Hi EVeryone,
Thanks Rich and Klaus for help with my last question.
On 6th December i have been given the job of doing year 10 formal. 160 students and parents.
I have just black and a white backdrop.
Want to invest in another one and wondered what colour you suggest and if you can leave url here for me to look.
Thanks everyone for your help and kindness.
Chris

Dont portrait guys on set tend to use that light blue and white "Cloud render" backdrop?

This link is to the Lastolite range, which are good for transport as the fold up into a circle (if you get it right - took me a while to work one of them out when they came into the shop i worked at last summer).  There is one in there which is reversible for dark and light blue sides of the cloud render style.

Personally I've always hated the cloudy blue and brown backgrounds.

But they are the best thing for the job. If I had to choose I'd go for the blue it's less depressing.

Yeah - agreed... they somehow look tacky to me, but every time i went to a ball where there was a photographer there he/she used the blue/white cloud background with the train.

Depends on the event i suppose and the people there / the style you want to come out of it with.  but that goes into the realms of the client saying "i didnt expect that you would use a white background - i wanted the blue and white one - this photo sucks"... ie client expectations of what background is generally used at these events. Meaning that the aim to please as many people as possible (albeit with the boring run-of-the-mill background) method is probably the best route.

Attached Link: Backdrops

The 1500 looks like the most serene and "general purpose". But there are some exciting ones in there: 9528 looks intriguing. 2127 is another non-offensive one i would imagine for the type of shot you want. 

But that is just going by similarity towards the blue/white cloud render style i suggested earlier.  I am not a pro, nor have i ever shot with anything like this, nor do i own anything like this.  It is just an educated guess i suppose based on the fact that too much colour explosion in the background detracts from the subject and also that harsh lines attract the eye too (as per 945 - which would actually make a great photo study background i think).

Btw - hand painted? You dont cut corners here do you?

edit to add - 912 doesnt look bad either.

Haha Rich
It was so hard here in Australia to get them. Once i found a shop and know they professional i stick with them. Dont really have much choice for some reason here in Australia.
Will go check out what you liked. Thanks matie
Chris

Handpainted 912 and Handpainted 945

Good think about those is if the parents want to contact you 'recolouring' the background in PS at an addition cost would be easy.

I was actually thinking a grey one would be nice coz it would/might bring out the persons natural skin tones more. Plus if you apply a WB action to the batch in the end the grey won't turn blue or something...

Quote - (as per 945 - which would actually make a great photo study background i think).

Btw - hand painted? You dont cut corners here do you?

edit to add - 912 doesnt look bad either.

I didn't even read your choices, I just made my own... What do they say about great minds?

Thanks Rich and Peewee:)

Joining the search engine for good backdrops:
http://www.photekusa.com/

Click on Backgrounds-in-a-bag, and then at the very bottom, click on Colors.

I've got the Stormy Grey one, and basically just use a colored gel on the light that hits the backdrop. Blue, red, orange, yellow - whatever - and you have a "cloudy" version of that color. The reason you keep it in the bag is to keep it "ruffled" up - you don't fold it, roll it - you stuff it in there as harsh as you feel like shoving, and then zip it closed.

good luck - hope that helps-

-Lew ;-)

Thanks Lew i received number 1500 yesterday. Will be great for the year ten formal.
Thanks everyone for help
Chris:)

Another mystery solved by Team Photo - jinkies! Nice job everyone and good luck with the photos Christine!