BetterPhoto Q&A
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What paint should I sellect for the studio walls?

Thanks,

Richard Walters

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March 28, 2001

From much experience in shooting candids at things like receptions, I recommend you use as flat a finish as possible for very low reflectance, regardless of color. Gloss and semi-gloss paint finishes (and wood paneling) are the bane of photojournalists and wedding photographers shooting candids. They can create "hot spots" of reflected light from flash strobes, even when aimed at an angle to the wall to prevent direct reflection back into the camera lens.

Many studios use heavy cloth backdrops that can be unrolled down the wall and extended out across the floor. This allows a variety of colors including (but not limited to) white or off-white, black, neutral blue/gray, and neutral tan/brown (possibly taupe also). If there is a pattern in the mid-tone backdrops, it's usually very muted, non-descript and somewhat random. These are very flat in reflectance. Even though they are heavy weight, powerful studio strobes can illuminate through them a little. The wall behind them should be painted with a very flat finish. You might consider this approach instead of trying to use the wall itself with a singular color for everything. The specific subject material usually determines whether a high key (light color), low key (dark color) or some type of mid-tone background is appropriate.

-- John

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April 01, 2001