Whether you create them digitally on something like Pinterest, on here with our moodboard feature to collate backdrops for your shoots or physically with magazine tears and swatches, moodboards can be highly effective in helping you develop ideas and make an initial, visual plan.
And lets not overlook the focus and efficiency having a visual reference can bring to each step of your creative process – it will help keep you on track; clarifying your aims and speeding up decisions.
Whether you create them digitally on something like Pinterest, on here with our moodboard feature to collate backdrops for your shoots or physically with magazine tears and swatches, moodboards can be highly effective in helping you develop ideas and make an initial, visual plan.
And lets not overlook the focus and efficiency having a visual reference can bring to each step of your creative process – it will help keep you on track; clarifying your aims and speeding up decisions.
I tend to use Powerpoint to create my moodboards (that probably makes me middle-aged?!) as I find it easy to screengrab things and plonk them on there, moving things around and resizing, adding text notes and my own images easily.
I know other creatives use Canva but it’s not something I’ve ever got to grips with (It looks great but I was very lucky to grow up with all the Adobe creative software available to me so haven’t needed to delve into Canva).
Sometimes I’ll create physical moodboards on paper or like shown here, with actual backdrops, props and products, then shoot it with my phone to send to a client or keep as a rough 'sketch' to develop further later.
These two points I would communicate on a moodboard by including a sketch of the aspect and scale of the main dish/product within it.
Adding any industry buzz words that come up in conversations to a moodboard presentation gives you the chance to clarify expectations and add visual checkpoints. Iron these out early on in the process to avoid frustration!
Browse the A1 vinyls and start your first moodboard here
5 backdrops perfect for beginners
Playing with colour theory in food styling
Getting started with our printed photography backdrops
The power of props: elevate your content & craft stories through styling
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Felicity @paintingtheplate is an artist, writer, and cook based in London.
'With a passion for blending the arts together, she believes good food should look as beautiful as it tastes and that every mouthful should be savoured like a work of art. She ultimately believes a great meal is defined by who shares it and regardless of the menu, she’s never happier than she is at the dinner table, with family, friends, and extra gratings of parmesan.'
© Patch Harvey Photography
'Filled with gorgeous photography, high quality reproductions and fascinating anecdotes, this one-of-a-kind cookbook connects great art with the world of food. To create the recipes in this book Felicity Souter delved into the lives of artists past and present, uncovering fascinating stories, eating habits, and cultural traditions.'
'Each entry consists of an appetizer, main, side, dessert, or drink that visually echoes the artwork and reflects the culinary connection to its artist. More than fifty masterpieces from an enormous array of genres and periods include works by Marina Abramović, Jean Michel Basquiat, Georgette Chen, Salvador Dalí, Jacob Lawrence, Man Ray, Henri Matisse, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Jackson Pollock.'
Beetroot-pickled eggs inspired by artist Judy Chicago
'Sumptuous illustrations reveal a striking resemblance between recipe and artwork. An abstract Lee Krasner painting is transformed into a colorful mixed vegetable salad; an oval-shaped Barbara Hepworth sculpture into a crusty loaf of bread; a snowy Monet haystack into a sugar-dusted breakfast muffin; an Yves Klein sponge into an electric blue martini.
Easy enough for every day, and aimed at cooks of all abilities, these recipes are themselves works of art, and will whet the creative appetites of readers and chefs alike.'
Paint the plate is available to order now on Amazon.
Saffron and cardamom poached pears inspired by a Paul Cezanne painting
Written by Felicity Souter
Photography by Felicity Souter
Published by Prestel Publishing
Penguin Random House Verlagsgruppe
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Its so great to see so many of you sharing your creative work under our #bvsbackdrops hashtag - we love seeing the different ways you style and shoot our backdrops and the different places you take them!
And of course it helps other creatives see the backdrops in REAL set ups, created by REAL customers - its inspiring to see and shows the amazing results you can achieve with our professional backdrops.
THANKS SO MUCH for using the hashtag and sharing your creativity with us!
But please continue to use the hashtag AND tag us @blackvelvetstyling in you pics and vids so we can see your work and keep the monthly giveaway going!
(IG may well change the feature/how it is viewed again in the future!)
Its so great to see so many of you sharing your creative work under our #bvsbackdrops hashtag on Instagram - we love seeing the different ways you style and shoot our backdrops and the different places you take them!
And of course it helps other creatives see the backdrops in REAL set ups, created by REAL customers - its inspiring to see and shows the amazing results you can achieve with our professional backdrops.
THANKS SO MUCH for using the hashtag and sharing your creativity with us!
As the designer of these products this makes me SO happy because I love to see my creative ideas extend into your creative ideas - being part of your process feels like a team effort almost!
(OK, I know i can't take any credit for your work, but it makes me feel connected somehow!)
Main image credit @no_tablecloth on the SALT backdrop
We select a winner every month - all you have to do is follow us and tag us in your images or videos that feature a BVS backdrop and you will automatically be in with a chance to win the £50 prize.
Enter as many times as you like with different posts!
Just be sure to follow us and tag us @blackvelvetstyling and use the hashtag #bvsbackdrops in your description or first comment.
Image credit James Andrew Photography on the COPPER backdrop
We love sharing features here on our blog, showcasing our favourite creatives or brands using our backdrops in cool ways.
When you tag us we assume that you are happy for us to share your work on our social feeds and website - always with full credits of course!
Image credit @zestestudio on the SAFE backdrop
Enter as many times as you like with different posts!
One winner will be selected at the end/beginning of each month and announced via our Instagram stories soon after.
We only need your email address to deliver the prize. We never ask for personal or bank details via email or private messages.
By entering and/or tagging us you accept these terms and are happy for us to share your posts/vids with credits on our social media and web platforms.
No minimum order necessary on the voucher prizes. Gift vouchers are valid for 12 months.
Open worldwide.
All decisions are final.
Not in conjunction or affiliated with Instagram in anyway.
But please continue to use the hashtag AND tag us @blackvelvetstyling in your pics and vids so we can see your work and keep the monthly giveaway going!
(IG may well change the feature/how it is viewed again in the future anyway, who knows!)
Image credit Carla Barber on the ISSY backdrop
Image credit Dinija Sunina on the PEANUT backdrop
]]>UK CUSTOMERS for Christmas delivery please order by 1pm on Friday 15th December on STANDARD delivery and by 1pm on Wednesday 20th December on EXPRESS delivery.
Orders placed after that will arrive after Christmas regardless of which delivery option you choose due to the busy festive period and the couriers' last post dates.
INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS we advise you order before Wednesday 13th December if you want delivery in 2023 and check the lead times for your country in our shipping options at checkout.
We will be on holiday from 5pm Thursday 21st December, returning on Tuesday 2nd January - orders placed between these dates will be processed on our return on the 2nd of January 2024 and follow the usual lead times as if ordered that day. (So if you need something delivering for a shoot early that week, best to order before the 15th or 18th December!)
The 'Vert' green copper photo backdrop
UK CUSTOMERS for Christmas delivery please order by 1pm on Friday 15th December on STANDARD delivery and by 1pm on Wednesday 20th December on EXPRESS delivery.
Orders placed after that will arrive after Christmas regardless of which delivery option you choose due to the busy festive period and the couriers' last post dates.
INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS we advise you order before Wednesday 13th December if you want delivery in 2023 and check the lead times for your country in our shipping options at checkout.
We will be on holiday from 5pm Thursday 21st December, returning on Tuesday 2nd January - orders placed between these dates will be processed on our return on the 2nd of January 2024 and follow the usual lead times as if ordered that day. (So if you need something delivering for a shoot early that week, best to order before the 15th or 18th December!)
If you have ordered during the Black Friday sale please bear with us while we get all of your extra backdrops ready - you cleared a lot of our stock and we are receiving new stock to fulfil your orders each day!
The options are -
STANDARD for delivery in 3-5 business days (Monday to Friday)
EXPRESS for delivery in 2 business days (Monday to Friday)
]]>If you have ordered during the Black Friday sale please bear with us while we get all of your extra backdrops ready - you cleared a lot of our stock and we are receiving new stock to fulfil your orders each day!
The options are -
STANDARD for delivery in 3-5 business days (Monday to Friday)
EXPRESS for delivery in 2 business days (Monday to Friday)
For your order to be processed today (Day 0) we must receive it by 1pm on a business day (Monday to Friday) otherwise the next business day will be your Day 0 and the lead times will follow from there.
For example,
Order at 10am Monday and choose EXPRESS delivery to get it on Wednesday.
Order at 8pm Monday and choose EXPRESS delivery to get it on Thursday.
As always, we are basing these timings on the promises of our delivery partners and we advise you always have a plan B if you are ordering last minute.
EXPRESS shipments are tracked with DPD and you should be given a delivery time window - please ensure your mobile number is on the order to receive their updates.
Cath is a food and portrait photographer I have admired for a long time - her style leans into fine art and is always impactful; no matter what the subject Cath creates magic and drama in every shot.
Cath has won many awards for her food photography, three through the highly prestigious international Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year. She works for food and drink brands, restaurants, hotels and vineyards, while also shooting food & drink in her own fully equipped home studio.
