Affordable Photography Backdrops!

Our photography prop shop, Serendipitous Sisters, will now be offering super cute, super durable, super affordable photography backdrops!

Our backdrops are made from thick medium-weight cotton fabric which naturally resists wrinkling. They also do not give off an unsightly glare as many vinyl backdrops may have the tendency to do. Each has slightly different measurements (see the product descriptions on Etsy for exact measurements), but in general they are about 4 1/2 to 5 feet wide by 5 1/2 feet tall of useable, finished backdrop... Perfect for newborns, children, and adult head/torso shots!

There is a professional 2" casing (pocket) on the top and bottom which gives you utmost versatility in hanging your backdrops. Selvedge edges (the woven ends on the sides of the fabric) have been left intact in order to provide you with maximum width and durability.

I want to share with you some of my favorite ways to use these backdrops and make them look their best!

Here's a pullback of my portable PVC stand set-up. These backdrops would certainly work any regular photography stand as well. I either use natural light at about a 45 degree angle (depending on the space I'm setting up in) or use a combination of my strobe lights & a reflector. Proper lighting is SO IMPORTANT in making backdrops look good!

For a step by step tutorial on how to construct a sturdy PVC backdrop, see this post.

I insert my 3/4" PVC into the pocket and roll my backdrop to the perfect length for my stand. I use simple A-shaped spring loaded clamps (can be found at any hardware store- I got mine for .89 each at Harbor Freight) to secure the excess rolled fabric.

The clamps are angled slightly backwards so as to not create dimples in the fabric.

Here's where our backdrops are unique and help create the most wrinkle-free setup possible! There is a bottom casing sewn in, where you can insert a piece of PVC, and even without being secured on either side this will help keep tension on your backdrop and keep it from going anywhere you don't want it to! This is quicker and easier to transition from one backdrop to another than tucking it under your floor and baseboard.

For the best, wrinkle-free storage of your Serendipitous Sisters Photography Backdrop, simply roll it up onto the PVC starting from the bottom, maintaining slight tension as you roll. I keep mine hung horizontally on a custom-built rack (thanks dad!) but another good option would be in a closet, under a bed or couch or propped in a corner space.

I store mine with "wrong sides" out so that the front "pretty side" doesn't get dusty, dirty, sun-damaged, etc.

Backdrops may be folded (and will be shipped folded for the most cost-effective means of getting it to you!) but they may need ironed before each use. That being said, please plan on ironing (wrong side up) your backdrop before its first use after shipping.

As you can see, I really love PVC for all of it's amazing cost-effective usefulness (they come in 10-foot lengths for just a couple of dollars at home improvement stores!) and I love that I now have so many different options for pretty, proffessional backdrops that are SO EASY to use!

And finally... Here's a finished shot with the backdrop. I hope this post has been helpful and please feel free to leave a comment with any questions! Check out the shop for more fun, affordable, photography accessories!

*January 2013 Update*
We have received a few requests about the exact design of my PVC backdrop, as well as inquiries whether it is available for purchase. I will work on a detailed photo tutorial to post here soon within the next couple of weeks, as well as kits to be sold in our etsy shop.

Thanks for reading!

The Workshop

I snapped a few pictures of our workspace at the studio on River Road. I always love seeing other people’s workspace. We’re getting ready for a photo shoot of some new products for the shop!

This desk & hutch on the other side of the room was made by hand by one of our neighbors when we lived in Utah.

We always have some tunes going while we’re working… Usually 80’s pop! (That’s the best! My husband often disagrees with me though.)

This is an old handcart right outside the front door. This type of cart was used by the Mormon pioneers to travel across the country in the early 19th century. As the name suggests, it is pushed and pulled using man power! It makes for a fun backdrop.

There’s a small irrigation ditch that runs around the perimeter of the yard. It’s fun for boat races, panning for gold, and a pretend castle moat. My daughter Clara would much rather play in the ditch than in the kiddie pool we set up for her.

Here’s a scene we see a bit too much in our neck of the woods. There’s almost always a range fire burning somewhere close by in the summer months. This picture was taken from right outside the studio. It seems like at least every other year there’s a fire burning directly across the property and we are always crossing our fingers it doesn’t jump the river!

Here’s another scene we see quite a bit. Did you know it can get rather windy in Idaho? Mix in some dry dirt and you can get a pretty dramatic dust storm!

Summer!

