I'm a headshot photographer currently using a cloth tacked to a wall as a backdrop. I think it's time to upgrade. I don't want to spend a lot, but I definitely want better quality than that. Any suggestions?
In ascending order from least expensive to most expensive: Savage white and thunder grey seamless; Westcott black/white collapsible muslin; Savage dark and light grey collapsible muslin; Savage brown collapsible muslin; Denny 5x7 canvas in green (Monte) or multi-colored with yellow predominant (Blackmore). (Not sure about which collapsible muslin is actually less expensive, but they're close.) My choice of backdrop depends, in large part, on what the client needs. I'd say right now that 90% of my recent headshots are either corporate types or young actors, made on white or grey seamless, varying in distance from the light source and subject as mentioned above to achieve whatever shade I need. If I'm going for a more formal, classic, or dramatic look, I'll bring out a Denny.
Our studio does a lot of headshot work and we use gray, black and white seamless on a RollEasy system. We do have a few collapsible backgrounds with patterned stuff on them but the paper gets the bulk of the work (mostly white). And of course muslins hanging on tracks and the odd support. Those get used at times.
One wall is brick and that gets pressed into service.....