'food and drink photography endlessly fascinates me… there is no end to the play of light, shadows and textures in this delicious medium'
Find out more about Cath's work here.
Smoking old fashioned cocktail shot by Cath using the Peanut backdrop behind
What a wonderful thing to capture, swirling moments in time!
Smoke and steam evoke the senses, reminding us of occasions or meals and soothing moments of flavour and scent.
Its also beautiful to shoot, bringing an etherial magic to your scene and reminding us that even when everything else is still the air is dancing all around us.
We thought this would be a brilliant Autumn challenge as it suits this time of year so well - rich colours, darker nights, cosy food (or spooky treats!) all tie in so well and will help you embrace smoke or steam in your photography.
We hope you will join us and don't forget, everyone who enters has a chance of winning the £100 prize or runner up £25 prize.
This challenge is hosted on Instagram -
Full terms and how to enter below, but for now, here are some tips from our hosts to get your ideas flowing...
Smoking s'mores captured by Sophie with the Hide cut wood effect backdrop as the surface and Kyoto black backdrop behind
Spiced pear and pumpkin bundt cake shot by Sophie using the Quay old wood backdrop as the table surface and Whitby black wood backdrop behind.
I always recommend using a tripod to elevate your styling (its the first and sometimes only bit of kit a content creator needs after their camera - so if you don't have one invest now and get the best you can afford!) but its even more important when capturing movement as, like Cath said, you will need to keep your shutter speed high and keep perfectly still so the smoke/steam doesn't all blur.
On the same note, a remote shutter device will be vey helpful if you want to blow a candle out or control your smoke/steam on the set and take the shot before it all changes again.
Cath mentioned using incense sticks for smoke - this is genius, I hadn't heard of this before! For steam I have used tampons or teabags soaked in just boiled water but it does disappear fast. Another trick is to have your drink/soup whatever boiling away and then place last minute, or microwave it with clingfilm on top and remove from the microwave last minute, then release the cling film the moment you take your shot. Or shots i should say - have your camera in fast multi-shot mode.
If you really want to blast steam across your set you can use a steam iron or clothes steamer - just be careful not to soak the rest of your set!
As always with action shots I would have a few 'safety' shots of your final shot in the bag before you go for the action bit, in case you need them to comp in later if it all goes T up!
Each entry will be judged on how you’ve used the technique and how you capture the essence of your subject with it.
We look forward to seeing your posts and announcing the four finalists on Instagram soon after the competition closes at midnight on the 31st October 2023. Then its over to the community to vote for the winner!
Competition Rules
Entries don’t have to include our backdrops, our community capture challenges are about exploring different techniques.
Entries must stay on your feed for the duration of the competition and judging period if you are a finalist.
Four finalists will be selected within a few days after close and announced via our Instagram stories.
The winner and runner up will be voted for by the public via our Instagram stories, this will be live for 24hrs.
The winner and runner up will be announced via our Instagram stories soon after close.
We only need your email address to deliver the prize. We never ask for personal or bank details via email or private messages.
No purchase necessary to enter.
No minimum order necessary on the voucher prizes. They will be valid for 12 months.
Open worldwide.
All decisions are final.
Not in conjunction or affiliated with Instagram in anyway.
Hi there! We don't share these updates enough on this blog, so I'm popping on here today to tell you about our styling workshops held in our studio, hosted by me, Sophie through our teaching platform, The Styling Handbook.
We only have two dates in 2023 with slots left so you'll need to book soon if you'd like to join us - and even sooner if you want to take advantage of the two-part payment option which must be started at least 1 month before your workshop date!
Of course I'm going to tell you about the workshops below but if you're ready to jump in and want to book you can do so on these links -
If you struggle with knowing where to start, lack confidence or just feel like your images are not-quite-there and this is holding you back, I'd love to help you elevate your styling and work more methodically to create consistently good content that you're proud of.
Come along to refine your styling and gain confidence in producing content to promote yourself, your product or your brand, learning essential techniques and industry tricks with Sophie, a commercial stylist of 20 years..
Perhaps you already run a blog, lifestyle brand or food-related business and need a confidence boost or creative kick up the bum to increase your output by banishing those little niggles that make us all procrastinate!
Be taught first hand by a professional and have an inspiring training day working on your own, individual set ups, learning with other creatives, marketers and business owners.
All demonstrations are supported by notes and checklists to help you continue your learning and build confidence after the workshop - some clients keep them to refer back to on every shoot, as part of their process!
Each chapter, taken from The Styling Handbook is designed for you to easily print and work through or use as a reference tool as you shoot.
Written to clearly show you how to plan, style and shoot beautifully and with optimum efficiency you can use the guides to style like 'painting by numbers' or as inspiration and reminders to refer back to while your confidence builds.
Happy styling,
Sophie + co
We're always happy to pass on savings to our customers whenever we can!
FEATURED IMAGE IS THE 'HAVANA' PHOTO BACKDROP
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More on that later, here are the four new designs, ready to order, pret-a-porter off the shelf for next day delivery if you like.
INSPIRED BY MEDITERRANEAN CAFE TABLES THAT PROBABLY ONCE SPARKLED AND BLINGED BUT NOW SIT CALMLY, SOFTENED BY AGE AND COFFEE CUPS.
(Image on left is an area of the backdrop shot and edited, image on right is the full design)
TAKEN FROM A HAND-PAINTED SURFACE WE CREATED IN-HOUSE WITH MULTIPLE LAYERS OF PAINT ADDING SMALL-BUT-MIGHTY TEXTURE AND CRACKING TO GIVE THE LOOK OF AN OLD WOODEN SURFACE WITH AN INTERESTING PAST.
(Image on left is an area of the backdrop shot and edited, image on right is the full design)
ANOTHER GORGEOUS GREEN BUT THIS ONE IS THAT BEAUTIFUL, CLEAN VERDANT GREEN WITH A HINT OF MINT AND MID-CENTURY POP FLAVOUR. ADD TO THAT A SUBTLE CRACKLE GLAZE EFFECT ON A HANDMADE TILE AND WE HAVE OURSELVES A BEAUTY OF A BACKDROP.
(Image on left is an area of the backdrop shot and edited, image on right is the full design)
WE CAN'T RESIST A BLUSH MARBLE AND THIS ONE BRINGS ALL THE ROMANCE WITH LOTS OF ORGANIC SWIRLING AND MOTTLING IN PINKS AND CREAMS.
So new I haven't shot with it yet! Another marble backdrop which is also available in any colour you like through our customs service.
It makes sense for us as a business not to have hundreds of different colour backdrops in similar designs because however many blue backdrops or marble backdrops we have, it may never just quite be THAT blue or THAT marble that you need!
So with the help of our lovely ambassadors and customers, we are developing more 'textures' and effects that you can customise in any colour you like - to get the look and feel you're after in the EXACT colour you need.
Everyones a winner!
Here are the latest additions to our range of custom photo backdrops - printed on either sustainable paper or waterproof vinyl in a range of sizes, just select your options on the product page before you add to your cart then upload your colour refs when you go through checkout or via email (don't worry, we'll chase you for them if you forget!).
DEVELOPED FROM A HAND-PAINTED AND TEXTURISED SURFACE THIS CUSTOMISABLE DESIGN OFFERS A RELATIVELY PLAIN COLOUR BACKDROP WITH A BIT MORE OOMPH AND CHARACTER.
A GORGEOUS ORGANIC SWIRLING MARBLE EFFECT MADE UNIQUE TO YOU IN A CUSTOM COLOUR.
A GORGEOUS ORGANIC SWIRLING MARBLE EFFECT MADE UNIQUE TO YOU IN A CUSTOM COLOUR - USE THIS LISTING FOR DARKER COLOURS TO KEEP THE HIGHLIGHTS DOWN AND ACHIEVE A MORE MUTED OVERALL EFFECT, IT CAN LOOK LIKE LEATHER OR METAL TOO DEPENDING ON YOUR COLOUR!
CREATED FROM A HAND-PAINTED SURFACE WITH MULTIPLE LAYERS OF PAINT ADDING SMALL-BUT-MIGHTY TEXTURE IN VARIOUS TONES - A GREAT WAY TO GET A UNIQUE, HANDCRAFTED LOOK MUCH MORE AFFORDABLY!
Please comment below, we love to hear from you,
Happy styling,
Sophie xx
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Developed with a local wood recycling centre using reclaimed building timber and handmade in small batches - we're very proud to be bringing this simple (yet genius!) and sustainable solution to you, its taken months of trial and error!
As they're made in-house in small batches the size and finish may vary slightly from batch to batch - if you need two the same please order them at the same time! (One works fine as you can see in our images but for larger backdrops or for extra stability at each side you could use two stands and of course you might have multiple sets on the go or want to use them to hold bounce and fill cards in place too!)
Simply clip your backdrop to a piece of 5mm foamboard (or thick card) and slot them in the precision cut groove - so much quicker and easier, especially in smaller studios (or bedrooms) - no need to be tripping over loads of stand legs anymore!
