Photography Backdrops – vinyl placemats

Published: February 12, 2014 | Updated: November 12, 2019 | By Ashlee

I have been blogging for quite a while, And there seems to be stages to blogging, there is the newbie stage, then toddler and I’ve made it past the awkward blogging adolescence stage. I haven’t quite been blogging long enough to feel like a well seasoned grandparent, but I feel like I know myself as a blogger, I know why I do it and what it pretty much entails overall. So I’m firmly in the parenting stage of blogging. So I thought it would be fun to have some blogging 101 type posts!

Today I want to share my favorite backdrops! I have really focused on my photography this past year. Learning from some of my favorite photographers through out the year. I still have lots to learn but it’s come a long way!

I love the look of wood in my backdrops. BUT while gorgeous real wood backdrops take up a TON of space, space I don’t have. SO when I ound these faux wood vinyl placemats I was THRILLED! If you want them get some NOW before they run out of stock.

I had originally found some faux wood vinyl placemats the year before but only one of each. And while one was okay most of the time there were moments when I wished I had two. So when I found these I bought two in each color (except the cherry wood, I didn’t love the shade although I usually love cherry wood).

Because they are a sealed vinyl top they wash off super easily too (I like pictures with dripping, spilling food so I need something that cleans easily)! My favorite part is that these placemats have texture to the vinyl so when your taking an angled, or side shot you don’t just get a flat/matte picture. There is actually depth this way, a more real look.

See how in this other, flat, backdrop you don’t see the depth? Because it’s perfectly flat when you look at it on it’s side it has a weird look, and the hot fudge is just sitting right on the top? I don’t love it and wouldn’t use this image. FAIL! It’s clearly fake (I still use it for a wall backdrop, but not for flooring)

And because they are thin they don’t take up much room, which is KEY for me in my small basement! I love that I have 5 different “wood” backdrops in such a small space! This pile can slide anywhere without being in the way. They do sometimes get bent, but just put something heavy on them and you’re good to go again!

And because it looks like wood planks adding two placemats together isn’t very noticeable. Usually all it takes is flipping it around to take it from a clear dark to light area like above. In this case I’d take the one on the left and flip it around and it would be perfect!

This ice cream scoop actually straddles the two pieces and you can’t even SEE the line here!

Anyway, my first choice is real wood, my last choice is super flat printed image of wood. These are the perfect in-between! I’ll share more of my favorite backdrops throughout the year and more blogging tips! What else would you like to learn?

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