The photo zone was born along with photography: it is a specially prepared and decorated background against which photographs of participants in solemn events are taken. Instant painters managed and do without it - the background can be finished later at the request of the customer. Artistic photography is considered a much simpler form of art than painting, but it has a very difficult nuance: a missed moment cannot be captured on a light receiver (film, digital camera matrix). Make a collage in Photoshop or another photo editor? To make it look natural, you need to coordinate lighting, perspective and many other subtleties, such that it can be easier to draw a scene with your hands, looking at the resulting photograph as if it were a sketch.

Light, decor and mood

A photo zone for the holiday can be decorated in a variety of ways in any style, both at home and outdoors - there are no generally accepted, let alone established, canons here, as long as the pictures turn out interesting and memorable. But there are more than just technical circumstances that need to be taken into account when organizing a photo zone. The first is light. For an experienced photographer who takes a couple of cases with equipment with him on a call, it can be difficult to set the light at the shooting location so that sharp shadows from the noses do not spoil the picture. There’s no need to talk about guests simply “clicking” (sorry, “taking photos” - mechanical shutters have long been absent from widespread photography) at devices/gadgets. A properly arranged photo zone should soften any, incl. changing during the festival, the light so that a more or less decent picture can be obtained offhand from any “digital point-and-shoot camera”. But there is not enough light for this, The photo zone itself should create a mood: so that, against her background, a pouty, capricious child would look like a cute prankster, and the big uncle who took him on his chest “until the color of a pig’s snout” would look like a tipsy guy. This material will be about how to make such a photo zone with your own hands. With the condition: that even in urban conditions its production would take less time and money than searching for and renting a suitable ready-made one.

Methods of organization

Let's carefully examine the location of the future celebration and decide which way would be best to arrange the photo zone:

• Naturally without a backdrop, means of setting light (see below) and additional decor - an ideal case if local conditions and time of year allow it; see fig. right and eg. fragment on the bottom right in Fig. higher. Which, alas, does not always work out.

• With a soft frameless back - if the surrounding environment allows you to soften the working lighting when taking photographs, incl. from a head-on flash. Opportunities for this may present themselves both at home and outdoors.
• With a reflective (diffusing) backdrop on the frame - if, when inspecting the photo zone location, future difficulties in arranging the light are immediately noticeable. Designing a photo zone with a framed backdrop is somewhat more complicated and will cost more than a frameless one, but in almost any conditions it allows you to satisfactorily provide light to the complete amateur “by eye.”

Tantamaresques and arches

As an addition to any photo zone, a small framed backdrop in the form of the so-called. tantamaresque - a background for photography with slits for faces and/or torsos or (rarely) full-length figures, see figure:

Tantamaresca is also a purely photographic invention; People of older generations who visited popular resorts remember the photo backdrops of that time with scenes that were sometimes truly amazing in their incredibleness and the art of their implementation. To star a mustachioed thug as a mermaid with bust No. 8 in the arms of a muscular pirate with a fierce face is still trivial.

But the very idea of ​​tantamaresque is by no means trivial: the frame highlights an object (a face, for example) against the background without cutting it off completely. A type of tantamaresque - an ordinary frame for a picture, which is hung in a suitable place or simply allowed to be held by those taking photographs - somewhat exaggerates the background. This can be justified if it is pleasant and good in light, but somewhat monotonous, for example. foliage in the orchard, see picture:

“Mobile photo zone” made from baguette frames

A tantamaresque frame is all the more appropriate if the guests have consumed a certain amount of alcohol before taking photographs. They themselves have already exaggerated, and the frames will fit them into a naturally serene (and sober) background.

Note: frames made from real baguette are quite expensive, heavy, and their back side gets dirty on your hands and clothes. For a “mobile photo zone” it is better to buy cheap foam plastic frames and paint them with oil-based bronze paint a day or three before the ceremony.

A ceremonial arch is a decoration not only for a wedding, but for any celebration. The arch at the holiday can itself serve as a photo zone. Joker kits (see also below) for assembling festive arches are rented, but not cheaply, and in the outback there may simply not be “jokers” for renters. At the same time, it is not difficult to make a ceremonial arch with your own hands from available materials - after all, it is not an entrance or passageway in the house or a garden one.