Position the stand vertically next to your set or lie it down to slot the backdrop into it - this might be easier when you want some space between your set and the 'wall' behind - just make sure the chair, table etc you put it on is level!
Thank you for visiting today - if you have nay questions please feel free to comment below or get in touch, we love hearing from you!
Happy styling,
Sophie
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Hello, Sophie here - a quick and boring (or maybe exciting?!) but useful post today!
Now the summer madness is over and we ease into the final chapter of 2023 we are happy to be able to offer lower shipping rates and more, international free shipping options.
So here's your new breakdown! (These prices should hold until at least Jan '24 depending on any increases we get from our couriers in the new year!)
BACKDROP ONLY ORDERS
Royal Mail 48HR standard shipping £4.45 or FREE on orders over £50
DHL Next day 24HR tracked £9.95
Royal Mail, next working day before 1pm £16.95
Royal Mail, next working day between 7-9am £24.95
ORDERS INCLUDING KIT OR PROPS MAY INCUR EXTRA CHARGES DUE TO WEIGHT/BOX SIZES
]]>Now the summer madness is over and we ease into the final chapter of 2023 we are happy to be able to offer lower shipping rates and more, international free shipping options.
So here's your new breakdown! (These prices should hold until at least Jan '24 depending on any increases we get from our couriers in the new year!)
BACKDROP ONLY ORDERS
Royal Mail 48HR standard shipping £4.45 or FREE on orders over £50
DHL Next day 24HR tracked £9.95
Royal Mail, next working day before 1pm £16.95
Royal Mail, next working day between 7-9am £24.95
ORDERS INCLUDING KIT OR PROPS MAY INCUR EXTRA CHARGES DUE TO WEIGHT/BOX SIZES
We ship our backdrops and some kit/props worldwide. Your options at checkout will depend on your order items and their size/weight.
(If no shipping option is shown it may be becasue you have some kit or props in your cart that can't be shipped overseas through our website. Remove them to continue or email us for a bespoke shipping quote.)
For most of Europe and USA delivery with Royal Mail is 3-5 business days and with DHL its usually 1-2 business days.
Tax and import duties may be chargeable upon entry to your country and are the responsibility of the buyer.
FREE SHIPPING ON BACKDROPS (EXTRA CHARGES MAY APPLY TO KIT/PROP PACKAGES)
Ireland spend £100 for FREE shipping
France, Germany & Spain spend £100 for FREE shipping
Rest of Europe spend £110 for FREE shipping
Mainland USA spend £100 for FREE shipping
Canada spend £120 for FREE shipping
Australia spend £150 for FREE shipping
As always we use as little plastic as possible in our packages
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Here's a snapshot of our little biz from a more personal side -
July 2018, year 1
I was still juggling a housekeeping business I set up to work around my young kids and freelance styling work. I started with 12 backdrop designs stored in a plan chest in my home office and did all the, well everything, myself!
Thank you to a few lovely industry contacts we had some very high profile early-adopters and we were off.
Spring 2019, year 2
I think we had around 50 designs and enough customers by Feb 2019 for me to sell my other business and do BVS full time (still around styling, but I've never wanted to style full-time as you can't leave early for school runs can you?!).
I was now working out of a garage at home but bursting at the seams.
2020, year 3
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Here's a snapshot of our little biz from a more personal side -
July 2018, year 1
I was still juggling a housekeeping business I set up to work around my young kids and freelance styling work. I started with 12 backdrop designs stored in a plan chest in my home office and did all the, well everything, myself!
Thank you to a few lovely industry contacts we had some very high profile early-adopters in our first week of opening and we were off.
Spring 2019, year 2
I think we had around 50 designs and enough customers by Feb 2019 for me to sell my other business and do BVS full time (still around styling, but I've never wanted to style full-time as you can't leave early for school runs can you?!).
I was now working out of a garage at home but bursting at the seams.
2020, year 3
Covid hit and our business quadrupled through the lockdowns. Denise joined for virtual assistance and customer service help - Royal Mail lost about a million parcels!
It became more of a family business as my partner, Graham, our daughter, Freya and sister, Bess helped with production and shipping orders.
In the November we moved into a studio and warehouse unit THANK GOD - so exciting to have a proper work space - this felt like we'd made it!
2021, year 4
Business settled as the lockdowns ended and we enjoyed more balance again, using our beautiful new studio space to host photography clients and styling workshops alongside the online backdrop retail.
Louise and Julie (both angels!) joined the business to help with fulfilment and creative assistance so I could develop courses and work on larger film and photography productions.
2022, year 5
We continued to work in the same vein in our 5th year, with a few experimentations in products but ultimately simplifying the backdrop offering to keep our space clean and flexible for film/stills production and workshops.
Denise, Julie, Graham and Lou continue to help me with the day-to-day running alongside a few more freelancers working from home.
July 2023 - our 5th birthday!
And here we are! Still in the beautiful mill studio, still innovating and learning and trying to keep our customers happy or even get one step ahead with what they might need next.
I feel like we have now found our groove with a business that provides me a steady income and satisfies me creatively, while allowing me to take on as much other creative and training work as I wish around family life (and daily tennis!).
That's down to our amazing team of course but also exactly how I designed the business; our business (like most) has had both wildly profitable and just-scraping-though phases, but what I'm most grateful for is the freedom and flexibility it allows me to prioritise my family time and my health.
I will always love working on sets and getting involved in large productions, but I feel most successful i.e like I'm living MY dream, when my work allows me to see my kids in to and out of school, when we all eat well and I have time for my health, hobbies and friends. And thats exactly what this business does for me and my family.
You can mix and match any backdrops you like on the 4FOR3 offer - large backdrops, customs, sale and standard items! The only thing that can't go through on 4for3 is sale sets of multiple backdrops in the sale section.
My advice to get the best deal - shop the half-price backdrops here first as the items available at half-price will reduce as the week goes on and things go out of stock; if you have less than 4 items in your cart then you can shop the main collections or larger backdrops too to get the 4for3 deal!
There is no limit to how many backdrops you can get FREE! Cheapest items are made free.
Sophie xx
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Basically, I felt inspired and had a play! It's not often that inspiration and time align for me around client work and thinking about their projects - often using my creative juices up - so this little pocket of time, shooting purely for pleasure and to experiment felt like a real luxury.
This meant staying in the same (or very similar) hue or tone, and keeping it all either pink (like the backdrop) or neutral (almost a non-colour - think wood, metal, whites and soft sands). like the props.
]]>Basically, I felt inspired and had a play! It's not often that inspiration and time align for me around client work and thinking about their projects - often using my creative juices up - so this little pocket of time, shooting purely for pleasure and to experiment felt like a real luxury. (I did wonder a few times though if ice cream wasn't perhaps the best subject to try to shoot for an entire afternoon! Queue a rummage through our cupboards and some shop-bought mini meringues to rescue my last set-ups with an ad-hoc Eaton Mess dessert. Still tasty though, hey?!)
This meant staying in the same (or very similar) hue or tone, and keeping it all either pink (like the backdrop) or neutral (almost a non-colour - think wood, metal, whites and soft sands). like the props.
This is a very classy trick used over and over again by both food bloggers and brands - keeping everything aligned in the same but softer colours to support the hero which will always be the strongest saturation of the colour you're working with. And it works don't you think?
When using this colour theory you can also afford to tint the entire image towards your hero colour - you may notice the white plate looks warmer in this shot than the one below? That's because I have tweaked the 'tint' and 'temp' a little to allow a slightly warm, pink hue across the entire image, pulling it all together more.
Shot on the 'PUGLIA' mixed pink painted wood effect backdrop available in eco-friendly paper and waterproof vinyl
I went for a slightly cooler colour, maybe a little more icy blue as I just love that contrast with the raspberries. I also made the pink slightly more purple to feel a bit more modern and edgy - I don'd mind an obviously edited look sometimes, especially when the aesthetic is modern and poppy which I think a plain colour backdrop really brings.
So here we have pretty much the same set up, just on a different backdrop and the hero colour edited too - a completely different vibe right?!
Shot on a 206. CUSTOM COLOUR backdrop available in eco-friendly paper and waterproof vinyl
This means that all the colour is in either the subject or the backdrop and they REALLY stand out in the image and grab your attention. The trick is to make the backdrop colour slightly softer/darker and ensure the highest contrast is in the areas you want people to focus on - the food!
A good test for any image - to see where the attention will go first - is to squint at it and note what still stands out to you. This will be the areas of highest contrast and sharpest focus - that's where your hero should be!
Another editing tip! Clean up your cutlery from reflected colour by using a brush mask and desaturating it - makes such a difference to elevate your images and only takes a few seconds.
Shot on the 'BRAY' deep pink/purple hand-painted effect backdrop available in eco-friendly paper and waterproof vinyl
This trick of using similar colours, a dark backdrop and grey/black props is very popular with top foodie photographers and actually quite easy to achieve - just make sure your light is coming in low from any side (not high, over your set) so you get lots of long, deep shadows and contrasting highlights on the tallest bits.
Blocking light coming onto the backdrop next to your light (or window) or positioning the light to come up slightly from below your set level will also leave the base backdrop looking softer and darker.
