Even if you don’t have a rustic textured table in your home for your food and craft photos or a professional photostudio for your fashion shoots, you can take professional looking pictures with these 25+ easy and cheap backdrop ideas for blog photography.
Some great DIY photo backdrops might be already lying around in your house. In this post I’ll show you what I use as backdrops for my blog photos. Some of the ideas are for DIY indoor backdrops and some are natural outdoor backdrops.
I usually take photos outside or near a window facing south. And I use Lightroom to edit the photos.
For the strawberries I used a pink polka dot dress as background!
Here’s the photo of the strawberries after editing it in lightroom.
I use a large sheet of white paper to bounce off light. Look what a difference a reflector makes! Both photos are unedited.
And a behind-the-scenes photo: my photo assistant! 😉
25+ Easy & Cheap Backdrop Ideas For Blog Photography
Clothing
I used my pink polka dot dress wrapped around cardboard as backdrop for the naturally colored rainbow ice cream. I love the pink polka dot backdrop!
The color and texture of natural linen is great as backdrop: Victorian graham bread with my linen skirt as backdrop.
Lace and doilies look so romantic: For the Edwardian horn hairpins I used my lace princess petticoat as backdrop.
And my DIY crochet lace hat serves as background for the naturally colored blue macarons.
Pillowcases, Scarfs, Fabric, Lace etc.
I used my DIY turquoise pillowcase as backdrop for the drawn thread work tutorial so that the stitches show better. You can also use curtains, tablecloths, towels, carpets, blankets etc.
And lace doilies add such a romantic touch to photos. I used a lace doily on top of a mint green rayon scarf as backdrop for my DIY natural rose petal blush.
Paper
I often use a large piece of drawing paper as backdrop for my photos. But it isn’t perfect for food photography because it gets stained with food.
White Shelf Board & Plywood Sheets
White shelf boards are an alternative to white paper. They’re heavy but wipeable: so they’re better suited for food photography.
Stone Floors & Floor Tiles
Another backdrop you often see in my pictures is our grey granite stone floor. If you don’t have a suitable stone floor, you can also use stone or ceramic tiles.
Large River Rocks
Large river rocks or beach stones are an interesting background for jewelry.
Wooden Cutting Boards
I love the old wooden cutting board as backdrop – but unfortunately it’s usually too small. I used it as backdrop for the crochet Easter bunny garland.
Natural Coasters, Placemats & Baskets
Natural coasters, basket and woven grass placemats are a great and cheap backdrop.
Paper Grocery Bags & Brown Packing Paper
Crumpled paper is an unusual backdrop!
Old Furniture
I have an old chair which my grandfather used for painting walls etc. It’s such a great backdrop!
Old Baking Sheets
Old baking sheets are one of my favorite backdrops for blog photography! They add so much rustic texture to photos! I used an old baking sheet from my grandmother as backdrop for the silver wire hoop earrings.
Baking sheets are wipeable so they’re great for food photography! The baking sheet again as backdrop for the chocolate-glazed almond horns.
The bottom of the baking sheet looks different: I used it as backdrop for the 1910s mock cream pie.
And a behind-the-scenes photo of the rose petal buttercream.
Cast Iron Stove & Cast Iron Skillets
Cast iron has such a rustic texture. Here I used the bottom of a cast iron skillet as backdrop for my green and gold earrings.
Tinware & Galvanized Metal
Galvanized metal is an interesting backdrop for jewelry, especially silver jewelry.
Sheet Metal
I love rustic backdrops like this copper sheet.
Plates
I used a large white plate – a pizza plate – as backdrop for the naturally colored sugar hearts.
Kitchen Countertop
You often see our blue kitchen countertop in my photos because I’m too impatient to carry the food to another room to take photos. It’s not perfect – our kitchen is also too dark to take good photos – but for some things it works.
Here you also see the large white plate again.
Rained-On Surfaces
Rained on surfaces have an interesting texture. I took the angel food cake photos while it was raining! 😉 If it isn’t raining, you can also spray the surface with water.
Sewing Machine
For sewing tutorial I sometimes use my treadle sewing machine as backdrop.
Walls, Window & Curtains
Walls would work as backdrop – but I could find not one free wall in our home! Except a little piece of wall between a dresser and a bookshelf.
Bloggers often use the light flowing through sheer curtains as backdrop. I love this backdrop: It makes light and airy photos. I used it for my lace T-shirt refashion. That day was a dark and cloudy day – difficult to take good photos.
And again for my jersey knit underskirt.
Natural Backdrops
Grass
Grass is a great natural backdrop! I use it often for fashion photos.
Grass and flowers as backdrop for my 1920s beaded silk blouse.
The grass really brings out the color of my 1920s sequin dress. Grass is especially pretty in May and June.
Snow
Snow: it’s not always available but it’s also a great backdrop. I used a snow backdrop again for my DIY ice luminaries.
Water
Water is such a beautiful backdrop!
Or maybe it’s not really a backdrop when my feets are in the water! 😉
And water again – can you tell I just love water! 😀
And a river as backdrop for my refashioned dress.
Fresh Flowers
Flowers and roses are such a romantic backdrop.
Gravel, Pebbles & Rocks
I love the texture and color of gravel as background. Here it’s a background for my DIY hiking skirt and DIY leather sandals.
Sky
Blue sky is another natural backdrop idea. The sky is usually more blue in summer, but here it’s a December sky as backdrop for my refashioned pink blouse.
And another blue sky backdrop for my Edwardian handkerchief camisole.
