Creativity Backgrounds: Photography Backdrops, Background Paper, Vinyl, fabric and chromakey Backdrops

We are pleased to announce that Creativity Backgrounds are running a competition and supporting the #SouthWestTogUp, a business support network for photographers and others in the creative industries based in the South West of England.

"We hold regular social events in both Exeter and Torbay for people to meet and network in person, building a fantastic support network for those in the industry and starting out.

Events are well attended with photographers of all levels, from enthusiasts to full time professionals in a variety of areas. We also have printers, models, web designers, make up artists, photographic tutors and film makers to name a few others who attend regularly as well!"

Watch this space for more news coming soon!

website: www.southwesttogup.co.uk

If ever there was a photographer with energy to match the Duracell bunny, then Tommy Reynolds is it, mix that up with a sophistication of styling and an accomplished lighting pro, and you've got the elements of the great image maker. We caught up with Tommy Reynolds, Photographer | Director | DP to find out how he started, about his love of travel and why grey for him is a must in the studio.

Flag Test by Tommy Reynolds

Karen Wiltshire is a multi award-winning portrait photographer based in Dorset specialising in maternity, newborn and baby, children and family portraits, cake smash photography and lifestyle photography. After seeing her "Cake Smash"video, which went viral on facebook, we had a few questions...

1. You must love what you do, the video really conjures the love and energy of what you do, what got you into photography and into baby and children photography in particular?...

Students at The National Film and Television School recently filmed an advert using a monkey... and our Carnation background paper .

The project is part of Cinematography curriculum at the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield and it is a 30 seconds commercial shot on Kodak 16 mm film, part of the Kodak Student Commercial Competition.

Naomi Kendrick, an acclaimed artist based in Manchester, has used our rolls of background paper for her art for sometime now, this last project she used a roll of our Black

"the act smoothing chalk into the skin of the crumpled paper, like smoothing or taming the surface of a sculpture'

Naomi draws in response to music. Naomi is Artist in Residence at Mark Devereux Projects in Federation House. "This residency began my Arts Council England funded research and development project 'Drawing as Experience' which over 18 months will enable me to create a new body of drawing work, including an exploration of drawing and hypnosis."

New competition over on Facebook! Christmas Bokeh Competition!

Post upto 5 of your best Christmas themed Bokeh images to win a set of four of our NEW Bokeh designs and a 4 pack of Ella Bella! Just post your images direct on to our facebook page, there will be a judged prize and a public vote.

Closing date Midnight 30 November 2015 UK time. Tell your friends!

Ella Bella Printed Background papers

Terry Mendoza, of Retro Photostudio in Essex, has been working professionally for ten years. Initially he developed a retro/ pinup style, which has been popular with rockabilly clothing companies, burlesque performers and vintage magazines.

More recently he has been using a more contemporary style, working with more mainstream fashion and lingerie companies providing a complete package of casting models, shooting and retouching.

Being of inquiring mind we wanted to know how Terry got into photography and how he approaches a commission.

VOTE NOW! Our summer Flower competition has closed and the shortlisted images are now viewable on our Facebook page.

Did you enter, will you be one of our two lucky prize winners who will get to choose £25 worth of Creativity Backgrounds? Some gorgeous shots entered, which is your favourite?

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1061637993860485.1073741837.157829840907976&type=3

Closing date for Voting Midday Tues 1st September 2015 UK time.

James and Lauren of Portsmouth based Lemon Sky Photography were winners of our recent facebook competions with one of their novel "shelfie" portraits. We were intrigued by their style and way of working so fired over a few questions, which we are pleased to say they were happy to answer!

1. When did you get into photography and why?

James: Photography has been a way of life for as long as I can remember. My Grandfather was a photographer and my Father is a world class professional photographer - appearing in many publications around the globe. As soon as I was old enough to hold a camera, I accompanied Dad to all manner of shoots and assisted him, learning along the way - from weddings to magazine portraits! As a tutor of photography at University, Dad is a fantastic teacher and taught me everything I know about photography.

Further to  increases in shipping costs to us from our couriers we have, as of Mionday 10th August, reluctantly increased our shipping rates. Rates to UK Mainland destinations are now based on the total order weight and this means that for smaller orders the change is minimal. For full details see Terms and Conditions. For a summary of product weights see our faq here.

Increasing any pricing is always a difficult decision and we have been absorbing these extra costs for some time, but we remain confident that buying from Creativity Backgrounds still represents great value for money.

Newly introduced to our range of paper photography backdrops, our new Seamless Patterned Backdrops.

These patterned paper backdrops enable a variety of background effects without having to leave the studio. Available in two realistic "brick" designs, three "granite" designs ideal for table top product photography, and two "star" designs.

Suitable for portraiture, product photography, table top photography, stage sets and displays.

Christina Lauder won the Creativity Backgrounds SWPP Baby Photographer for the Year 2014 at the SWPP convention this year. We caught up with her to ask her a little about her background, practice and what drives her.

1. First of all congratulations on winning the SWPP Baby Photographer of the Year 2014. The fellowship panel of images are stunning, How did you select your images?

I've attached 4 images from my panel all using paper as the background. My images for my panel were not selected but instead created. I had an idea in mind, which developed from one of the images that was created in 2013, which won me Portrait Studio Photographer of the year in 2014 (girl on suitcases). It was the inspiration for the rest of the panel which involved months of planning and preparation to create the final set of images.

January 2015, and a much awaited time in the diary for Wedding and Portrait photographers, the SWPP Convention and Trade Show weekend.

This year Creativity Backgrounds hosted with ProFoto a demonstration on the use of colour.

Friday and Saturday afternoon saw Simon Leach giving a technical demonstration on lighting, distance from backdrop, subtleties of light.

Alex Styles aroused the audience on Saturday morning with a bright demonstration showing people how sales improve when you use coloured backdrops. Vanessa Champion ran a practical demo on Sunday, how combining model direction, creative lighting and confidence completely transforms your images.

Vanessa ran a "have a go" session, using constant light (not flash) encouraging even those without their cameras to use their mobile phones to see what a difference a coloured backdrop can make your images really zing!

"The energy you see change in a photo shoot when you use a coloured backdrop," said Vanessa. "As photographers we get into this game for creativity and money, but deep down we are artists, crafting images and shapes with light and ideas. With over 50 colours to choose from Creativity Backgrounds, there is always a pantones to echo corporate logos, working alone or with stylists, introducing a colour during a shoot builds sales with social portraiture and memorable classic images for business. Creativity Backgrounds do a four for three, so an ideal opportunity to trial a new colour with your order. Introduce a rainbow of creativity to your work and you'll never look back."

We have introduced five new patterns to the Ella Bella™ range of printed photography backdrops and floors. These pretty printed light weight background papers are designed for newborn, baby and child photography but also have applications in portraiture and product photography. The new designs include Chevrons in four colours, a Hopscotch pattern and a four pack of the Chevron patterns

If you have a penchant for photographing pooches then hop over to our facebook page and enter our "Dog Studio Portrait Competition". Upload your dog portraits to our page wherever you see the competition mentioned or just tell us in the comment that it's a competition entry. Closing date is 31st July 2014. Details on our facebook page where you'll see we've had some great entries already!

"Bulldogs" © Alden Smith Photography