Make your own DIY photography backdrops.

Build a DIY photo backdrop stand in a few easy steps.

A simple background frame can hold all kinds of different backdrops, from bright colors or miniature flower walls to blank screens. A frame should resemble a simple, single-bar clothing rack that is taller than the people or subjects you’d like to photograph in front of it. If you’re not feeling handy, a large clothing rack can function as a backdrop frame in a pinch.

Constructing your own backdrop stand is quick and easy if you’re ready to get crafty with materials from a hardware store. You can choose the exact size and materials of your frame.

Gather materials to build your own photo backdrop frame:

• Miter saw or pipe cutter depending on what material you use
• Two pieces of wood, dowel, or PVC pipe each the same length (around six feet long)
• Four pieces of wood, dowel, or PVC pipe each the same length (around four feet long)
• Four pieces of PVC or dowel each cut the same length (around 12 inches)
• Four PVC or wooden T pieces
• Two PVC or dowel elbow pieces

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Assemble your backdrop frame.

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1. Attach your 12-inch pieces to two of your T pieces. These will be the base of the stand and lie flat on the ground.

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2. Then connect one of your 4-foot pieces to the top of each part of the base. The 4-foot pieces should go upward, forming the legs of the stand.

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3. Use your other T pieces at the top of each 4-foot piece to attach one of your 6-foot pieces horizontally, connecting the two vertical 4-foot pieces. This 6-foot piece is one of two “crossbar” pieces of the stand. It connects the legs together.

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4. Attach another 4-foot piece to the top of each of these T pieces, pointing vertically upward from the 6-foot bar. You should have a background that’s about 8 feet high, which is a suitably tall background for most people.

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5. Use your two elbow pieces to connect the second 6-foot piece on the very top of your frame. This is the top of the frame.

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Once you have your backdrop stand, you can drape fabric or paper over it to create your photo backdrop. Almost anything will do. Even wrapping paper can work to make a great colorful addition to your frame.

A photo backdrop for every kind of image.

Different kinds of photoshoots need different types of backdrops. Fortunately, a simple DIY backdrop like the one described above can handle all kinds of props.

Make a backdrop look its best in post-production.

A fabric or paper backdrop can sometimes have slight irregularities like wrinkles, sags, or indentations. Fortunately, you have a large array of tools in Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Lightroom to help you smooth out or fine-tune a backdrop in post-production.

• Get rid of distracting elements. Banish unwanted objects and photobombers with Content-Aware Fill to get a crisp, clean background.
  Remove objects ›
• Fix details with just the right shade. Select exactly the color you want for fill-ins and fixes with the Eyedropper tool, which can select just the right color from even the smallest area.
  Clone a color ›
• Even out a backdrop’s surface. Smooth over wrinkles and such with the Spot Healing Brush.
  Use the Spot Healing Brush ›
• Fix an overexposed photo. Get light just right so everything from foreground to background looks great.
  Fix exposure ›
• Remove small objects from a photo. Take unwanted elements out of the background with the Spot Healing Brush tool.
  Remove objects ›

Whether you’re throwing a bachelorette party and need a sparkly backdrop or want to take some professional-looking family photos, a DIY photo backdrop can take your images to the next level.