How to use infinity curves in food and product photography

What actually is an infinity curve?

You might be wondering what an infinity curve actually is! In simple terms, an infinity curve (also called a cove or scoop) uses a single photography backdrop to form both the floor and the wall of your set in one continuous curve. In large studios these are often permanent built structures, but for food and product photography you can create the same effect on a smaller scale using a vinyl photography backdrop.

The defining feature of an infinity curve is the lack of joins. With no corner or hard angle, shadows don’t collect and there’s no visual horizon line cutting across the image. The result is a seamless photography background that feels clean and uninterrupted.

Using one continuous photography background automatically reduces visual elements and colour variation. The absence of shadow lines keeps everything clean and simple, which helps the subject become the clear focal point. They’re also particularly useful if you need space for text or graphics, as there are no joins or shadows to compete with overlays.

For home photographers there are practical advantages too. Infinity curves are inexpensive (fewer backdrops), quick to set up and work well in small spaces. A kitchen worktop against a wall or a tabletop with a simple support behind the backdrop is often all you need. The curve also helps hide surrounding clutter outside the frame.

What backdrop works best as a seamless background?

To create a curve you need something flexible. Our smooth matte vinyl photography backdrops hold a lovely curve, helping you avoid tonnes of editing.

As an infinity curve is stylised, solid organic textures such as woodgrain, marble and tiles are best avoided — as they don’t naturally bend, the curve instantly looks wrong!

The best backdrops have subtle, abstract qualities and a fairly consistent tone across the design, helping to maintain the illusion of continuous space. A great choice is our Peanut brown photography backdrop, which features a sandy-brown mottled design that works brilliantly with curved set ups.

What angle should I use to shoot?

The most effective camera angles for infinity curves are low and straight-on, roughly at the height of your subject. This does two things. First, it reduces how much of the curved transition area is visible, which is the hardest area to light cleanly. Second, it allows the subject to sit near the front of the set, leaving more space behind and helping depth fall away naturally.

Shooting straight-on at subject height has a similar flattening effect to flat-lay in that it reduces perceived depth, but it still allows you to create layers.

Because of this angle, taller subjects tend to work best – drinks, cakes, burgers, candles or vases  – as they fill more of the frame. Flatter foods can seem overly compressed from this viewpoint.

How do I style a vinyl photography backdrop?

Infinity curves can work for both light, airy images and darker, moodier styling.

Aim to keep your backdrop in a similar tonal range to your props: lighter props tend to work best with a lighter backdrop, while darker props sit more naturally against darker tones. It gives the whole setup a more cohesive, intentional feel.

How to light darker photography backdrops

It’s usually easier to pair dark photography backdrops with moody lighting setups and light backdrops with brighter ones. For darker moods, you’ll often need to flag (block) light hitting the back wall of the curve  – typically from the light side, and sometimes from above as well. Black card or foamboard works really well for this – you can simply fold in half to stand it up.

With darker surfaces, you’ll often find the curved area catches the light more. A flag can help soften this – or try strategically moving a prop to break up the reflection.

Here’s how the lighting evolved for the top image using the setup below:

• firstly, turning the set slightly away from the light source.
• adding vertical black card opposite the light to (flag) block the light falling across the backdrop. 
• introducing a bit of soft diffusion across the light source using a diffuser panel (just visible on the left in the last shot).

What focal depth should I use?

Infinity curves look particularly effective when allowed to fall out of focus as much as your lens allows. A shallower depth of field helps maintain that seamless, atmospheric feel.

When used as an infinity curve, a vinyl photography backdrop becomes a soft field of colour with gentle graduated shadow.

If unsure where to start, try around f/5 and open wider from there. If shooting on a phone, portrait mode can help soften the background and enhance the effect.

Professional food photographer Nick Millward set up a mini scoop using an A0-sized Pistachio vinyl photography backdrop to shoot this seafood pasta.

 

A few styling tips for infinity curves

Infinity curves naturally lend themselves to stylised, product-led editorial photography rather than lifestyle scenes.

They work especially well when using macro lens, shallow depth of field and tight product crops like the green cocktail image - shot on our Bright Copper vinyl photography backdrop.

Infinity curves can feel like a bit of a curveball at first, but once the balance is right they’re a simple, versatile way to create seamless scenes with ease.

For your own infinity curve setup, our vinyl photography backdrops are a flexible way to create smooth curves in your food and product photography.