I've had the idea to try one of these DIY backdrops before, but never pulled the trigger. since nails and/or thumbtacks sufficed for the amount of work I did in my makeshift studio. I have now started to do more portraiture, so it was time for an upgrade. Also, my loving and caring wife had some choice words about the aesthetics of many, many, (so many) tiny holes covering a particular wall. So much for loving and caring. Yea...so, the materials needed are:
Four (4) 10 ft. sections of 1" Schedule 40 PVC pipe
Eight (8) 1" Schedule 40 PVC Tees
Two (2) 1" Schedule 40 PVC Elbows
(optional) PVC Cement
First things first, that PVC pipe will need to be cut into sections of varying length. I purchased my PVC pipes from The Home Depot and one of the associates cut mine (for free), but I don't know if this is offered at every location. If it isn't offered you'll need either a hacksaw or a PVC pipe cutter.
You'll need:
Four (4) 18" sections (Base)
Eight (8) 6" sections (Base)
Two (2) 6' sections (Middle Crossbar and Top Bar)
Two (2) 4' sections (Legs)
Two (2) 3' sections (Legs)
When completed, this backdrop stands about 7' tall. These measurements don't have to be strictly adhered to and can be adjusted according to your needs. If you only shoot children or seated 3/4 length photos you may want a shorter backdrop or for more portability, maybe shorter crossbars. Your choice. But, let's get building, starting with the bases, which the legs will attach to.
1. Take an 18" section and insert one end of this section into a tee. (The tee should be positioned with an opening facing upward while the portion of the tee touching the ground will not have an opening.)
2. Insert another 18" section opposite the first. Repeat for the other base.
3. Place a tee on each open end of your 18" sections. (No opening should be toward the ground)
4. Insert a 6" section into each remaining opening on the tees located at the far ends of the base.
5. Insert a 4' section into each base
6. Place a tee on each 4' section
7. Insert a 6' section into the tees that are now on your 4' section
(If a short backdrop is all you need you can stop here with 4' of vertical space to work with. Also as mentioned above that 6' section can be shortened for a more portable setup.)
8. Insert a 3' section in the top opening of each tee
9. Place one (1) elbow on each 3' section
10. Insert remaining 6' section into elbows
And that's it. A simple, cost effective and sturdy backdrop for less than $30. I'm planning to spray paint my backdrop to class it up a bit but, other than that, it's pretty much done. You could glue the connections on the entire backdrop, if you're looking for a permanent setup, but I didn't because I want to be able to transport this should the need arise. I may glue the base in the future because that portion can travel without needing to be disassembled. As mentioned play with the lengths and decide what works best for your situation. I think this could be configured to meet most small home studio needs. Gonna shoot a couple kids in the coming weeks, so I'll be sure to make a post showing this thing in action.
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