A bed is not always a bed!

One of my favourite backdrops is the the big fluffy bed with white pillows & yummy white duvet. What many people don’t know is that  this is not my bed or a bedroom in my house. This is in my studio.

What I do is set up my backdrop with whatever color seamless I decide to use, then I lay out the pillows and duvet so it looks like a bed, & Voila! instant bedroom! I use clamps to hold the seamless in place.

In this situation I have the backdrop angled at approx 75 degrees to the window  but I often move it to somewhere between 45-90 degrees depending on the shadowing I want.

You would do the same if you were using studio light (with your studio lighting being where the window is).

Resulting photo Shot at F2.2 SS 1/250 ISO 300, backdrop angled about 75 degrees toward window.

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52 Comments

  1. Lindsey on August 4, 2011 at 8:42 pm

    aren’t you freakin clever?!

  2. Jodie on August 4, 2011 at 8:49 pm

    THANK YOU! This is huge! I always wondered! I can’t wait to try this out next chance I get!

  3. Cherilyn H. on August 4, 2011 at 9:01 pm

    Why have I never thought of that?! I always wondered how photographers got so lucky to have clients with such great bedding! Haha Thanks for sharing your tip. 🙂

    • Nicole on September 23, 2013 at 4:11 pm

      Ha! I thought that too! I never have bedding that nice 🙂

  4. Danielle on August 4, 2011 at 9:01 pm

    Oh my gosh! Brilliant – I never would have guessed! :runs to store to buy necessary items!:

    Thanks for sharing 🙂

  5. Jenny on August 4, 2011 at 9:02 pm

    So clever! I was always wishing I had fabulous window light in my bedroom to do something similar and never thought of this. 🙂 Thanks for the tips, I just love them!

  6. Julia Holman on August 4, 2011 at 9:29 pm

    would love to know what that seamless is… I love that color

  7. jen on August 4, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    Wow! I always thought this was an actual bed. I am going to have to try it! I love it!

  8. Yuliana on August 4, 2011 at 10:18 pm

    Oh wow!! This is amazing! Thanks for sharing!!!

  9. Elle (Ella Bella Photography) on August 4, 2011 at 10:40 pm

    Brilliant! Just brilliant! I adore you!!

  10. Kim Kimmel on August 4, 2011 at 10:55 pm

    Love it! Thanks 🙂 Is your paper flat against the wall on this shot? Otherwise I would think the pillows would cave it in and then the paper would be wrinkled???

    • Lisa on September 25, 2013 at 2:06 am

      The paper is at a bit of angle (on a backdrop stand) – when the pillows go against it, it makes it go more ‘straight’ – now I’m in a studio where I’ve painted on wall bone so I don’t have to worry about the paper – but, for the most part, they are moving towards their mamas! (not the back of the paper)

  11. Heather on August 5, 2011 at 12:11 am

    I love this! Thanks for sharing!

  12. Jen Teal on August 5, 2011 at 1:02 am

    WOW! This is awesome!!!! Thank you for starting on such a wonderful idea! 🙂 I cannot wait for more!!! 🙂

  13. Brandi Williamson on August 5, 2011 at 1:29 am

    Ironically, I never would have thought of this!! LOL! Thank you for being so generous! I love it!!!

  14. Hayley on August 5, 2011 at 2:06 am

    Awesome! Thanks for sharing. Are the pillows supported by something other than the paper? Or is the paper up against the wall? I’m just wondering how they aren’t causing wrinkles in the backdrop. I’m sure at any point in the session, the child will lie back on them and cause rips.

  15. Marie Sant on August 5, 2011 at 3:51 am

    You are a genius! LOVE your work and thank you for sharing! 🙂

  16. Yvette on August 5, 2011 at 4:56 am

    OMG That just blew my mind 🙂
    I have always loved shots with the ‘bed’ and always wondered how many people actually have white linen, now I know LOL!

  17. Karin on August 5, 2011 at 4:00 pm

    WOW! I “assumed” that shot was taking in a studio! It is so kind of you to share your tips with aspiring photographers! Thank you so much 🙂

  18. Aimee Nelson on August 5, 2011 at 8:08 pm

    This is brilliant! I’m such a huge fan of you beautiful work!!!
    Aimee

  19. Kelly Hosch on August 5, 2011 at 8:11 pm

    What an awesome idea! Thank you!

  20. Lisa Holloway {Las Vegas Photographer} on August 6, 2011 at 1:33 am

    You know I love this idea! SO simple, clean and sweet. You executed it beautifully here! I love that you did it indoors too…I’m a dork and threw my comforter down on the garage floor. LOL

  21. Jessica Clausen on August 7, 2011 at 5:26 am

    Love it! I will have to try this!

