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Taking pictures with a uniform black background can be a challenge but also create a unique look for your subjects. You can invest in professional photography backdrops to get these results, but these can end up costing a significant amount of money. Instead of spending money on something you may or may not use frequently, you can do it yourself at home or in your studio.

Distancing your subject or subjects from a normal or photographic background is the easiest way to create a pure black background. This is easier than having to choose or find a black studio backdrop, because the background in this case is irrelevant, as long as you don’t cast any light on it. Instead, your light should be cast directly or indirectly only on your subject. This will make the background appear black.

Photo : Paulina La Scola

The more distance you place between your subjects and the backgrounds for photography, the darker the backdrop will appear, although even using a professional background makes a true black appearance difficult. This is because black still reflects a modest amount of light, especially if the key light hits it.

A good way to gauge the proper distance between your subject and the photographic backdrops is to use the inverse square law. If your light is twice as far from your background as it is from your subject, the photographic backdrop will get 1/4 of the light or the light will be 4 times darker. If the light is three times further from the background, the background will appear nine times darker. If you back far enough away, you can literally make a white wall appear black.

Photo : Paulina La Scola

For a different effect, you can set up multiple lights facing your subject and create a more graduated tone that runs from black to white or vice versa. To bring out a lighter color background, move the background light closer to the background and to make the background darker, move it further away.

Even if you’re using the right equipment, not having enough space can cut short your efforts to get a uniform black background. If you’re working in too small of a space and with a cloth photographer backdrop, you risk a final image that shows the folds and creases of the cloth. This makes more work for you in post-processing. Ideally, you’ll have adequate space and a jet black background.

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