Yajhil Alvarez wrote:
and I'm for sure not paying to shit it there and back either

it's not that bad in the UK yet. are you also transporting drugs the same way?

buy a paper roll after you get there. leave it behind after your are done.

Leonard Gee Photography wrote:

it's not that bad in the UK yet. are you also transporting drugs the same way?

buy a paper roll after you get there. leave it behind after your are done.

LMAO!  Yes, TONS of crack lol.  No but ok if I buy a roll and I go to a clients house what am I hanging it on?  Taping it would look tacky.  You know what though, maybe I can take the middle pole from my backdrop kit and use it with two regular tripods.  That middle one might fit into my bag.  I'm just trying to come up with something that will still look professional when I go to someone's house to do headshots.  I don't want to mess up someone's wall.

Tamarack Publications wrote:
I have this magnetic gizmo that holds the collapsible background / reflector on just one stand.  I suppose you could also use a tripod if it goes up that high.  I think it is made by Lastolite, that probably means it was expensive.

Have fun.

Do you by any chance have pictures of you using it?  Doesn't have to show the reflector/background, just the final product.  if you want to of course.  Thanks for the help!

Yajhil Alvarez wrote:

Leonard Gee Photography wrote:
I'm just trying to come up with something that will still look professional when I go to someone's house to do headshots.  I don't want to mess up someone's wall.

for headshots - absolutely that will work.. you can probably get up to about waist up with that size reflector

I picked up one of those reflectors - 5x7 flexi - black and white... and with a couple cans of spray paint..made a decent blueish mottled background on the white side - keep it far enough back and it blends up real nice

Yajhil Alvarez wrote:
Thanks everyone.  Have read all of the comments.  I'm not so sure my reflector would be the best thing anymore.  What I really want are two colors, white and gray but not a light gray, more of a medium.

So the cloth options.  I haven't used cloth stuff since like 2002 when I was in college.  I just remember it being very wrinkled.  I looked at some of the links you guys and gals provided and it seems like the cloth stuff from back then is different from now because for starters most of these backdrops have that hole for the backdrop pole to go through.  What I used in college you had to clamp up and it was a freaking mess.

Anyway, saying that I'm down for giving the cloth stuff a go, do you guys have examples of that?  How easy is it to vanish the wrinkles away?  Would clamp stretching the fabric be enough or do I have to iron it all the time?  Also, I have seen muslin and now titanium ones as an option, what would you recommend?  Like I said before, I was already going to take light stands with me so taking the middle pole from my backdrop kit with me and hooking it up to those would be a non issue.  The real issue here is that I want which ever route I go with to not be too expensive or annoying.

Right now I am offering outdoor shoots in London but in March it will be cold as hell so I doubt I will get much bite for that.  I need to offer studio stuff too.  My goal is to book 2 shoots just for the extra money and the experience while I'm there.  The rest will be vacation time.

Gaffer tape is always useful and should be easy to pick up there. I also have various sizes of spring clamps. Again, should be easy to find there.


For removing wrinkles in fabrics try
Good for backdrops, shirts, pants when travelling.

Yajhil Alvarez wrote:
Anyway, saying that I'm down for giving the cloth stuff a go, do you guys have examples of that?  How easy is it to vanish the wrinkles away?  Would clamp stretching the fabric be enough or do I have to iron it all the time?  Also, I have seen muslin and now titanium ones as an option, what would you recommend?

Titanium Cloth on location (clamped to porch overhang)


Titanium Cloth in studio w/ cross-bar


I would not suggest muslin on location. I own/use large scale artist-painted muslin backdrops in studio but I don't recommend travel with them unless you know that you have access to a steamer (travel steamers don't generally do the trick). I use a combination of steaming and tension to work with muslin--but that is because I know that I will have both available. Titanium Cloth is easier to use, especially in unknown circumstances, IMO.

Kenny Goldberg wrote:
I use collapsible backdrops for headshots all the time! Corporate headshots are my primary business. The collapsible 5 x 6.5 come in many colors, however, I usually use the white or black and what is nice is I have three of them that are white on one side and black on the other. They fold up very easy when you know how, they are so easy to carry and you can just lean them on the wall or get a light stand with clamp on top.

I make an alcove with one in background and one on each side. GREAT as white reflectors. Then I use one light with a huge parabolic umbrella that I shoot into and have sock cover to soften light. The look is perfect for headshots.

https://www.amazon.com/Fovitec-StudioPR … background

Thanks!  So and UPDATE to all who have been helping me.  I did a shoot yesterday and I took the middle rod of my background kit and tried to fit it into my bag and it was way too long.  Now I am back to the collapsible background idea since I just don't wanna stick anything on anyone's wall.  Just makes me nervous plus what if they don't have a good wall for me to use cause it's blocked by something and they don't want to move it?  I've had some really picky and particular clients before lol.  I'd rather have the freedom to move around.  Now it's a matter of finding the right one.  I'm gonna force myself to try out my reflector that I have and see if that works.  See if they white shoot through can be both white and gray and look clean enough for me to be ok with it.  If not I'm gonna buy one.  Sorry, my mind is so scattered about this I have spent days thinking about it now.

Dan Howell wrote:
why not a Titanium Cloth from Backdrop Outlet in a solid color. Then can be folded and packed into any regular sized case. You can tack the to a wall. Tape to a window. Hang from the eve or ceiling. They are generally wrinkle-free, but and wrinkles from packing/storage can be taken out in tumble dryer.

I've traveled with several of their backdrops on location shoots. I suggest also taking or buying gaffers tape and safety pins in case you need to tape to wall. (tape to wall, safety pin tape to background)  Seriously more practical than hauling around stands and cross-bars.

I pictured you as "Denny Manufacturing Freedom Cloth" kind of guy!