This is perhaps my fave version of all 5! What do you think?
Shot on the 'BRAY' deep pink/purple hand-painted effect backdrop available in eco-friendly paper and waterproof vinyl and edited to make more red!
This is another classic styling move to make the hero immediately pop and really celebrate its colours - one for beautiful and rare produce for sure!
Does this approach to colour have its limitations? Maybe, but for making a big and instant impact on social media where graphic images of only a few colours do best (statistically, not just my opinion!) this is a winning strategy.
Shot on the 'KYOTO' black hand-painted effect backdrop available in eco-friendly paper and waterproof vinyl
You can find our custom backdrop options here - there are flat colours, 3D effects and more.
I hope you've enjoyed seeing the results of my little experiment and find the tips useful! Comment below if you have any questions :)
Happy styling,
Sophie
Like my styling and photography work? You can book me here or learn with me here!
]]>Emma has been photographing food for her recipe blog since 2015 and for the last few years almost exclusively shooting with our backdrops.
Her brand style uses blues, yellows and whites (gorgeous colours for shooting with food) making her content instantly recognisable and POP on everyones feeds.
Have you heard the phrase 'always us, never boring'? Its a great motto for keeping things on brand and cohesive but still being playful and mixing things up - Emma's work is a brilliant example of this, using key colours but mixing up backdrop designs and textures to bring variety.
]]>Emma has been photographing food for her recipe blog since 2015 and for the last few years almost exclusively shooting with our backdrops.
Her brand style uses blues, yellows and whites (gorgeous colours for shooting with food) making her content instantly recognisable and POP on everyones feeds.
Have you heard the phrase 'always us, never boring'? Its a great motto for keeping things on brand and cohesive but still being playful and mixing things up - Emma's work is a brilliant example of this, using key colours but mixing up backdrop designs and textures to bring variety.
'My brand colours were another pandemic epiphany. Conveniently, my brother works in animation and marketing. So he helped me rebrand and develop the Kitchen Mason colour pallete. There wasn’t too much thought behind it other than, I said I liked these colours the best. So we went with it!'
And I agree; branding doesn't always need to be overcomplicated! As with your styling and photography - go where you naturally go and don't try to force it - if you love blue, use blue!
Check out Emma's latest photography using our vintage tile effect in her bespoke turquoise version - scroll down to see behind the scenes too; Emma shoots 99.9% of her content in her bedroom by a huge window using only natural light!
It's super easy to order -
Please note - the images on this custom listing are just examples; we will make your design as per your instructions.
And we will of course send the designs for your approval before sending to print so there are no surprises!
Want custom plain, graduated, graphic or 3D colour effects? Check all the custom backdrop options out here.
I think they work really well and I can't wait to see more of Emmas photography as she creates more recipes on these backdrops! Thanks for letting us feature your work and creative process Emma!
Check out more of Emma's photography and recipes on her website.
Thanks for reading! If you have any questions please pop them below and we will be happy to share more info!
Or do tell, which BVS backdrop would you like to recreate in your own colours...?
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You hopefully already know that we're big fans of the sea having grown up sailing off Cornwall and now surfing as a family too.
We support Surfers Against Sewage with a regular monthly donation but we also wanted to create a backdrop to help generate donations to another charity, one that spreads the word about food sustainability and what we can do within our own industry to protect our oceans.
And we think the MSC do that brilliantly!
So with one of our new designs, Surf, we have limited it to ONLY being produced in sustainable paper (our vinyl backdrops are 50-60% recycled and recyclable but they're not as sustainable!) AND for every sale we will donate £5 to the MSC.
This will be done on a monthly basis here - you can donate too if you like!
]]>NEW 'Muriel' red formica effect photography backdrop
You hopefully already know that we're big fans of the sea having grown up sailing off Cornwall and now surfing as a family too.
We support Surfers Against Sewage with a regular monthly donation but we also wanted to create a backdrop to help generate donations to another charity, one that spreads the word about food sustainability and what we can do within our own industry to protect our oceans.
And we think the MSC do that brilliantly!
So with one of our new designs, Surf, we have limited it to ONLY being produced in sustainable paper (our vinyl backdrops are 50-60% recycled and recyclable but they're not as sustainable!) AND for every sale we will donate £5 to the MSC.
This will be done on a monthly basis here - you can donate too if you like!
NEW 'Surf' blue watercolour effect photography backdrop - £5 from every sale will be donated to the MSC
I hope you like this new backdrop - I played with watercolours and then blended the layers to create a mix of colours but keep those gorgeous organic edges clear - I love how the paint bursts out into the paper like waves crashing!
Happy styling, and thank you for helping us support these amazing charities, it would help us greatly when, if you do buy the Surf backdrop, you tag us @blackvelvetstyling and @mscecolabel to spread the word about our sustainable backdrops and the MSC's brilliant work protecting our marine life!
Thank you,
Sophie + co
PS - this isn't a formal partnership of any sorts with the MSC, its just something we want to do! We will keep you updated on our monthly donations.
NEW 'Distillery' grey weathered metal effect photography backdrop
NEW 'Hide' cut tree log effect photography backdrop
NEW 'San Jose' yellow tile effect photography backdrop
NEW 'San Jose' yellow tile effect photography backdrop
NEW 'Havana' oxidised metal effect photography backdrop
Hey hey, thanks for stopping by today!
Because printing is done with CMYK inks we need your colour reference as a CMYK number reference. (CMYK refers to the four ink plates used in colour printing: cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (black).)
You can convert RGB (web colours) or Pantone (ink refs) to CMYK numbers but because this is already taking one action or process/edit we recommend checking the CMYK colour next to your original to be sure it is very close and still suitable.
On top of that we have the issue of screen calibration and the fact we are all seeing things on different screens. Not a problem per say as adjusting colours (especially block colours) can be a quick fix with some easy edits, but it is something to consider.
This Google online colour selection tool is helpful as it shows the Hex (web) colour which you can select and then it gives you the RGB and CMYK codes below.
Generally speaking; allow a 5% tolerance on your CMYK ref and expect it be very close in hue but perhaps slightly lighter or darker once printed.
On the images below you can see my original backdrop colour in the top image, and the edited version below where I have made it less green to match the plate. This was done with a quick 'replace colour' edit in Photoshop but you could also do this in Lightroom or Capture One if you prefer by masking the backdrop area and making your adjustments.
If you're confident in your CMYK colour you can add that to the notes at checkout when you order but if you need any help at all just get in touch!
Please note this wasn't the intention for this custom backdrop - it printed the colour I wanted for another shot but I then chose to use it again here and the only plastic plate I could find at the right size was this more blue one so I edited the backdrop to match! A stylists life right?!
Shot with a custom colour backdrop. Direction + styling by Olson, photographer Bernacki.
The printing technique uses dots to mix 4 inks (the CYMK colours) that blend and create your desired colour. Up close you will see tiny dots like in an impressionist painting, but from further away the dots merge together to create a smooth overall effect.
Custom printed backdrops will not look as consistent as coloured paper or card which is made with a pre-mixed dye covering the entire surface. However, our custom coloured backdrops are waterproof (if you choose vinyl) and they are bespoke meaning you can get your perfect colour match - so its down to you to decide which is the priority for you! (I have a good selection of both.)
With this in mind, we don't recommend shooting small items like jewellery or paper crafts on custom colour backdrops unless you don't mind this small dotty texture.
On the example below you can see the slight texture on the bottom surface used as the tabletop - I don't mind it in this instance, in fact I think it adds to the image. But if I did want to smooth it out I would just select the background in Lightroom and take the texture all the way down as you can see in the screengrab (you could also play with the Clarity and Sharpness).
You will notice on all of the images that when the flat and gradient colour backdrops are used behind or out of focus they look perfectly smooth.
Another example with a custom blue backdrop shot overhead and focused very close to the backdrop due to the height of the eggs; followed by another overhead on a custom red backdrop where the focus was about two inches from the backdrop allowing it to soften off. Just this small amount of distance is enough to smooth out and blend the dots (depending on your F stop of course.)
Shot with custom colour backdrops. Direction + styling by Olson, photographer Bernacki.
Because of the printing process and colour mixing mentioned above, we recommend using similar colours in graduated designs.
Orange to red, yellow to white, turquoise to blue etc will all work really well as a graduated, fading design.
If we try to mix more contrasting colours we run the risk of seeing lines instead of blended, softly changing hues.
I have experimented with this a lot on recent shoots and where the design hasn't printed so well due to the colours being quite different I have been able to edit out the subtle (but annoying!) lines in the same way by reducing the texture and playing with the colours in post-production, but of course this isn't ideal.
We will always let you know if we think a colour combo won't work so well and of course we always send proofs of all custom designs for your approval before going to print.
Shot with a custom gradient colour backdrop. Direction, production + styling by Olson, photographer Rob Smalley.
Shot with a custom gradient colour backdrop. Styling and photography by Olson.
Working with poppy colours and graphic styling is lots of fun and bang on trend at the mo but don't forget your trusty marble, wood and textured surfaces and backdrops to bring real three-dimensional texture and light and shade.
