Backgrounds (for videos)

Kleineganz

Kleineganz

Opinionated Vlogger and Gamer
So now that I'll be moving into a new house and I'll have the space to set up a proper YouTube filming space, I was thinking of buying myself a nice background (the space right now is just a blank wall, painted in light gray).

I was checking out http://www.backdropoutlet.com and their prices seem reasonable, but not sure what kind of background I should go with ... any recommendations from folks out there who use backgrounds in their videos?
 
It all depends on what you want to do. Do you need a green screen? Most vloggers these days will use a white or black background. Even a blank wall can look good with proper lighting and a "cookie" which is a foamboard with shapes cut into it and light shining through. Let me know what you are doing, and I will be glad to suggest some things for you.
 
What exactly are you looking for? are you looking for a backdrop for green screen so you can play footage behind you or what?
Honestly I'm not of how backdrops can look if you don't have the right camera or lighting set up.
 
Honestly I don't want to mess with a green screen. I don't have time enough to get that fancy with my video production, and since the space is in my office, I also don't want to be staring at a green wall all day either. I was thinking more of a backdrop with something interesting for folks to look at. Do people prefer cozy interior scenes? Outdoorsy? I just want to make sure I get something people enjoy looking at while I'm doing my talking head vlogs ... ;)
 
Kleineganz said:
Honestly I don't want to mess with a green screen. I don't have time enough to get that fancy with my video production, and since the space is in my office, I also don't want to be staring at a green wall all day either. I was thinking more of a backdrop with something interesting for folks to look at. Do people prefer cozy interior scenes? Outdoorsy? I just want to make sure I get something people enjoy looking at while I'm doing my talking head vlogs ... ;)
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More important than "what people will enjoy looking at" is, what kind of videos are you doing? If you are talking about fishing, then a pic of a lake with trees would be great. If you are talking about music, then that pic wouldn't do very well LOL...you want it to match the theme of what you are doing. If you are just doing basic VLogging, then a nice simple abstract background might do.
 
M424Filmcast said:
More important than "what people will enjoy looking at" is, what kind of videos are you doing? If you are talking about fishing, then a pic of a lake with trees would be great. If you are talking about music, then that pic wouldn't do very well LOL...you want it to match the theme of what you are doing. If you are just doing basic VLogging, then a nice simple abstract background might do.
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My vlogs are called "Random Thoughts on Thursdays" so ... they are quite random. Could be about me, my life, my dogs ... or could be some popular topic I want to talk about or even a tag video.

What do you think of a cozy living room with a fireplace scene? Or possibly a fun interior scene with a view out of a window into a pretty garden?
 
Kleineganz said:
My vlogs are called "Random Thoughts on Thursdays" so ... they are quite random. Could be about me, my life, my dogs ... or could be some popular topic I want to talk about or even a tag video.

What do you think of a cozy living room with a fireplace scene? Or possibly a fun interior scene with a view out of a window into a pretty garden?
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In that case, it will really depend on your preferences. If the VLogs are about daily life, then you may want to invite them into your "home" with an interior scene. If you feel more like talking with people "outside" then a garden scene would look better. Keep in mind, your lighting will determine whether the scene looks natural and inviting or not. If you are using daylight balanced light, or natural sunlight coming in through a window, you will do better off with a garden scene. If you are using standard incandescent lighting, then the living room scene would be better. If you are using fluorescent lighting, you will need to do some colour correction or buy some colour correcting lighting gels so you don't end up looking green. You will want to white balance your camera regardless or your colours on your video will not look natural. Incandescents will make you look orange, and daylight balanced lights will make you look blue.
 
M424Filmcast said:
In that case, it will really depend on your preferences. If the VLogs are about daily life, then you may want to invite them into your "home" with an interior scene. If you feel more like talking with people "outside" then a garden scene would look better. Keep in mind, your lighting will determine whether the scene looks natural and inviting or not. If you are using daylight balanced light, or natural sunlight coming in through a window, you will do better off with a garden scene. If you are using standard incandescent lighting, then the living room scene would be better. If you are using fluorescent lighting, you will need to do some colour correction or buy some colour correcting lighting gels so you don't end up looking green. You will want to white balance your camera regardless or your colours on your video will not look natural. Incandescents will make you look orange, and daylight balanced lights will make you look blue.
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I'm planning on buying a couple of softboxes for lighting, and my camera is a Sony HandyCam HDR-CX130. I don't think I've ever messed with it's white balance before but I'll keep that in mind as I set up my new space.

Any recommendations on where to buy backgrounds? I found that one place but haven't found any backdrops from them I really loved.
 
Kleineganz said:
I'm planning on buying a couple of softboxes for lighting, and my camera is a Sony HandyCam HDR-CX130. I don't think I've ever messed with it's white balance before but I'll keep that in mind as I set up my new space.

Any recommendations on where to buy backgrounds? I found that one place but haven't found any backdrops from them I really loved.
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You can get some pretty decent ones on Amazon for a relatively low price. You want to make sure to get muslin cloth to prevent reflection from your lighting. You can find them on photography websites as well. You may even look on craigslist to see if any photogs are selling their old stuff. I've found some decent stuff that way. I have a lighting tutorial on my channel if you need to know the basics about 3 point lighting.
 
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