Portrait photography tip: A completely black background in a studio

Tuesday 12 April 2022, 20:02 by Elja Trum | 4,431 views | 0 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Creating a completely black background in a studio isn't that difficult. You simply need to make sure your subject is far enough away from the background. Light your model, not your background.

Monique - f/8, 1/160s, 100 ISO @ 50mm
Creating enough distance will even turn a white background pitch black, although it's naturally easier to start with a black cloth or background paper.

If your model has black hair or is wearing dark clothing, it can be a good idea to direct a light at your model from behind as well. This creates a small rim of light around your model, separating him or her from the background.

In the photo above, the model is lit from both the left and right by a flash in a softbox. Because the light comes from the side, it doesn't fall on the background. So the background stays dark.

Having the light come from both sides creates a lovely interplay of light and shadows.

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