If you are more accustomed to working with wood, the arch for the photo zone can be made like a covered garden pergola. Its front and rear (conditionally) parts are identical; They are manufactured according to the drawing at pos. 1 pic. The set includes only 3 standard sizes of parts: A and B are cut from scraps of boards (16-40)x150, and the crossbars connecting them C are from round timber D40 (a holder for a shovel or mop. You can use a 40x40 rail; then the crossbars are placed at the joints of parts A ( half-sockets 40x20 are cut out at the ends A, and everything is connected together with steel corners. When the arch depth is more than 500 mm, thrust bearings or holes are not required to install it on the ground or floor in the room.

making a ceremonial arch

The frame of a simple (not voluminous) ceremonial arch of any shape can be very quickly and easily bent without a pipe bender from a metal-plastic water pipe. Such arches (item 2) are rented at a minimal price. If the arch is homemade and intended for installation outdoors, its legs can simply be dug or stuck into the ground. For indoor installation, the legs are inserted into plank or plywood crosses (inset on item 2 and see below).

The decorative possibilities of an arch on a simple frame are limited, so volumetric arched frames, pos. 3. The base of this can also be bent from 3-6 branches of the same metal-plastic pipes. Their ends for installation indoors (of course, on the ground too) are inserted into holes drilled in wooden blocks, and after leveling the base of the frame, they are fixed with liquid nails or other nitro-glue for wood.

The next operation is to knit the branches of the frame for rigidity with knitting wire D(1.5 - 2) mm. Tiers of strapping are knitted with a turn of pipes with knitting wire at each intersection; a contour rounded in cross-section is formed by bending the wire outward (inset in item 3). For greater rigidity of the frame, it will be useful to knit with oblique transitions between tiers. Finally, the frame is painted white, and the wooden heels of the outer arch are covered with turf, carpet, etc. Simply, but skillfully decorated, such a homemade arch is not inferior in appearance to the coolest “joker”, pos. 4.

Without a backdrop

Photo zones without a specially made backdrop are arranged in cases where the surrounding environment itself softens the light, or the natural light is soft enough. The first is a room with a whitewashed ceiling and light, preferably also whitewashed walls. The second is shooting in clean, clear open air in spring or early autumn. Natural light is then still harsh, but flash illumination (see below) in this case brightens up the shadows well, because The characteristics of flash light are similar to natural light.

The simplest way to organize a photo zone in a bright, generally white room is new curtains for the holiday, pos. 1 in Fig.:

To obtain soft working lighting, taking into account shooting with flash, the window behind the curtains should face east, south or southeast, and the curtains themselves should be:

1. translucent;
2. general tone close to white, slightly yellowish;
3. curtain pattern - large, sparse, warm, desaturated tones.

If the room is decorated in a light and warm tone, but not white, then at a distance of 0.7-1.5 m from the wall it should be blocked off with drapes made of white translucent fabric, pos. 2. Flash illumination then needs to be provided without reflection from the ceiling, see below.

For an outdoor photo zone under a canopy of trees in ordinary flat places in mid-latitudes, the best soft backdrop is made of white ribbons 10-15 cm wide, pos. 3. The glare from the light breaking through the foliage does not need to be completely suppressed, they work for the overall effect. But too bright and sharp glare can unacceptably clutter the picture, and this is where a ribbon photo zone comes into play: the fabric will act as a diffuser and diffuse reflector, and edge diffraction on ribbons swaying in the wind will blur the sharp boundaries of lights and shadows.

A similar solution is used when shooting in a room with a design fragmented in color, for example. decorated with brick or wild stone. In this case, tapes are taken that are contrasting in color, but not in brightness, and approx. equal color saturation with the decoration of the room: if it is warm, then cool (pos. 4), and vice versa. This solution allows you to avoid very unpleasant visually “dirty” tinted shadows. For more information on the peculiarities of organizing a photo zone against the backdrop of a brick wall, see the story:

Video: photo zone - imitation of a brick wall

Note: dark hearts forfeits on pos. 4 – the result of light absorption during multiple reflections. This also unpleasant effect manifests itself especially strongly when shooting with flash. The simplest way to correct it is to stick mugs made of white or colored paper onto the cores.