Trees
Conifers as backdrop for the Victorian Spanische Windtorte and again for the pinless Edwardian pompadour hairstyle tutorial.
Such lovely ideas! I never really thought about putting a backdrop when I take pictures for my blog. You’ve given some great ideas that I’m definitely going to use. Thank you!
Thanks so much, Regina! 😀 I’m glad you found it useful!
This is a great resource!! Thanks so much. Already pinned this post so I can get back to it. Wishing you a wonderful week ahead. Linda @Crafts a la mode
Thanks for pinning, Linda! 😀
Yes these are great ideas for backdrops! Sometimes it’s hard to think right on the spot when you need to take photos right away. This list helps! Happy Tuesday!
Maureen
Thanks, Maureen! 🙂
Wow, what an impressive list of creative ideas! Thanks for sharing these!
Gina
Thanks for stopping by, Gina!
Colors and textures are such great background ideas! Most people have these things laying around the house so it makes it easy!
Thanks, Ruth!
#ThisMainLineLifeLinky
Your photography ideas are inspiring! Thanks for the tips.
Thanks for dropping by!
These are amazing! Thanks for sharing : )
Thanks, Anna!
Brilliant! Many ideas here I’ve not seen before–you can bet I’ll be using that cast-iron pan idea! #BloggerClubUK
Thanks, Jean! 😀 So glad you found it useful!
Excellent ideas for a backdrop! I like using a whiteboard or poster board. I also never thought of using stones for a background. Thank you for the inspiration!
Thanks so much, Lanae! 😀
Love all of your wonderful ideas. I am going to pin this so later I can go back and read it all through. Cast iron pan! Who would have thunk it! LOL! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Thanks for pinning! 🙂
Fabulous ideas and your photos look so professional. Pinned for later.
Thanks so much, Christine! 😀
Beautiful photos and very creative ideas! I’m pinning so I can refer back to it.
Thanks, Donna!
Great tips & beautiful photos! Thank you! Visiting from Deb’s link up.
You’re most welcome to drop by for a cuppa,
Jennifer
Thanks for stopping by!
There are so many awesome ideas here and you have sparked a few in me. I just thought of a lovely slate place mat that I have and wooden board. Thank for such a fabulous and interesting post.
Thanks so much, Sarah!
Images are my biggest blogging challenge! I’m pinning this post for those days when I just can’t figure out what to do with a picture!
Thanks for pinning, Michele! 🙂
This is great! You shared a lot of ideas I never would have thought of. I’m definitely saving this for later. Thanks for sharing with Fiesta Friday!
Thank you, Mikaela! 🙂
Thanks for some great ideas! I’ve recently moved, so have used some of my new flooring and countertops and one nifty dining room rug as backdrops, which has been fun as I’ve gotten tired of the backdrops easy to use back at my old place. (I did save larger tile samples that I rejected for use for potential backdrops, too….) I’m really impressed with the polka dot dress, the cast iron skillet, and the rained-on surfaces — I wish there were a good water source nearby for a backdrop here, but I fear I will have eaten my food before I find it!!! And thanks regards using a reflector!
Thank you! 😀 So glad you found it helpful!
So many great ideas… a DRESS! I never would have imagined it! Awesome tips and ideas, thanks so much for sharing! From The Blogger’s Pitstop.
Thanks, Denise! 😀
Fun ideas! I love the outdoor green shots with the grass and trees! Thanks for sharing with us at Fiesta Friday!
Mollie
Thanks, Mollie! 🙂
What an awesome post! I never even realized all the backdrops I had in my own home until now. Thank you so much! (thesitsgirls)
Thank you, Ola! 😀
Great ideas and inspiration. I need to learn how to use a reflector for better tablescape shots. Added it to my to do list!
Thanks, Debbee! 😀
Wonderful ideas! The entire time I was reading this post I kept thinking, “Oh wait–I have this, or I have that–I can try them as backdrops!” I have been needing a ‘jump start’ for photo ideas, and you just turbo charged my brain! Thank you!
😀 Wow, thanks so much!
Great tips and ideas! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen
Thanks, Helen! 🙂
What wonderful, creative ideas, Lina! I’m always looking for new ways to style photographs. Thank you so much for sharing. I’m featuring this post at the Hearth and Soul Link Party this week. Hope to ‘see’ you there!
Thanks so much for featuring me, April! 😀
Lina, I’m revisiting this post and realized I never commented before!
This is a great post and has had me thinking all week. As a decorator and as a photographer, I realize the importance of different textures but don’t incorporate variety enough. Thank you for reminding me.
Pinning and sharing!
Thanks for sharing, Stacey! 🙂
some great ideasm thanks:-)
Thank you!
This is so helpful. I am going to be looking around the house for possible backdrops. Thanks for sharing at the Snickerdoodle Create Bake Make Party.
Thanks for stopping by!
Great ideas and so many budget friendly ones too! Thanks for sharing at the inspiration spotlight party @DearCreatives pinned and sharing.
Thanks for stopping by and pinning!
Your photos always look amazing and no wonder! This is a fantastic resource, backdrops are so important but I know, at least for me, they are usually an afterthought. Thank you for sharing this with us on the Homestead Blog Hop, you’ve got my brain turning!
Thanks so much, Ann! 😀
Thanks for sharing! This post gave me some good ideas for jazzing up my Instagram and Pinterest posts. Dropping by from #trafficjamweekend…
Thank you! 🙂
This was so helpful and well-done. Thank you!!
Thank you! I’m glad you found it helpful!