  22. Michelle Newell on August 7, 2011 at 2:51 pm

    Brilliant! I absolutely LOVE this idea and had always wondered! =))

  23. Elizabeth Crocker on August 7, 2011 at 4:26 pm

    Love this, but what I really love is seeing how you store all those backdrops so easily!

    • Milk & Honey on August 13, 2011 at 7:09 pm

      haha my hubby made me that 🙂

      • ashney on May 5, 2014 at 8:13 pm

        the backdrop – what color/kind is it? and where could one by it?

        Its so lovely, and this is a stunning photo!

  24. […] I was inspired to create a bed backdrop after reading Milk and Honey Photography’s blog here.  I wanted to see if I could create a bed set-up for pictures that actually looked like I was in a […]

  25. Sadonna Lingnau on August 14, 2011 at 1:42 am

    Thanks for the pull back I love the idea!

  26. Naomi M on October 19, 2011 at 2:01 pm

    What a clever little duck! I love how you’ve made the paper free of any kinks or dents. Do you find the paper moves when people change positions or, do you run the paper on the floor a little and then place all the bedding on top of it?

  27. staci bailey on February 27, 2012 at 6:46 am

    Oh my goodness….LOVE this! What a great idea!!!!

  28. Samantha on April 7, 2012 at 9:13 pm

    Well aren’t you a flipping genius!!! Thank you for this, such a great idea! How wide are your backdrops? They don’t look 43″ but they don’t seem to be 107″ either!

    • Tina on October 31, 2013 at 4:13 am

      I would love to know what size your drops are too! Thanks so much. Love love love this!!

      • Lisa on October 31, 2013 at 5:04 am

        Those are just the 53″ rolls (in the new studio, there’s a cream wall I can use!

  29. Steph Henley on April 25, 2012 at 2:08 pm

    Gorgeous! Can’t wait to try this!!! :-))

  30. […] like a bed, but really it is my white comforter on the floor of my studio, something I learned from this amazing photographer.  Landon was such a happy kid which made for such a fun session too.   With his big brown eyes […]

  31. Friday Pinterest Finds | Two Pear Designs on June 15, 2012 at 10:39 am

    […] by The Milky Way blog, shot by Milk & Honey Photography. Talk about smart! Shoot, I went out and bought a cheapy bed […]

  32. Sophie on July 7, 2012 at 2:46 am

    Wow. What a brilliant idea! Definitely an “ah ha” moment. Can’t wait to try this!! 🙂

  33. Laura Marchese-Harbottle on October 6, 2012 at 12:22 am

    OMG, Fantastic!

    • Linda Kehoe on October 6, 2012 at 6:40 am

      super fantastic….be great for those perfect pet photos

  34. Ebony Forte Johnson on December 3, 2012 at 10:10 pm

    Love this!

  35. […] she’s sharing all her secerts and I’m learning TONS!!! One her very first secerts was “the bed is not a bed” setup. Super simple paper background, pillows, blanket, add cute kid and Done! Thank You Lisa for […]

  36. Kimberly Day on May 20, 2013 at 9:43 pm

    BRILLIANT!

  37. Brigit Plate on May 20, 2013 at 9:55 pm

    LOVe this. Thanks for sharing!

  38. Whitney Mara on May 21, 2013 at 1:22 am

    I think you just made my day and became my best friend all at the same time! BRILLIANT! 🙂

  39. Bethany on September 24, 2013 at 6:05 pm

    That is sooo stinky smart. I just love you guys. could you even do this with a clients wall and that way you don’t have to worry about a baby/toddler falling off and the parents would feel more comfortable for sure. I will have to try this next time I am at a clients house.

    thank you

    • Lisa on September 25, 2013 at 2:04 am

      Yes! So true about the added safety component with little ones! 🙂

  40. Lisa McPherson on September 24, 2013 at 6:33 pm

    Yep! I AM silly! WHY haven’t I thought of this?! I have seen this set up and each time I think, wow, it’s too bad I don’t have a room for that. Problem solved! Thanks 🙂

  41. sara b on September 24, 2013 at 7:00 pm

    I was wondering that also!

  42. Sophie on November 12, 2013 at 2:39 pm

    Brilliant idea! I was even thinking of putting a headboard on wheels, and stowing it behind the backdrop for make-believe bed sessions. Not to mention, it’s safer for babies and kids when there’s no fear of falling off the bed! 🙂

  43. Kelly on January 28, 2020 at 10:56 am

    What are you using to hold your backdrops horizontal like that?? I need!!!!

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