How To Make A Photography Backdrop Or Reflector For Your Photo Studio

See how Sue Bryce uses these reflectors to create the most amazing photographs in these great classes:

In this quick DIY video, Tiffany shows you how to create your own reflector stands using Polystyrene (styrofoam) boards found at your local big box hardware store to use as reflectors for use in your photo studio (as made popular by Sue Bryce).

These can also be used as backdrops for entertaining, such as behind cake tables, or make a great background for photo booths due their light weight and ability to easily pin various materials to the background.

Materials required:
(1) Polystyrene board (1.5" thick x 8' tall x 4' wide)
(2) 8" x 10" shelf brackets
(2) 2x4's cut to 18" each
(2-6) long screws (at least 1.5") with accompanying nut to connect the brackets to polystyrene board
(8-12) 1/2" screws to screw the shelf brackets into the base

Tools required:
Screwdriver
Wrench
Drill (to drill pilot holes and small screws into the 2x4's)
Hand saw or table saw (to cut the 2x4's)

Total cost for this project will run about $30 for materials.

Please post any comments or questions below. Thanks for watching!

[masthera]

8 Years later, and still relevant. Thank you Tiffany ❤ sending love from South Africa.

[MizoletteTV]

I have watched a LOT of these videos on how to make these back drops, and yours is the most practical! Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video! I am so grateful that I found it today! Blessings to you.

[chrisgouldjr]

wish i could see how pictures turned out that took you with this backdrop but this video is by far the most helpful and off all that i've watched today (about 6). Straight and to the point. You go Tiffany Angeles! :)

[mrs.b]

Thank No one on YouTube shows how to make the support just how to do the project. I’m using the foam to make a flower wall for my wedding but I need to have I.t stand alone at the venue. Thanks again you rock!!!

[cherylo]

Finally getting the stuff for this. I'm using 2" boards. Can't wait to play!!! Thank you SO much Tiffany for the detailed video. Helped immensely.

[ianburgess]

Couple of tips I learnt the hard way: 1. To get around the foamboard warping when it's painted, simply paint both sides. I painted one side black and one side white. 2. Matt black paint scuffs really easily I found - just with normal finger pressure. Use an eggshell finish rather than matt to get around this.

[PhotoshopTrainingChannel]

Awesome Tiffany! Thanks for sharing this! now I have to go buy some Polystyrene

[HannaGrace]

This is the most informative video I've found! 

[fmanerd]

This is the most clever and helpful thing ever. I'm looking to start a photography studio in the basement where I live without painting any walls. So awesome, thank you.

[CreativeThinking]

Awesome diy project. Thanks for sharing. Have a great day.👍

[TheOrbit]

Finally got this project going... Just waiting for the paint to Thanks Tiffany!

[mr.shihab]

You know? Even if this was 10 years ago but it still super useful for me thanks for sharing this

[JarrettSimonds]

Stefon, if you cannot find the thicker ones, you can always get the thinner (and too flexible) ones and glue two or more pieces together with construction adhesive. Works like a charm! AND...if you want variety...instead of 1.5" board, get THREE 1/2" boards, . Paint each side a different color/shade, and use The Black BINDER clips (called Bulldog Clips) to secure the 3 together. Then All you can flip, turn, and exchange them easily, as needed. Literally, you now have SIX backdrops in one!

[PaulParkinson]

What you're looking for in Europe is 2400mm x 1200mm insulating board - it's a standard size but you might need to got to a "trade" builders merchant. In the UK we have B&Q (which is at diy com) which sells these for about £20 each. You'll need a decent size vehicle to move them around if your store doesn't deliver. They're BIG....

[zrowedaartistviews]

When I tell you this has been the video I’ve been looking for for months!!!

[chaniabeavers]

Thank you for the instructions and materials listed...some of us are beginners!

[TracieClaiborne]

This is exactly the video I have been looking for! Thank you!

[Tahienmii]

Thank you, i have been searching for this, its exactly what i needed.

[KristinThompson]

Nice video! Thanks for the explanation. I'm thinking of doing this for a video backdrop

[cherylo]

Ok - did the 2" board instead and they stand very straight (and they are very light). He bought the silver lined one. I just peeled off the coating on both sides of the board and rolled it with black paint on one side. Worked perfect. For the holes, if you put a piece of straw in where your drill for the screw to attach the bracket in the foam, it will keep the foam from tearing if you remove and attach the bracket for transport/storing. We used a straw from 7-11 (the big gulp size).