones that fit the diameter of the pvc pipe. I chose a couple spots in the house where I would want to self tape and screwed those hooks to the top of the wall. Make sure they are at least four feet apaart and use a leveler or ruler to get them straight. If you play your cards right and pick an inconspicous color like white on white walls - then they are hardly noticeable. Plus the hanging of the backdrop is a breeze. Easy street!
You get 8 of these hooks
These hooks can fit up to 1” pvc pipe
If you want to change up the look, all you have to do is slide that fabric backdrop off and slide another one on and hang. No push pins. No wobbly frame. No endless clamps.
I like backdrops that have a some texture and variations of light in them. I think it makes the self tape more dynamic and pleasant to watch.
I also like the smart, simplicity of the solid backdrop with a perfectly placed light behind the subject.
Fabric Backdrops (5’ x 7’) under $20
FYI: These deals may not last long and could have jumped in price by the time you read this. I do get a small compensation at no cost to you if you decide to purchase through any of these links. The image has the link embedded so click the backdrops you like and treat yourself.