The opposite color case is an outdoor photo zone in the mountains or ecologically clean seaside. Natural light is harsh, its maximum brightness is shifted to the blue side. Shadows need to be highlighted, but the flash light is, to put it mildly, neither soft nor warm. In this case, the backdrop is also made of ribbon, but in warm tones and more saturated (approx. 65%), pos. 5.

Another special case is an indoor photo zone with white painted walls and a glossy floor. Even if you shoot without a flash, with special illuminators, the reflected light will have a strong polarized component, giving a lot of unpleasant effects. “Polyarik” (polarizing filter) will not help here; without bright background sunlight it will make the picture dull and flat. The solution is to hang rare garlands of artificial flowers in an even more saturated warm tone, item 6. Diffuse re-reflection and edge reflection are enhanced compared to ribbons diffraction will be softened and warmed by work lighting.

The role of additional decor

Additional decor of the photo zone plays a significant role in its lighting technology. Dark holes in forfeits at pos. 4 fig. The above example is negative, but photo zone decorations can have a much greater positive effect.

To decorate a photo zone, decorative fans (fantas), artificial flowers, garlands, swags, curtains, lambrequins and other elements of decorative curtains are most often used. Homemade Christmas tree decorations, for example, can be used quite successfully for the same purpose. paper balls. It is convenient to decorate with phantoms a ready-made background that is already suitable as a photo backdrop, on the left in the figure:

With paper flowers you can completely cover the most inappropriate background, and also use them when enhanced scattering of direct and/or reflected light is required, see above. Garlands of neutral tones are suitable as a background for a photo zone in cases where colored decorations are inappropriate, for example, in a church, on the right in Fig. Decorators of religious buildings are well versed in lighting technology, and if photography is allowed there, then most often you can shoot with a flash “directly” without fear of hopelessly ruining the picture. For more information on the general principles of decorating a photo zone, see the video:

Video: photo zone decor

About colors for the photo zone

Making artificial flowers is a series of separate large topics. For a photo zone, it is advisable to choose those whose core, when directly illuminated by hard, fairly coherent and polarized flash light, does not produce a dark hole in the image. Visually it may be invisible, but there is no lens yet that can see like an eye and is not in sight.

Of the paper flowers for decorating a photo zone, peonies and roses are best suited, see picture:

The first ones - especially since they simply come from forfeits. Let's put it this way: first we decorate the photo zone with only phantoms. We take a test shot, examine it, analyze it, and based on the results of the analysis, we convert some of the forfeits into peonies. For information on making artificial flowers with your own hands, see the video selection:

Video: homemade flowers for the photo zone

and about installing large flowers on the background of the photo zone:

Video: installation of a photo zone made of paper flowers

Background separately

All comments regarding lighting technology and decorative design of the photo zone are valid for it with an adjustable hard backdrop. But the possibilities of a photo zone with a separate backdrop are much wider, if only because it can be optimally positioned relative to the available lighting. Not to mention the fact that such a backdrop can be used to hang quite heavy voluminous decor and something else, see below. Therefore, even if you have every opportunity to organize a photo zone using improvised means, the option of at least a small additional one with a separate backdrop should be considered, as long as there is enough time in the pre-holiday efforts.

The good thing about a hard solid backdrop made of wood or plywood is that rogue guests won’t just knock it over or break it, and you can decorate it with anything, even buckets of water. But as for the light, tricks with ribbons and garlands do not work here. This is partly compensated by the ability to optimally set the background itself, but shooting in backlight (from behind) is excluded. For installation outdoors, the jibs of the rigid backdrop are dug into the ground or secured with L-shaped bent reinforcement bars (item 1 in the figure); for installation indoors or on a paved area, you need to make a foot-heel, pos. 2.

The most widely used frame backdrops for photo zones are advantageous in all respects; For them, “Joker” sets are produced and sold, pos. 3. The background fabric on the Jokers is attached with a cord through the eyelets. To home-made structures on tubular steel (item 4) or wooden legs (item 5), the panel is pinned to the back with a furniture stapler or pushpins. In that other case, the protrusion of the paws forward is at least 1/8 of the height of the frame; back twice as much. Construction material – timber from 50x75; assembly on steel angles or carpentry joints. The permissible width of one section without intermediate supports is 1.5 m when assembled on corners from pine beams and up to 3 m from oak timber.