Unless you're going for a very stylised, editorial or beauty look adding 3D props and surfaces will always make your image feel more dynamic and 'real'.
Mixing smooth and textured surfaces like we do in our homes helps create an authentic lifestyle vibe rather than a classic 'studio' look (you know, where we all know its been shot in a studio and actually you're not even trying to pretend wasn't!)
I love mixing in reclaimed surfaces and furniture with printed backdrops - especially with our new wall 'drop series.
Shot with the ISSY backdrop on the base and a custom colour backdrop behind. Direction + styling by Olson, photographer Bernacki.
Shot with the AMSTERDAM backdrop behind and reclaimed dock wood as the tabletop. Styling and photography by Olson.
Shot with the TEASE curtain backdrop. Direction, production + styling by Olson, photographer Rob Smalley.
If -
That way you have the flexibility but can always cut it down if preferred and then would have two identical smaller backdrops.
All of our vinyl and custom backdrops are available to order in three sizes straight on the product pages and you can order any larger paper designs here.
Our backdrops are stocked in the standard A1 size for same day dispatch Mon-Thurs (unless its a custom backdrop or noted as 'on backorder') and the two larger sizes A0 and XL are printed to order - check out the designs you need for the current lead times.
I'm really enjoying playing with bright colours at the moment, I hope you are too! If you have a favourite image on this page or any feedback or questions please comment below, we love to hear from you!
Happy styling,
Sophie + co
All comments left before 9pm UK on Friday 18th May will be entered into a prize draw to win 3, A1 or 2, A0 custom backdrops of your choice with FREE UK delivery. This competition is open worldwide but shipping will be chargeable to winners outside the UK. See rates here. Good luck!
Shot with a custom colour backdrop. Direction + styling by Olson, photographer Bernacki.
]]>We're huge fans of @lenkas_lens and she also loves styling with our backdrops so its a great match to be collaborating together with Mridul @thesouthasiankitchen on this months @foodartproject challenge - you will see quite a few of our backdrops on Lenka's beautiful Instagram feed!
]]>We're huge fans of @lenkas_lens and she also loves styling with our backdrops so its a great match to be collaborating together with Mridul @thesouthasiankitchen on this months @foodartproject challenge - you will see quite a few of our backdrops on Lenka's beautiful Instagram feed!
The challenge runs from 23rd to 25th April and invites you to explore different ways to capture and hero yellow in your food photography.
Day one, 23rd April - HERO THE COLOUR YELLOW- make it pop and grab the attention in your capture!
Day two, 24th April - INSPIRED BY LENKA - explore how Lenka showcases yellow in her photography and recreate your own version.
Day three, 25th April - EMOTIVE YELLOW - play with the bright colour that evokes feelings of happiness, hope and spontaneity
Beautiful shots by Lenka - get the look with our yellow BUTTERCUP and white SALT backdrops
One runner up will win an A1 or A0 backdrop of their choice from our online range of designs or custom options in your preferred material.
We're also offering 20% off in April with code FOODARTPROJECT20 - minimum spend £18.50 and not in conjunction with any other offers.
The finalists will be announced by @foodartproject soon after the challenge days and a winner will be selected in early May by @lenkas_lens
Pears by @cathlowephoto and lemons by @dinijaphotography - shot on the DRIP and SALT backdrops
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Hey, thanks for visiting the BVS blog!
Scroll down to see how they get creative in sheds, sports stadiums, restaurant kitchens, bedrooms and more; our backdrops really do get around, helping our customers shoot brilliant content no matter where they have to work.
Scroll down to see how they get creative in sheds, sports stadiums, restaurant kitchens, bedrooms and more; our backdrops really do get around, helping our customers shoot brilliant content no matter where they have to work.
That’s the beauty of taking our backdrops with you; even when everywhere around you is chaos you can still transform your shot and create a world of gorgeousness within the frame!
Our backdrops can be moved around easily - replacing heavy wood and stone. Roll them back up in the postal tubes (just don't keep them rolled too long or they will start to keep a curl) or take them on location flat in a carry&store case - which like it says, can also be used for longer storage and easily slides behind a desk or under the sofa to keep your backdrops safe.
Sam @shindmoorcreative taking it to the extreme with product photography in a shed using our Safe black and brown backdrop.
So cool to see how you mix our printed backdrops with real textures, props and surfaces - they combine so well to create a vibe while masking the messy surroundings.
We offer three different sizes of all or our backdrop designs -
If you want a backdrop to use most often as a wall, behind your set we recommend the larger sizes as they will give you more shooting space - especially if you want to take them away from the set to create more depth or drop the focus on them.
That said, if you're shooting single dishes or smaller set ups the standard A1 backdrops can work well behind sets and even be used as infinity curves.
@matt_inwood is the king of simple-yet-stunning food photography focusing on one or two subjects supported by beautiful textures and colours - below he uses the same backdrop Peanut at different angles and as an infinity curve to pull this menu shoot together.
@matt_inwood prefers our sustainable paper backdrops and keeps them safe in a carry&store case.
'My BVS papers are never far from reach!' Matt
Farm Fresh Deliveries have shot their entire online catalogue on our backdrops - using this grey Utopia design as a consistent base for their product photography and the dark wood Galley backdrop for lifestyle and recipe imagery.
Lovely images for freshfarmdeliveries.com shot by @lpeacock_brand_storytelling
Going back to more stylised photography we adore this flatlay styling on the Biarritz backdrop.
Shooting overhead (or top down as some call it) is a trusty favourite for many content creators as it is so quick and easy to set up - just choose your backdrop and you're off! Plus its agreat way to showcase food - straight on to the dish.
Overhead styling is particularly useful when shooting out and about in odd locations and probably the best angle to shoot with a phone camera (just avoid tall props as they will kick out A LOT on that type of lens).
@gabriel_batllemiro creating stunning flatlays on the Biarritz backdrop.
Another example of how flatlays can be created anywhere - if the kitchen is the easiest place to be, shoot there!
@shams_kitchen_table knows how to create a quick but beautiful scene and bounce that natural light back in!
As a thank you we are offering a prize of a £50 BVS gift voucher for the most interesting behind-the-scenes image shown above, as voted for by our readers in the comments section below.
AND each voter will also be entered into a random prize draw to win a £25 voucher - just for voting!
Please vote by commenting your favourite in the comments box at the bottom of this post - you will need to use a valid email address to post the comment. One vote per person please - no cheating.
Every valid (published) vote will be entered into a prizedraw to win a £25 voucher to spend on our store. No cash alternative.
Voting closes Thursday 2nd Feb at 9pm - winners will be announced and notified via email shortly after.
Happy styling,
Sophie
The winner of the voters £25 voucher is - Katie Tyndale, congrats! The voucher is on its way to the email you registered your comment with.
Thanks for reading everyone and for the lovely, supportive comments <3
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It would be easy to tell you what our best sellers are but they're not necessarily what's best for a beginner. We sell to a massive mix of clients ranging from top experts of the food photography industry to global creative agencies, magazine and cookbook publishers, as well as home makers, recipe bloggers and crafters - everyones' needs are unique and everybody's skill level and experience will be different.
At the start of your content creation journey - whether thats as a newly trained photographer, social marketer, maker or crafter - your priorities and budget will be very different to that of a seasoned content creator or somebody with an established prop collection.
As you probably know we have loads of photography backdrop options for you, lots of designs that can work for many different styles depending on your aims for a piece of content and most importantly the story you're trying to tell to connect with your audience.
It would be easy to tell you what our best sellers are but they're not necessarily what's best for a beginner. We sell to a massive mix of clients ranging from top experts of the food photography industry to global creative agencies, magazine and cookbook publishers, as well as home makers, recipe bloggers and crafters - everyones' needs are unique and everybody's skill level and experience will be different.
At the start of your content creation journey - whether that starts as a newly trained photographer, social marketer, maker or crafter - your priorities and budget will be very different to that of a seasoned content creator or somebody with an established prop collection.
But what if you're not sure what style to go with or are worried about committing to a certain look too soon?
What if you have limited photography experience or lighting kit?
But what if you are just beginning your prop collection and don't know where to start?
How will you decide what backdrops to invest in?
We have to kick off with a grey as it will NEVER go out of style.
Amos is a favourite of mine and he's a favourite with our customers too - so he is in fact a best seller - but that's because he genuinely ticks all of the points above and the pros know that!
Amos is a kick ass photography backdrop for beginners because -
Its also detailed but subtle enough to take small products, crafts and jewellery without overpowering your hero.
AND! Being grey (colourless) you can edit quite severely without effecting the backdrop - good if you shoot in low light, on an iphone or just enjoy strong edits.
A fantastic all rounder and a very easy edit in cooler, warmer, bluer etc directions as you can see below! See all the options of the AMOS backdrop here.
Another non-colour backdrop for the same reasons - its timeless and will go with anything, everyone needs a light, white-ish backdrop in their prop collection; especially if you're a food photographer and definitely if you make sweets and baked goods which always look beautiful on white.
Salt works for food, product and still life as it has a soft, subtle texture that doesn't take you in any strong direction towards urban or twee, modern or vintage etc - it's just a reliable, neutral surface with some soft detail and interest that shows that it is a considered choice.
