Help With Backdrops and indoor lighting

[mktker]

I am still learning a bunch about portrait photography, with my usual settings having been outside. Now that it's cold and gray, and outside is not an option, I am faced with indoor portraits. I do not have a studio, so I travel to location. I am wondering if anyone has any ideas for backdrops that I could take with me. So far I am just looking for the best spot in each location, but that can be rather frustrating to find something decent.
Also, I want to know about lighting, I have an external flash, but find that can be rather glaring. I want to create that nice warm light that you see in professional shots, how can I achieve that?
Thanks so much for any info you can give me!

[shutterbug_wannabe]

Backdrops can be as simple as a king size or smaller flat bed sheet to ordering a muslin or canvas backdrop to going with seamless paper. I would begin with the bed sheet because it is very portable/washable/ironable etc and inexpensive to pick up. As for lighting with what you have, put your flash on a light stand and use a white shoot-through umbrella at a 45 degree angle from the subject. This will soften the harsh light of the flash giving you a more pro look. Check out www.strobist.com for more flash/speedlight photo tips. Hope this helps.

[DanaLane]

You can also use any bare wall as a backdrop, which can sometimes be easy to find, though a clean, plain sheet might be easiest. A small flash with an umbrella (reflective or shoot through) is a good start, with a reflector of some kind for fill and you can produce very good portraiture with that setup. Good luck!

[mktker]

Thanks! I'll try those!

[Mr Guy]

Don't forget about using just any clean wall with solid color furniture. It may help to ask them what room they are the proudest of, be it their dining room or maybe a formal living room, and just using that as your "set".

This was just shot in the corner of my dining room with me standing on one of my chairs with a single strobe into an umbrella:



Maybe I didn't do the best job of making sure her head wasn't being skewered by the molding, but I still think it works as a portrait.

[mktker]

Wow, so simple but such a nice result! I like it! Thanks!

[november]

Originally Posted by shutterbug_wannabe

Backdrops can be as simple as a king size or smaller flat bed sheet to ordering a muslin or canvas backdrop to going with seamless paper. I would begin with the bed sheet because it is very portable/washable/ironable etc and inexpensive to pick up. As for lighting with what you have, put your flash on a light stand and use a white shoot-through umbrella at a 45 degree angle from the subject. This will soften the harsh light of the flash giving you a more pro look. Check out www.strobist.com for more flash/speedlight photo tips. Hope this helps.

That was a great tip, Lori! To mention strobist.com. I checked it out. That Nikon DVD "Hands on Guide to creative Lighting" would be a great Christmas gift for anyone who wants to invest/work with flash lights!