Is it summer time yet? Holy cow, have we had a cold spring this year! It's mid-June and we maybe have broken 80 degrees twice. Today definitely isn't one of those days. River Road Ranch is our summer "retreat" and we've finally had the opportunity to spend some time there these past couple of weeks (despite the lingering cold weather!) Once we do some much needed spring cleaning and baby-proofing to the farm house (my baby is SO mobile now!) we will FINALLY be able to take some "after" pictures. It's all still a work in progress, but it's definitely on the cute side of rustic now. I am looking forward to many more days on the Ranch, as well as more time on this here blog. :)

In the meantime, here's a preview of some new & up-coming items to our shop!

I NEED to have an ice cream party so that I can use these cute little wooden spoons! Love them!

We hope your Wednesday is wonderful, and less windy than ours!
:) Alea

A Start

Hello Blogland,

My name is Alea and I am daughter to the most hard-working, creative, selfless person I know. My mom came up with the idea for this blog as a journal for our work and creative projects. The past few summers have been dedicated to work on River Road Ranch and we are excited to share our adventures with you!

My mom, Mary, grew up on the Ranch. She has stories about life in a small Idaho town, neat old cars that you were never sure if the breaks would make it to the bottom of the canyon grade, wild horse rides, apricot picking, and the best summers spent with cousins. My dad, Reyn, was born and raised in Alberta, Canada. He has crazy stories too about prize-winning bulls, growing up with 8 siblings, water-skiing in the irrigation canals and driving a pickup into the same canal (but you didn’t hear that from me!) My mom’s parents, Jim and June, still own River Road Ranch today.

My mom grew up in the little house on the Ranch (not to be confused with Laura Ingalls Wilder) back when the house was cute and looked-after, and it possessed a sort of rustic charm. Now after years of neglect and abuse, we have been trying to restore it to its rustic charm once again. A huge credit goes to my oldest brother Josh and his wife Donielle. Two summers ago they put their blood, sweat & tears into cleaning, fixing and beautifying the little house to be lived in, but now they have moved to Utah for work and school. My parents are taking over the cottage in the summers while they live and work in town the rest of the year. My dad, whom I’m convinced can build or fix anything, was and is our “general contractor” for the project. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING had to be renovated. From floor to ceiling, front door to back door, there were a billion things that needed a little (or A LOT) of TLC. The plumbing, the electrical, the wood stove, the kitchen cabinets, the walls, the flooring (including the sub-floor), the doors, the countertops, the sinks, the tub, the toilet, and the windows all had to be replaced or fixed. This past year we really tackled the outdoor projects: Pulling weeds, leveling the yard, pulling weeds, laying sod, cleaning the ditches, pulling weeds, fixing fence, planting a garden, and (you guessed it) pulling more weeds!

Now enough with all the talk. You can look at the "before" pictures for yourself!

BEFORE

Lovely green carpet in the living room. I also think that everyone needs some fly paper to hang from their ceilings. On a positive note, I love the archway inbetween the rooms. There's potential!

Crumbling drywall, three different UGLY colors of carpet, half-painted hardware on the doors...

Fake wood paneling! Yummy!

Now this is rustic. Ironing board lawn ornaments. Classy.

The exterior walls need some love too... and the roofing... and windows... and trim...

These previous pictures were from two years ago. It was the beginning of the beginning. The following  pictures are from the beginning of summer 2010:

My dad had fixed the loose planks on the deck and replaced the windows by this point. My mom was in the middle of staining the trim and deck. Isn't it looking SO much better?

We (I use this term rather loosely, I spent most of the summer indoors taking care of a newborn) laid sod in the front and side yard, but not until after the land was level. Why did my dad insist on the land being level? That explanation will come in a later post. We'll just say that it was a LOT of work, but it turned out fantastically well!

Now you've seen where we started. Looking at these pictures I seriously think my brother and sister-in-law were LOCO for even considering starting this project! But I'm very glad they did because they've shown me that there is potential for good in even the most unlikely things.

Stay tuned for the "after" pictures!

Welcome

Nestled in a valley along the scenic byway in South Central Idaho, River Road hugs the curves of the mighty Snake River. This area is home to raft loving rapids, bald eagle nests, and the little summer studio of River Road Rustics. The sight and sound of rushing life-giving water lends an inspirational backdrop to creativity, a motivation to flow with nature and be inspired by its simplicities. We welcome you to the good life at River Road Ranch and invite you to experience its serenity through our stories, images and rustics product line.

The Snake River, as seen from River Road Ranch