Again it is easy to light as it won't give any glare but you will need to be careful of it looking warm or cold depending on your lighting or time of day that you shoot (light gets bluer as the day gets older). This is easily edited by adjusting with the 'warmth' tool.
Shop Salt in many different options here.
Image by Sharon Cosgrove
Bringing a bit more warmth and personality than the first recommendations, a wooden backdrop is still a safe bet for lots of commercial photography briefs.
Wood brings an organic element and the soft character of natural imperfections and variation, still without pigeon holing us into a specific style or direction. The Boston backdrop can be styled modern or eclectic, bright or moody and edited cooler or warmer depending on the season or story.
As we are getting a little bit darker with this backdrop you may find that you need to consider your lighting more or use a vignette to counteract a bit of glare. You can also play around with the texture or structure settings to get more detail from the wood grain.
We have lots of wood choices in our photography backdrop range but I have chosen Boston to include in my recommendations for beginners as it is less specific; just a classic, warm, characterful wood which will fit with lots of briefs.
Shop the BOSTON backdrop in lots of options here.
OK so we're getting a little bit more daring here, but you will need to have a dark option up your sleeve for anything cosy in the autumn or twinkly at Christmas!
Plus dark images can really pack a punch on social and its a really easy edit on Instagram to knock off the highlights and add a vignette for that moody-foody look.
The Trig backdrop is a steely dark grey with lovely mottling and metal patina that can be bought out as much or as little as you wish with the texture and structure editing tools.
Your lighting will need to be very soft or diffused (tracing paper or thin white fabric over windows) and you may even block the light from hitting the surface with some black card, but if you get it right with some simple adjustments, dark backdrops can be your best friend!
The Trig backdrop is available in A1 vinyl here.
Almost a neutral, blue is probably the most used colour in photography after greys and natural tones. I'm choosing this light duckegg blue because I think it flatters food - especially cakes and bakes - but also works with crafts and jewellery - gold looks great against it!
The Jolie backdrop is a really soft, mottled effect, very light and airy so it doesn't steal the lime light. It's perhaps more spring/summer than autumn/winter but its important to have a few fresher options when we turn the corner from Christmas content so i think it's a great backdrop to have in your collection.
Again it is easy to light and won't give any glare so it's perfect if shooting on your phone for quick content creation.
The Jolie photography backdrop is available in paper and vinyl.
The Jolie backdrop edited more green here
I hope this has been helpful for you, please feel free to get in touch with any questions, happy to help!
Happy styling,
Sophie
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Moy Park has gifted its charity partner Alzheimer’s Society over £100,000 this Christmas after reaching another funding milestone.
Teams from across Moy Park have been raising awareness of Alzheimer’s Society and the work they do to help those affected by dementia through activities including sky dives, quizzes, marathons and more recently a beautiful recipe calendar.
And we're thrilled to see our backdrops have been chosen by Sharon and her creative team to style the recipes throughout the year! Here's a peek at the dishes - but if you'd like the recipes you'll have to grab one of the last few calendars by...
]]>Moy Park has gifted its charity partner Alzheimer’s Society over £100,000 this Christmas after reaching another funding milestone.
Teams from across Moy Park have been raising awareness of Alzheimer’s Society and the work they do to help those affected by dementia through activities including sky dives, quizzes, marathons and more recently a beautiful recipe calendar.
And we're thrilled to see our backdrops have been chosen by Sharon and her creative team to style the recipes throughout the year! Here's a peek at the dishes - but if you'd like the recipes you'll have to grab one of the last few calendars by emailing aaron.dixon (at) moypark.com. Moy Park will continue to donate to the Alzheimer’s Society.
Shot on the EARTHA photo backdrop
Shot on the COTTON rough white plaster effect photography backdrop
Shot on the TOMORROW scratchy blue surface photography backdrop
Shot on the SALT mottled white and sand effect photo backdrop
I'm sure you're agree they're all beautiful images and very tempting dishes!
To see more of Sharon's photography work please visit her website. To read more about Moy Park's fundraising visit their news page.
For more information and for advice about dementia, visit Alzheimer’s Society’s website at www.alzheimers.org.uk.
]]>Now its time to vote for the overall winner - such a hard task as they're all amazing!
Below we will list the winners in order of winning throughout the year and link to the challenge blog post which gives ideas and tips for styling and shooting with the technique they each used in their monthly challenge. (These blog posts are a really valuable resource for anybody wanting to learn or explore photography and styling!)
Please vote by commenting your favourite in the comments box at the bottom of this post - you will need to use a valid email address to validate the comment. One vote per person please - no cheating.
]]>Now its time to vote for the overall winner - such a hard task as they're all amazing!
Below we will list the winners in order of winning throughout the year and link to the challenge blog post which gives ideas and tips for styling and shooting with the technique they each used in the challenge. (These blog posts are a really valuable resource for anybody wanting to learn or explore photography and styling!)
Winners! Encourage more votes by sharing a link to this page via whatsapp, text, email and on your socials!
Please vote by commenting your favourite in the comments box at the bottom of this post - you will need to use a valid email address to validate the comment. One vote per person please - no cheating.
Good luck everyone and thanks again to everyone who took part, our brand ambassadors and guest judges and for allowing us to be part of this amazing community - we look forward to sharing more with you in 2023.
January winner - @samanthadacosta_ using the Chiaroscuro light technique
February winner - @in.kuss_photo_graphy using the monochrome colour technique
March winner - @jasminakazemier using the Editorial styling technique
April winner - @themarmaladeteapot using the framing styling technique
May winner - @carlabarberphotography using the hard lighting technique
June winner - @ulricakrii using the stacking composition technique
July winner - @krishcreativediary using the flow styling technique
August winner - @themarmaladeteapot using nature in photography technique
October winner - @dinas_delights2 using moody lighting technique
You must enter a valid email to comment. One vote per person.
Voting closes at midnight on Sunday 18th December 2022.
The overall winner of the £100 voucher prize will be announced on Monday 19th December 2022 after the votes have been counted and verified. The winner will be notified via email as well as announced on this blog.
One winner of a £25 voucher will be drawn from the valid comments on Monday 19th December 2022 and notified via email as well as on this blog with an update of the winner (first name only will appear or as you enter in the comments).
Our handcrafted surfaces are a luxurious treat for those who are taking their photography to the next level and are ready for investment pieces. The gift set of two (or 4) hand-painted backdrops and gift set of two bespoke canvas backdrops offer a rare opportunity to give a generous gift and enjoy up to 25% off.
We can work with you to create designs that they'll love for Christmas delivery or you can surprise them with a gift card and details of this gift, for them to work with us on the designs after the holidays in January.
When you choose 'January production' you unlock an extra 5% off!
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If your friend is quietly confident and knows their style our gift sets of four backdrops and a carry case will be a welcome surprise.
You can tell us the backdrops you'd like to include or we can scope out their work and suggest a selection to suit their style for you - all perfectly presented in a BVS carry and store case.
Shop paper or vinyl gift sets - paper are better for the eco-conscious, and jewellery or stationery designers, vinyl will suit food styling more as they're waterproof.
Our handcrafted surfaces are a luxurious treat for those who are taking their photography to the next level and are ready for investment pieces. The gift set of two (or 4) hand-painted backdrops and gift set of two bespoke canvas backdrops offer a rare opportunity to give a generous gift and enjoy up to 25% off.
We can work with you to create designs that they'll love for Christmas delivery or you can surprise them with a gift card and details of this gift, for them to work with us on the designs after the holidays in January.
When you choose 'January production' you unlock an extra 5% off!
Our handcrafted surfaces are rarely discounted so this is a great opportunity to take advantage of the gift set price saving up to £77 off in November and December even if you want delivery in January (we know lots of customers wait for the gift set offer to buy for themselves too!).
Know someone struggling to make the move from their 9-5 to their dream job or passion project? Gift them some training (and a huge confidence boost) with us over on The Styling Handbook and get 20% off all orders with code BVSG2220 - valid until the 31st December.
Pick up gift vouchers (with 20% off the face value!) to be used at a later date on workshops, online courses, zoom sessions or 1-to-1 training or grab one of the last spots on a styling and photography workshop in 2022.
Save £60 off a styling workshop space with your voucher code - BVSG2220
Including two, A1 paper backdrops perfect for the time of year - one of which is a brand new design, exclusive to our super-stylers!
Start a 4 or 6 month subscription in December and save up to HALF-OFF your first set - or choose our standard easy-in-and-out subscription to stay flexible.
4 Month Subscription Gift offer - save 1/3 off your first set, ONLY £21.71 delivered (10% off and free delivery every month after)
6 Month Subscription Gift offer - save 50% off your first set, ONLY £16.20 delivered (10% off and free delivery every month after)
Monthly flexible subscription set - save 10% off (SAVE £4.15 and get FREE delivery each month) just £32.40
As boring as they may be to unwrap (or open the email as is more the case) a thoughtful gift voucher can actually be a really lovely treat - especially when we all have a bit of down time to enjoy browsing and choosing how to send them.
I hope thats given you some ideas!