Frame feet

The most labor-intensive parts of the photozone backdrop frame design are the paws. If the frame (or frame of a wooden rectangular arch) is placed on the ground, instead of them you can use “nickels” measuring from 450x450 made of plywood with a thickness of 12 mm, pos. And in Fig.. In this case, a beam of 100x100 is needed for the frame. The thrust bearings are attached to the ends of the legs with 5 self-tapping screws (4.2-6)x(120-150) in an envelope. The thrust bearings themselves are pinned to the ground with L-shaped reinforcements, one per corner, and covered with turf or decor.

In other cases, it is possible to make universal support crosses (item B) from boards with a thickness of 40 mm or more. They will later be useful for the New Year tree, construction scaffolding, etc. The legs of the frame are not fastened to the crosspiece with steel: it is assembled using pairs of self-tapping screws through the faces into the ends of the boards. The legs of the frame are inserted into the sockets and wedged with wooden wedges - it will be quite reliable.

A special case

It also happens that, by general desire, the entire outdoor feast becomes a photo zone. In this case, it requires a large, especially strong and stable backdrop. He will also fence off the feasters from prying eyes.

Drawings of the frame of a durable welded pipe screen - the backdrop of the photo zone are given in the figure:

Drawing of a screen frame - a large durable backdrop for a photo zone

Fastening the background panel with a cord through the holes in the frame. An option for not particularly wild fun - the edges of the panel are folded and basted with thread No. 10 or harsh. At the table in front of such a screen (increasing sections in length is possible) there will be room for 20 people. And - even sleep with an inspired face in a bowl of Olivier, or even dance topless in a dish of lula kebab. And the photographer (or operator with a video camera) knows to take pictures - he has also seen something else at work.

Screen and light

A photo zone in the form of a folding screen (see Fig.) is suitable not only and not so much to cover up indecent revelry. Its decisive advantage is the ability to deliver good light in almost any shooting conditions. due to different wing flaps. As a result, the photo zone - folding screen is not picky about decor. In terms of color and brightness, it can be virtually anything, because... the lighting technology of the resulting filming booth has almost no effect.

Examples of the most common cases of staging light using a photo zone - a folding screen are shown on the next page. rice.:

On the left - shooting with a high-standing bright Sun in an "industrial" slightly dusty sky. The grid - the cover of the filming cabin not only softens the light, but due to edge diffraction on the threads, it “knocks down” its polarization, which is quite significant under such conditions. In the center - shooting in partial backlight with the Sun at a low position. On the right - a photo zone at home and shooting "puff in the forehead" indoors on a phone or tablet. In all cases, the cabin height is 2.2-2.4 m; The width of the central section is 1.5-2 m, the side sections are 1.2-1.5 m.

Covering the photo zone

There are several options for covering the back of a photo zone with your own hands:

• A pure white (not shiny!) translucent canvas is ideal in terms of lighting technology, weight and size and ease of use. Cons - if an awkward guest knocks over the backdrop (the holiday is the same), the cloth can tear or get dirty so that you can’t do without washing, and you can’t attach heavy decor. Another minus is that the slots for the frames are laborious, although if the frames are foam plastic, they are quite doable.
• Plywood, fiberboard or chipboard, painted white (see below) is a durable, but rather expensive and labor-intensive material. Can withstand any decor; openings for tantamaresque can be frameless. The backdrop canvas can be larger in size than the frame and have a complex shape. Lighting qualities are limited: backlight shooting is impossible, the back and wings can only work for reflection, but not for transmission.
• Corrugated packaging cardboard, painted in the same way, is a cheap or completely waste material and is very easy to process. The disadvantages are the same as those of sheet materials from before. n. In addition, it is fragile, the openings of the tantamaresque must be decorated with light frames, and traces of bends must be covered with decor.
• Rolled paper and wallpaper on the reverse side are only suitable for a small children's photo zone at home, and only if there are unnecessary ones.
• Expanded polystyrene (preferably not granulated foam, but extruded EPS) - produced in sheets with a thickness of 4 mm. It is very light, the lighting performance indicators are almost equivalent to woven fabric, but it is quite expensive and fragile, and easily becomes dusty. Suitable in 2 cases: for light and not an eyesore tantamaresky, additional to the main photo zone (pos. A) in Fig. lower, or if you need to quickly install a backdrop of a complex shape and/or a larger size than it, pos. B. Expanded polystyrene, as you know, is easily cut with just a knife and glued together with PVA.

