DIY Photo Backdrop

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It’s been a goal of mine to improve the photo quality of my posts and projects here on the blog. I just got my first 50mm lens for my mirrorless Sony a6000 (which I love), and am putting my palm to my forehead for not getting it sooner. Another big thing I’ve been doing without for a while is a good backdrop. I’ve been using white foam boards when I’ve needed them, and it just got to a point where it wasn’t hacking it anymore. So, after lots of browsing through recommendations and resources online, I figured out a way to DIY my own home studio backdrop–and I couldn’t be happier with the results (and the price)!

Supplies I Used

While I was searching, I saw a lot of people using spring rods to put up a roll of paper in a doorway or between two walls. But with the space I needed to put mine, that wasn’t going to work. I ordered this paper backdrop roll from Amazon. Then I headed to Home Depot for a wooden dowel and some sort of hooks to put it all on.

I found the dowel in the molding section near the lumber. I needed one long enough to fit across my laundry closet, so I had to pick one that needed trimming. After that I wandered around trying to figure out what to hang it all on. I had the idea of using some curtain rod brackets (they needed to be large enough to fit the thick dowel), but I couldn’t buy them without buying the whole rod, so I opted instead for a couple of simple wall hooks.

It took some measuring and drilling to put it all up at home, but the results are simple and affordable, and it isn’t a total eyesore in our family room! It’s not a self-rolling backdrop, but I don’t have to set up any wobbly bars just to take photos, either. I just pull it down and roll it back up as needed! I’m really loving my new DIY photo backdrop, and there’s only one thing I’d change–getting some additional rolls to switch out colors from time to time!