Happy styling,
Sophie + co
]]>Hey and ho!
Here you will find lots of boring but very important info regarding order deadlines, last post dates and our holiday working (dispatching) days.
AND email us immediately with your references/colour charts (if we haven't already discussed on email beforehand). Your backdrop commissions can't be started until we know what you want and if we can't confirm the details of your order there will be delays in the production.
Here you will find lots of boring but very important info regarding order deadlines, last post dates and our holiday working (and dispatching) days.
AND email us immediately with your references/colour charts (if we haven't already discussed on email beforehand). Your backdrop commissions can't be started until we know what you want!
Our production schedule is filling up so don't delay if you want us to squeeze you in before Christmas!
As usual all orders must be placed by 1pm for same working day dispatch Monday to Thursday and if your order has anything on backorder (noted in red) it will be held for up to 7 days for your complete order to ship together - so if you want it sooner don't include items on backorder in your order!
Thursday 22nd December - open 9am to 3pm
Friday 23rd December - closed
Saturday 24th December - closed
Sunday 25th December - closed
Monday 26th December - closed
Tuesday 27th December - closed
Wednesday 28th December - 9am to 3pm
Thursday 29th December - 9am to 3pm
Friday 30th December - closed
Saturday 31st December - closed
Sunday 1st January - closed
Monday 2nd January - closed
Tuesday 3rd January - 9am to 3pm
Then we go back to our usual working hours of Mon - Fri 9am to 5pm and dispatching orders Monday to Thursday, except UK bank holidays.
Please understand that if you order on a weekend or 'closed' weekday your order will be dispatched the following dispatching day.
Thank you! And happy holidays xx
]]>This month we are exploring bringing in deep shadows and leaning into the moodier side of photography.
When stylists and directors talk about 'mood' we're referring to darkness and allowing there to be low-key areas in an image, whether thats the immediate shadows created naturally by pieces in the image or areas of darkness created by light-shaping in other ways, there is a choice to leave them dark or even emphasise the shadows instead of reflecting light back in and lifting the brightness.
When choosing props and backdrops it is easier to use darker options as they will of course add to the dark mood and deepen the shadows rather than a white or light backdrop which would act as a reflector, lightening everything on it, including the shadows.
Thats not to say you can't create moody images on lighter sets - just that it will take more consideration and probably be high contrast if you want the whites correctly exposed next to deep shadows. (If you like this look you might like the CHIAROSCURO theme we explored in January)
]]>Our monthly challenges are open to everyone in the creative community, hosted via Instagram, co-hosted by myself (Sophie!) and some of our brand ambassadors – Anna, Suze, Matt or Patrick – plus special guest judges each month.
For each challenge we will share professional styling and photography tips and ideas that follow a monthly theme. The tips and themes explored should be useful in all still life photography - including food, product and lifestyle content.
We hope to inspire our community and be inspired ourselves – I always find it fascinating how people can interpret things differently and use the same theory in lots of different creative ways!
Cath is a food and portrait photographer I have admired for a while now - her style leans into fine art and is always impactful; no matter what the subject Cath creates magic and drama in every shot.
Cath has won many awards for her food photography, three through the highly prestigious international Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year. She works for food and drink brands, restaurants, hotels and vineyards, while also shooting food & drink in her own fully equipped home studio.
'food and drink photography endlessly fascinates me… there is no end to the play of light, shadows and textures in this delicious medium'
This month we are exploring bringing in deep shadows and leaning into the moodier side of photography.
When stylists and directors talk about 'mood' we're referring to darkness and allowing there to be low-key areas in an image, whether thats the immediate shadows created naturally by pieces in the image or areas of darkness created by light-shaping in other ways, there is a choice to leave them dark or even emphasise the shadows instead of reflecting light back in and lifting the brightness.
When choosing props and backdrops it is easier to use darker options as they will of course add to the dark mood and deepen the shadows rather than a white or light backdrop which would act as a reflector, lightening everything on it, including the shadows.
Thats not to say you can't create moody images on lighter sets (see a set up I switched between light and dark moody sets further down!) - just that it will take more consideration and probably be high contrast if you want the whites correctly exposed next to deep shadows. (If you like this look you might like the CHIAROSCURO theme we explored in January)
In moody images you don't necessarily have to have the full spectrum of greys from white to black as you would expect in chiaroscuro captures - you might want to keep it all quite low key with just a few subtle highlights on your focal point.
How you use mood is entirely up to you! The shadows could be hard and clearly edged or soft patches of darkness that feather away gently. Explore masking light off your set with black card both to the sides and above if you can.
As with all creative techniques there are no rules - only a few starting points or guidelines - the only marker of a 'good' capture is if it fits the brief, and that is yours to decide!
Read on for more styling, photography and editing tips for moody photography.
Moody drinks photography for an Autumnal spiced cocktail recipe. Shot on the DURANGO red rust effect backdrop.
A summery capture by Suze @gourmetglow with added drama and impact thanks to those lovely long and deep shadows. Shot on the PESCA blush marble backdrop.
To get the glow on these candles and create shadow across the left hand side I masked off all of the light apart from a slim channel coming across the set where the pumpkin is. I kept the cream pumpkin slightly under-exposed so the image still feels cosy (or spooky!) . Shot on a plum version of our Paprika hand-painted backdrop.
Lovely soft shadows in this moody image by Anna @anna_janecka where she has also used monochromatic props to keep the colours tonal and cosy. Shot on the ENCANTO terracotta tile effect backdrop.
In this clever image Cath
@cathlowephoto has really emphasised the form of the pears and depth in the image through deep, hard shadows. Shot with the ARIEL deep sea green backdrop.
Suze @gourmetglow has created beautifully-deep, soft shadows in this shot making the radicchio and honey pot glow on the COPPER backdrop
A lovely, moody image by Anna @anna_janecka with the focal point perfectly exposed while still feeling warm and cosy. Shot with the ZEST multi-coloured rust backdrop.
I hope that’s given you some ideas and inspiration to play with mood in your photography and I hope you will enter our October challenge!
Each entry will be judged on how you’ve used the technique and how you capture the essence of your subject with it.
We look forward to seeing your posts and announcing the four finalists on Instagram soon after the competition closes at midnight on the 25th October 2022.
Here's two moody set-ups of the same food and props on a dark and light backdrop - I think the trick to going moody on lighter backdrops may be keeping the tones warm (so the shadows don't go blue)
On the GALLEY dark wood backdrop
On the SHIRLEY white and grey marble effect backdrop
Competition Rules
Entries don’t have to include our backdrops, our monthly capture challenges are about exploring different techniques.
Entries must stay on your feed for the duration of the competition and judging period if you are a finalist.
Four finalists will be selected shortly after close and announced via our Instagram stories.
The winner and runner up will be voted for by the public via our Instagram stories, this will be live for 24hrs.
The winner and runner up will be announced via our Instagram stories soon after close.
We only need your email address to deliver the prize. We never ask for personal or bank details via email or private messages.
No purchase necessary to enter.
No minimum order necessary on the voucher prizes. They will be valid for 12 months.
Open worldwide.
All decisions are final.
Not in conjunction or affiliated with Instagram in anyway.
A low-key image with deep, moody shadows shot on the THOR granite effect backdrop. I love how the shadows envelope the eggs!
Behind the scenes on the egg image - deepening the shadows on the left with the big black board and blocking light off the set where the light would hit it the strongest - all to keep it darker, to deepen the shadows and create more impact.
]]>Royal Mail are taking strike action - please plan ahead as much as possible (I know that's so hard to do in our industry, sorry!)
The Communication Workers Union has called on its members who collect, sort and deliver for Royal Mail to strike on the following dates:
I would expect delays and interruption to all RM services on those dates and the dates in between when they will be trying to catch up on a backlog.
If you need your order for a shoot date - its best to be safe! RM are hinting at more strikes in Nov and Dec too - we will let you know as soon as we do.
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The Communication Workers Union has called on its members who collect, sort and deliver for Royal Mail to strike on the following dates:
I would expect delays and interruption to all RM services on those dates and the dates in between when they will be trying to catch up on a backlog.
If you need your order for a shoot date - its best to be safe!
RM are hinting at more strikes in Nov and Dec too - we will let you know as soon as we do.
]]>You can now get all of our backdrop designs on the same 60% recycled vinyl material in XL size - a whopping 100 x 150 cm!
Choose from the same range, printed at the same quality on our unique, extra-thick and smooth matte vinyl - which as you will know if you've shot with it before, holds a lovely flat shape or curve helping you avoid tonnes of editing.
You can now get all of our backdrop designs on the same 60% recycled vinyl material in XL size - a whopping 100 x 150 cm!
Choose from the same range, printed at the same quality on our unique, extra-thick and smooth matte vinyl - which as you will know if you've shot with it before, holds a lovely flat shape or curve helping you avoid tonnes of editing.
To order the XL size just add item '3300. Extra large 1x1.5m vinyl backdrop' to your cart and tell us in the notes which design you would like printing.
You can see all of the designs available in the standard A1 vinyl section.