How to paint the backdrop?

The hard backdrop of the photo zone must be painted with water-dispersed (water-based) paint for ceilings and walls. Any other, incl. acrylic bath enamel does not sufficiently diffuse reflected light and in most cases increases its coherence and polarization. This, both, and the third give glare, dips in brightness and dirty, unprocessed shadows in the picture.

Implementation examples

So, let’s assume that the boring but necessary technical details of setting up a photo zone are over and you can move on to things that are more pleasant and not so labor-intensive - decorating a photo zone for various occasions. The most common of them are birthdays and weddings. Birthdays are generally more varied in nature than weddings, so we’ll leave them for last.

Photo zone for the wedding

A wedding is an extraordinary and irregular event; expenses for it are not skimpy, so a wedding photo zone is most often made to order. However, a DIY photo zone for a wedding is also not uncommon, especially in places where it is difficult for a good designer-decorator to get to or the owners cannot afford his services.

All the design features of the photo zone described above are also valid for a wedding. But the lighting technology of a photo zone for a wedding is somewhat simpler than others: the wedding color is white, and the optimal color solution from the point of view of lighting technology is also as much white as possible. In principle, a wedding photo zone can be realized in the dream of any photographer - with shadowless or almost shadowless lighting, see for example. video:

Video: wedding photo zone

Note: just in case - a bearded joke; perhaps not very appropriate. “Mom, why does the bride always dress in white for her wedding?” - "Because, daughter, that the white color is the color of joy" - "Ah, well, now I understand why the groom is always in black!"

But there are also pitfalls in the design of a wedding photo zone. We will consider one of them, common to all photo zones, at the end. Second, don’t whiten the area too much. Too much joy is already boring, and a wedding is still not a thing in the box for photographing objects. For an unforgivable mistake when preparing a photo zone for a wedding, see also the video:

Video: mistakes when making a wedding photo zone

For birthdays

A photo zone for a birthday is more complicated than a wedding. First of all, in terms of lighting technology: the brighter, more colorful and varied its decor, the more fun the holiday will be; after all, the bride and groom are unlikely to be very interested in the decorations of the celebration. But it’s even more difficult for the decorator and photographer/cameraman: it’s harder to set the light and/or shoot with what’s available.

Numbers for the anniversary

One way to improve matters is the so-called. blockhead; volumetric non-directional or weakly directional diffuse reflector or light absorber. In studios, material decor is used for this: vases, large bouquets, cabinets, columns, etc. But there is a type of light dummy that just begs to be on anyone’s birthday - these are voluminous numbers showing the new age of the hero/hero of the occasion.

Examples of volumetric age numbers for a birthday are shown in the figure:

In practice, when staging lighting, they are used like this: they take a test shot of an already designed scene with human extras, but without numbers. They look at where to highlight with reflected white or slightly colored light, where to dim a spot that is too bright, and based on the results they decide what size, color tone and brightness the dummy numbers should be and where to put them. Technically, birthday numbers are usually made from foam plastic decorated with paper flowers (which is also true in lighting technology), see video:

Video: volumetric figures for a photo zone made of foam plastic and napkins

From a year old to a boy

A photo zone for the anniversary of a great uncle or aunt is a matter of their taste. They either know what they want and how to do it, or they will find funds to pay for decorators who will equip the area so that everyone will like it and the photographer/cameraman will not have a hard time working. But a children's photo zone is a completely different matter. Here we cannot do without the active participation of parents: the child’s psyche from the beginning of awareness of the world and himself in it (1-3 years) up to the age of full maturity (16 – 25 years) has not yet developed, and tastes have not yet been established. Here you need to be especially careful when choosing the general design style of the photo zone, not forgetting about its technical features, see above.

wigwam

A universal photo zone for the birthday of a younger child - his playhouse. If he doesn’t have one yet, and it takes a long time or is impossible to build (for example, in a small apartment), a play tent (hut) can completely replace it.

