Blogging on a Budget: Cheap + Easy Photo Backdrops

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Blogging is an awesome hobby and career to have, but it can get expensive fast. With a ton of different classes, programs, hosting options, and products to purchase, it’s quite overwhelming.

One thing that doesn’t have to be expensive is photography. Sure, you could spend a ton of money on an SLR camera, but it isn’t necessary to make a good photo. You can use your iPhone just as well, as long as you’ve got a good eye for photography and some cheap photo backdrops.

There are a ton of options for photo backdrops, but I prefer the ones that take up the least amount of room. I live  in a small apartment with my boyfriend and our dog and cat, so I have to be able to put them away. They can’t be obnoxiously in the way, and they can’t be in a place the dog or cat could ruin them.

So, what are my suggestions for cheap + easy photo backdrops?

1. Poster Board + Scrap Paper

I get a lot of compliments on my Instagram (#thankful), and a lot of people wonder how I get such vibrant backgrounds on my images. Here’s the thing, though: 9 times out of 10, it’s just poster board or scrapbook paper!

I’ve got plenty of scrap paper around from old DIY projects, and they work great as simple photo backdrops. If you want to stick to a simple color scheme, you could even pick out individual sheets at the craft store and use the same ones over and over again! Just put it on the ground / a table by the window and voila! A beautiful photo.

2. Faux Fur

I’ve been eyeing this throw from IKEA for the past several months. It’s so soft and wonderful for your desk… but what about for a photo backdrop? It would be great for winter photos (#winteriscoming) and doubles as a nice place to rest your feet while you work!

3. Contact Paper

My other secret for both Instagram + blog photography: faux marble contact paper. I grabbed a piece of scrap wood from my dad and covered it in some contact paper. It dresses everything up and makes you look super classy! Plus, it’s much cheaper (and lighter!) than an actual piece of marble.

I’ve also got my eye on some other types of contact paper (like this one) for a different vibe. There are so many possibilities!

4. Distressed Wood

While it might not be as easy as contact paper, a distressed wood backdrop can be awesome for Instagram and blog photos. You can use an old pallet or distress some 2×4’s yourself. Here’s an awesome tutorial on how to get a distressed look for your photo backdrop.

5. Your Own Furniture

Depending on what furniture you already own, you might have some awesome photo backdrops already! For example, my dad made me a coffee table out of some old floor boards from my parents’ house, which I use for photo backdrops all. the. time.

Get creative and don’t be afraid to move your furniture around for the perfect shot!

Bonus: Getting the Right Lighting

These photo backdrops aren’t necessarily successful if you don’t have the right lighting. I always take my photos in front of a window (but not in direct light; cloudy days are best!), but sometimes you get weird shadows behind your objects. The solution: an extra piece of white foam board or poster board!

Put the white board opposite the window so it reflects the light onto the opposite side of the object. Voila! A well-light photo. You might need an extra set of hands to get everything right, but it’s worth it!

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What do you use for your photo backdrops? Let me know in the comments!