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This may be forever, it may just be over autumn/winter, we'll keep you posted. (Teehee)
]]>Featured image shot on the 'Encanto' terracotta tile effect backdrop available in waterproof, extra-thick vinyl here and sustainable paper here.
This may be forever, it may just be over autumn/winter, we'll keep you posted. (Teehee)
The point is - if you need backdrops for a shoot on Monday; make sure your order is placed by 1pm on Thursday!
Our online shop, customer service and social channels will remain open and on hand to help on Fridays - only order dispatching is changing.
Our office hours remain the same; 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (exc UK bank holidays).
If you have any questions or need help placing your order in time please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Happy Autumn styling,
Sophie + co]]>I wanted to shoot some rustic food with a freshly-picked, home-grown 'garden shed' vibe on our new 'Jack' backdrop so this recipe offered the perfect opportunity to style and enjoy these leafy homegrown apples.
I've given the ice cream a slightly grown up twist by infusing the cream with rosemary before making into ice cream - it balances the sweet caramel, as does tossing your quartered apples in lemon juice before assembling them in your oven dish.
I hope you enjoy this sweet, sticky, creamy mess!
]]>I wanted to shoot some rustic food with a freshly-picked, home-grown 'garden shed' vibe on our new 'Jack' backdrop so this recipe offered the perfect opportunity to style and enjoy these leafy homegrown apples.
I've given the ice cream a slightly grown up twist by infusing the cream with rosemary before making into ice cream - it balances the sweet caramel, as does tossing your quartered apples in lemon juice before assembling them in your oven dish.
I hope you enjoy this sweet, sticky, creamy mess!
Shot on the 'Jack' wooden workbench effect photography backdrop
Ingredients
300g pre-rolled puff pastry
plain flour, for dusting
4-6 apples (depending on their size and the size of your dish)
Juice of 1 lemon
100g caster sugar
85g unsalted butter, chilled and diced
ice cream, to serve
Method
Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
Roll the pastry on a dusted surface and cut in a circle approx 1 inch larger than your final dish. Lightly prick all over with a fork, place on a baking sheet and freeze while preparing the apples.
Peel, quarter and core the apples. Put aside in a bowl and toss in the lemon juice.
Put the sugar in a flameproof oven dish or an ovenproof heavy-based frying pan and place over a medium-high heat. Cook the sugar for 5-7 mins to an amber caramel syrup that’s starting to smoke, then turn off the heat and stir in the diced butter.
To assemble the tarte tatin, arrange the apple quarters very tightly in a circle around the edge of the final oven proof dish, rounded-side down, then fill in the middle. Pour or brush over the caramel - it will naturally fill the base of the dish too.
Bake in the oven for 30 mins, then remove and place the disc of frozen pastry on top. Tuck the edges down the inside of the dish and prick a few holes in the pastry with a knife.
Bake for a further 40 mins until the pastry is golden brown and crisp.
Allow to cool to room temperature (be wary of very hot sugar!) before running a knife around the edge of the dish and plating the other way up to show the caramel apples.
Serve with vanilla ice cream or infuse your cream with rosemary first to make an extra special rosemary vanilla ice cream!
Shot on the 'Jack' wooden workbench effect photography backdrop
]]>I have been working on these designs for the last month or so and have just had the final samples back; I wasn't going to launch them until September (when we'll all probably feel a bit more worky and a bit less summer-party!) however, I realise we will be ending the 3for2 offer at the end of August and it feels a bit mean to do that and then drop a batch of brand new designs!
So I'm breaking the mould here and showing them to you before we have had the delivery of stock so you can pre-order using the 3for2 offer if you want to take advantage of the deal but are happy to wait until September for delivery of your complete order.
All of these designs will be available in the standard A1 size on sustainable paper (£18.50) and waterproof vinyl (£32.50) for dispatch the week of 5th September. As always you can also order larger custom prints and have the paper backdrops professionally mounted onto MDF boards - more info on that here.
Shop all the latest NEW backdrops here.
]]>
I have been working on these designs for the last month or so and have just had the final samples back; I wasn't going to launch them until September (when we'll all probably feel a bit more worky and a bit less summer-party!) however, I realise we will be ending the 3for2 offer at the end of August and it feels a bit mean to do that and then drop a batch of brand new designs!
So I'm breaking the mould here and showing them to you before we have had the delivery of stock so you can pre-order using the 3for2 offer if you want to take advantage of the deal but are happy to wait until September for delivery of your complete order.
All of these designs will be available in the standard A1 size on sustainable paper (£18.50) and waterproof vinyl (£32.50) for dispatch the week of 5th September. As always you can also order larger custom prints and have the paper backdrops professionally mounted onto MDF boards - more info on that here.
Shop all the latest NEW backdrops here.
Available in sustainable paper and waterproof vinyl
Available in sustainable paper and waterproof vinyl
Available in sustainable paper and waterproof vinyl
Available in sustainable paper and waterproof vinyl
Available in sustainable paper and waterproof vinyl
Available in sustainable paper and waterproof vinyl
Our monthly challenges are open to everyone in the creative community, hosted via Instagram, co-hosted by myself (Sophie!) and some of our brand ambassadors – Anna, Suze, Matt or Patrick – plus special guest judges each month.
For each challenge we will share professional styling and photography tips and ideas that follow a monthly theme. The tips and themes explored should be useful in all still life photography - including food, product and lifestyle content.
We hope to inspire our community and be inspired ourselves – I always find it fascinating how people can interpret things differently and use the same theory in lots of different creative ways!
]]>Our monthly challenges are open to everyone in the creative community, hosted via Instagram, co-hosted by myself (Sophie!) and some of our brand ambassadors – Anna, Suze, Matt or Patrick – plus special guest judges each month.
For each challenge we will share professional styling and photography tips and ideas that follow a monthly theme. The tips and themes explored should be useful in all still life photography - including food, product and lifestyle content.
We hope to inspire our community and be inspired ourselves – I always find it fascinating how people can interpret things differently and use the same theory in lots of different creative ways!
Viola Minerva Virtamo is a photographer (and stylist) , designer, videographer, director and author of five books. Her style is so beautiful and appears to be effortless but I'm sure has taken many years to develop and perfect! If you don't already go give Viola a follow on Instagram for mind-blowing inspiration.
'My passion is to tell stories through my work. To evoke emotions. To make people slow down in this hectic world. No matter if it’s about photographing a cookbook, designing a logo or filming a brand film, there’s always THE story waiting to be told. And that’s why I love doing all these different things. They’re all different possibilities for me to create something beautiful and memorable.'
Viola has a strong connection to nature which is embodied in her work, often framed with nature or even venturing outside to immerse her scene in it.
This month we are exploring bringing nature into our photography. Of course this is easily done if you are creating fresh food using raw produce, but we want to go a step further and look at incorporating stems, grasses, twigs, seeds, bark and other natural materials - August is the perfect time to be collecting these kinds of props (and Autumn too if you want red leaves!) that can be dried and used over the winter.
Fresh flowers are always beautiful but the less-expected, maybe a little past-it natural props can feel softer and more authentic. The risk with pretty florals and fresh produce is that they can be so stunning they take attention away from your product or food - its a balancing act to capture their beauty and enhance the image through it, without it being overpowering and completely captivating. Unless the flower or produce is your focal point of course!
Natural props could be used -
As with all styling techniques there are no rules - only a few starting points or guidelines - the only marker of a 'good' capture is if it fits the brief, and that is yours to decide!
I hope you will join us in exploring this months theme and enjoy bringing more nature into your scenes in unexpected ways.
Read on for more styling, photography and editing tips for this months theme.
Beautiful wisteria petals elevate Suze @gourmetglow shot from pretty to styling perfection! Shot on the Peanut backdrop.
Using dried grass and Honesty pods to style products - I love how the grass seeds dip in and out of focus. Shot on a White/Neutral still life canvas.
I used red Creeping Virginia leaves here to crown the cake and also pull the viewers eye from the back to the front of the image, drawing along the detail of the antique books. The Quay (base) and Whitby (back wall) backdrops were used here.
@anna_janecka using beautiful leafy lemons on the Ariel backdrop
I hope that’s given you some ideas and inspiration bring more nature in to your photography and I hope you will enter our August challenge!
Each entry will be judged on how you’ve used the technique and how you capture the essence of your subject with it.
We look forward to seeing your posts and announcing the four finalists on Instagram soon after the competition closes at midnight on the 31st August 2022.
Competition Rules
Entries don’t have to include our backdrops, our monthly capture challenges are about exploring different techniques.
Entries must stay on your feed for the duration of the competition and judging period if you are a finalist.
Four finalists will be selected shortly after close and announced via our Instagram stories.
The winner and runner up will be voted for by the public via our Instagram stories, this will be live for 24hrs.
The winner and runner up will be announced via our Instagram stories soon after close.
We only need your email address to deliver the prize. We never ask for personal or bank details via email or private messages.
No purchase necessary to enter.
No minimum order necessary on the voucher prizes. They will be valid for 12 months.
Open worldwide.
All decisions are final.
Not in conjunction or affiliated with Instagram in anyway.
Here I've used my trusty dried grasses and seed heads to soften a product shot on the Draper backdrop.
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