A wigwam is especially convenient in this regard. You can make it with your own hands at home in literally 1-2 hours, the kids always love it. It is enough to add a little festive decor (see figure) and, perhaps, replace the casing with a new one (if you already have a wigwam) - the photo zone is ready. Just give the hero of the occasion the opportunity to play pranks to his heart's content (but within reason), and he will very likely burst out laughing at these photographs when he is already a grandfather himself.

The smallest

It is usually recommended to design a photo zone for a one-year-old child in the form of a kind of nest. However, the baby, although perhaps still an infant, is already beginning to explore the world and look at things consciously. A one-year-old child is not yet able to understand what was done there in what style, but the peculiarities of his visual perception must be taken into account.

A one-year-old child still has difficulty distinguishing small details. Cold colors seem dull or completely gray to him, and sharp color and/or brightness contrasts hurt his eyes and frighten him. Therefore, you need to design a photo zone for photographing a one-year-old child like the one on the left in the figure: in warm soft colors. In plain view, you need to place large rounded decorations (helium balloons and a chair in this case), and move smaller ones “for the sake of the picture”, moving yourself and the guests to the upper corner: the baby won’t look at what’s there. If small decor is necessary for technical reasons (see above; in this case it is a number), then it needs to be made very small so that for the child it merges into a continuous pleasant background.

Photozone in the center in Fig. - a decision that is dubious in terms of color: the child in it may get bored and even capricious, wasting the whole holiday. Well, in the photo zone, which is on the right in the figure, most likely they will simply get scared. For more information on how to independently design a photo zone for a one-year-old child, see the video:

Video: photo zone for a one-year-old child

Little ladies...

It’s a commonplace that any little girl is a princess, even when she’s sitting on the potty and pushing. There are countless examples of decorating a girl’s photo zone in an aristocratic heraldic style. Not a bad universal solution, but in the mass consciousness it has already become boring, like everything that is too much.

Another universal solution for decorating a photo zone for a younger girl’s birthday is a candy bar, see picture:

Literally, a candy bar is a café-confectionery, where purchased delicacies can be immediately gobbled up and washed down with something also delicious. Therefore, the basis of the photo zone - the candy bar - is a sweet table that guarantees a good mood for the birthday girl and expressive pictures. The remaining design rules are common for children's photo zones: soft warm colors, fairly large rounded decor. If you need to cover up an unsightly background (for example, a wall) with small decor, its details must be arranged in some order so that the child gets the impression of a larger pattern (to the right of the center in the figure).

Photo zones for the birthday of older girls should be organized taking into account their creative interests (favorite book, artist, for example) and, if possible, using educational and developmental moments. If, for example, the birthday girl is completely indifferent to literature, then finding herself in the photo zone on the left in the figure, she may become interested: what kind of wonderland am I in? Well, Alice was there, and your name is similar. Where is this camp of miracles? Well, if you want, read it.

The photozone on the right in Fig. Designed for a more developed girl. Which is capable of thinking for itself: how does the poodle Artemon from the book about Pinocchio get stuck in the Eiffel Tower? And gradually discover depths that you had never suspected before. Of course, if they are accessible and understandable to parents.

Note: Also, about decorating a photo zone for a girl’s birthday, see the video:

Video: photo zone in a girl’s room for her birthday

...and gentlemen

As for the boys’ photo zones, no less than the carriages and crowns, the girls’ photo zones have become boring with pirate “bells and whistles” and the like. Moreover, if the child is thoughtful, contemplative, and cutting with a saber from the shoulder does not give him pleasure.

A universal solution for a photo zone for a boy’s birthday approx. from 3-5 years old also exists, and is much more effective for its development than the robber-military one. This is a photo zone in the style of “The Great Gatsby Party”, see fig. Its color is black and gold. The contours are clear, sharp or, for the youngest, rounded. Drawn fragments in pin-up style. The sweet table is by no means forbidden. Instead of the name of the literary hero Scott Fitzgerald, of course, the name of the hero of the occasion is in his native language - in Cyrillic, in Arabic, even in hieroglyphs.

