How to get photos with a white background in every situation

Making a photograph with a white background was one of the first challenges I set myself when I started to get passionate about this beautiful art.
Trying to recreate that magical advertising atmosphere, where the subject is highlighted thanks to the strong chromatic contrast with the background, is not such a difficult technique.

So if you too want to try this little photographic adventure, you've come to the right post. In fact, you will be able to find all the useful information for taking photographs with a white background in any situation.

I hear you trembling, so let's not get lost in too much chatter and let's start with the technical part of the post.

The creation of photographs with a white background is required in various photographic fields, even very different from each other.

This technique is used for example in food photography or in still life in general, where the subject acquires three-dimensionality and dynamism thanks to the chromatic contrast. But it is also used in portrait photography to draw all the attention of the public to the subject of the shot.

So let's focus on the common variables you'll need to account for using this technique.

Photography with a white background: what equipment is needed?

As for the equipment you can rest assured, you don't need expensive camera bodies to have a perfect photograph with a white background you can use any camera, from a simple compact to a reflex.

The only difference will be in the attention you will have to put into the shot.

If you use a camera that allows shooting in raw, you will be able to recover any errors in post production such as: highlights, shadows and white balance. While if you use a camera that only allows you to take pictures in jpg, almost everything will have to be perfect right from the start.

Even with regard to optical lenses, great features are not required, in some circumstances a good photographic tripod may be useful but it is not an indispensable accessory.

What obviously cannot be missing in your composition is a nice white background and good management of the lights.

Photography with a white background: what is the importance of lights?

If you want to obtain photographs with a perfectly white background, you will need to be able to optimally manage the light present in the scene.
Otherwise, the risk is that of having shadows of the subject or a grayish background.

Perfect light management is impossible when it comes to natural light. For this reason, in order to obtain good photographs with a white background, artificial lights are most often used.

The light sources should be of equal intensity and color temperature, in order not to risk having problems with the exposure or the colors of your shots. The ideal number of lights to obtain good results is 3 light sources. A light will serve to illuminate the subject and find the correct exposure. The other two will be used to uniformly illuminate the background, recreating the white we are looking for.

What lights should I use for good white background photography?

There are many types of lights and backgrounds that you can use for this technique, so let's clarify which ones are best to use for your purposes.

As for the lights in my opinion, especially to start with, you don't need powerful external flashes, I got great results even with cheap lights. Remember that for a good diffusion of brightness you will need to use the appropriate umbrellas, they will help you maintain a background with a uniform exposure.

If you don't need to take professional photographs, don't worry too much about the background either.

If you have to take a portrait photography with a white background, even a wall can be fine. The important thing is that it is perfectly white, without the slightest interruption of continuity. The result will certainly not be that of a photographic studio but for a little practice it can be just fine.

If, on the other hand, you want to create something a little more professional, you will inevitably have to use a photographic backdrop.

The photographic backdrop is an accessory that is often used in the studio to recreate the desired atmosphere. There are three types of backdrops that differ in their structure, we can have a backdrop in: vinyl, fabric and paper.

Whichever model you choose, you will have to place it behind the subject of the shot, making sure that no creases or ripples form on the surface. To make this operation easier, the backdrop is generally mounted on a special support.

I advise you to use fabric backdrops, because they represent the right compromise between photographic quality and practicality. I'm telling you this because I've tried all the versions: the paper ones crinkle just looking at them, while the vinyl ones are really uncomfortable and bulky.

Still life and softbox: the perfect couple

If you are not interested in portrait photography with a white background but intend to shoot only small subjects, I have good news for you.
To get good shots easily, you can skip the purchase of lights and backdrops and buy a handy softbox.

The softbox is a small plastic box in which to insert the object to be photographed. This instrument is equipped with dozens of LEDs which, once switched on, allow perfect diffusion of light.

Your only task will be simply to place the object and photograph. This will give you magazine-like images, where your subject appears to float against a bright white background.

Photography with a white background: last tips

As for the technical part there are not many things to say.

Once you've thought through your composition and focused on your subject, your only concern will be finding the correct exposure.
To have full control of this variable you can use the exposure triangle, changing the shutter speed and aperture values.
Also check the histogram of your shots, to make sure you haven't blown the highlights too much.