Opinions

[NicoleScraps]

I recently got a desk exactly like this from freecycle to use as a prop for taking "school" photos (of my kids and my friends kids). However, my desk is not in good condition like this. The metal has some rust and the wood was painted and then finger painted on. I am going to sand the wood and stain it naturally. But what color do you think would look good for the metal part? I have red and silver spray paint in the house, so I could use one of those. Or it is not a big deal to go out and buy a different color.
This is my project for this week. To clean up the desk so that I will have it all nice and pretty for school photos from now until my kids no longer fit into it. (by then I might have grandkids from the older kids )

[Sime]

Red would be striking!

[RLucas]

I like the institutional blue!

[Photologyst]

If you want to be authentic, Nicole, you would probably use green, black, grey or a rust color.

Check out these examples of old desks: school desk items - Get great deals on 1900-1950, 1800-1899 items on eBay.com!

Red really appeals, but would it compete with the portrait sitter?

[NicoleScraps]

Originally Posted by Photologyst

If you want to be authentic, Nicole, you would probably use green, black, grey or a rust color.

Check out these examples of old desks: school desk items - Get great deals on 1900-1950, 1800-1899 items on eBay.com!

Red really appeals, but would it compete with the portrait sitter?

Actually now that I look at this search result, it is like this one. It has the slatted chair back and the hole in the desk, just like this. Man, I should fix it up, sell it and buy a speed lite. LOL! Just kidding. I really want the desk.

[candleman]

IMHO avoid bright colours. you want the attention on the kid not the desk.

[Photologyst]

Originally Posted by NicoleScraps

Actually now that I look at this search result, it is like this one. It has the slatted chair back and the hole in the desk, just like this. Man, I should fix it up, sell it and buy a speed lite. LOL! Just kidding. I really want the desk.

Oh, gees! Those things make my knees hurt just looking at them, Nicole.

Your sitters will have to be rather young and slim.

How about searching for one of those side-arm chairs for— ahem—larger subjects?

[sk66]

I'd consider leaving it beat up and "used" looking...
Definitely don't make it all bright and shiny...

[doubleg]

Originally Posted by sk66

I'd consider leaving it beat up and "used" looking...
Definitely don't make it all bright and shiny...

I agree! Leave it "old school". When we were kids part of our "emergency" preparation in elementary school was to do nuclear fall out drills. The drill . in the event of a nuclear attack was to crawl under the desk with our arms over our heads! Maybe those desks were made of lead???

Great find.

[Jamfke]

Heck, paint it 18% gray, use it for metering, and then color it any color you want in post!