best choice for first background purchase?

[thegarageblog]

This may sound like a rather simple question, but if you were buying your first backdrop, what colour would you buy and why?

I shoot primarily motorsports and the odd location shoot. Lately though, I have had folks inquire whether I would shoot indoors. As I work on lighting etc, I need to decide what background will be the easiest to work with, not to mention the most versatile. I already have an appropriately large section of black fabric, though I suspect that will suck up all of my light.

[autofocus]

A lot of times it depends somewhat on the subject. We have used black a lot, and you can't go wrong with neutral colors like bone or gray

[oldwolf]

light grey because you can make it white, grey or black.

you can actually make white look like it's grey or black as well.

just depends on how long you keep the shutter open.

[Doug Sundseth]

Roll of 9' gray seamless paper, for exactly the reasons already mentioned.

A cheaper option is a large white bed sheet, which doesn't look as professional in the studio, but which looks just fine in a photo.

[Dave C.]

Grey.... i like muslin that you can pickup at any fabric store and dye it to suit your needs, very inexpensive.

[thegarageblog]

Great suggestions all! Dave, would they typically carry it in wide enough bolts to be seamless?

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by thegarageblog

Great suggestions all! Dave, would they typically carry it in wide enough bolts to be seamless?

You'll usually see it in 4', 6', 9' and 12' widths.