The Great Gatsby photo zone has a strong suggestive (subconscious) effect on boys of any character, even the most abstract dreamers. It encourages you to set a goal in life (not necessarily material and/or financial) and achieve it. And then photographs against its background will remind you of what has already been done and what remains to be done. For information on the design of the photo zone “Reception at the Great Gatsby”, see the video:

Video: photo zone for a boy’s birthday

Note: If a group of his friends and girlfriends gathers for a child’s birthday, it is better to decorate his photo zone as for a children’s party, see next. video:

Video: photo zone for a children's party

In conclusion about the error

Now let’s remember what we promised: what is the main mistake in organizing any photo zone?

A photo zone is a great opportunity to entertain guests and get great photos even on a site where there are no beautiful landscapes for a photo shoot. What kind of photo zones there are, and how to make one with your own hands, our article will tell you.

Classic

A classic that is especially popular among couples is a wall made of plywood, decorated with large frames in which guests can take photos. This is a fairly simple, but nevertheless fun and convenient option. Such a photo zone is supplemented with various paraphernalia - mustaches, lips, funny glasses and wigs: inscriptions and letters, bubbles with phrases and empty ones for you to write them yourself. Such a photo zone can easily move from one part of the wedding venue to another in a matter of minutes. The dimensions of a classic photo wall are usually 2*2m, or a little more, so the frame will be filled 100%. And the photo zone itself can be placed both outdoors and indoors, if the ceremony and dinner are held in the hall, without the opportunity to go outside.

DIY photo zone

Creating pieces of the holiday with your own hands is always a good idea. There are a lot of options on how to make a photo zone yourself. It all depends on your capabilities, abilities and imagination. If you are planning to make a photo zone yourself, then pay attention, first of all, to the following ideas:

• Wall with bright paper pompoms or pinwheels
• Paper flowers
• Paper garlands
• Ribbons and fabric draperies
• Decor hung on a real wall: clocks, photo frames, romantic inscriptions

This way you can not only make something really stylish, but also save a lot.

Creative photo zones

The most effective and win-win option would be a creative, individual photo zone, designed in the style of the wedding. In this case, you cannot do without decorators. They can even create for you a corner of a real residential house with a cozy fireplace, carpet, floor lamp and armchair. And for some, a real hayloft is suitable: haystacks, a horse, horseshoes for good luck. For cozy romantic photos, vintage furniture under the shade of a large tree and chandeliers hanging from the branches are suitable. For those who are especially creative, a photo backdrop made from pallets, mesh and metal flowerpots on it.

Interactive photo zone

Such an area can be huge letters that can be composed into individual words, or a wall where images from a projector are projected. Thus, some of the guests can take a photo against the backdrop of the raging ocean, while others will choose a quiet corner of paradise in Hawaii. An interactive photo zone implies a constant change of appearance - depending on the imagination and wishes of the guests. You can sail on the sea or find yourself behind the wheel of a convertible from the 50s. And most importantly, don’t forget to come up with a tag for such photos on Instagram!

Two in one

For practical couples, as well as couples who do not have enough space to accommodate all the areas on the wedding site, there is also an option. The ceremony area smoothly turns... into a photo zone! An arch, luxurious flower arrangements - all this can become a wonderful backdrop for a photo shoot with guests. Arrange for the chairs to be removed before the photo shoot so that you and your groom can enjoy a full-fledged photo area for pictures with those you love.

An anniversary is always a significant event that you want to celebrate, if not on a grand scale, then in a way that will be remembered for a long time. Taking photographs for memory is one of the components of the holiday. And in order for the pictures not to look boring and monotonous, it is necessary to prepare a special area where people can relax and take pictures.

The peculiarity of such a photo zone is that its organization requires a background and a certain amount of material for decoration. Photos taken in such an area will be much more interesting and brighter, and the photo session itself will be remembered for a long time.

Place for photo zones for anniversaries

The location of the photo zone completely depends on your desire and time of year. In order for the birthday person’s anniversary to be remembered for a long time, and when viewing photos the mood immediately improves, it is advisable to allocate enough space to set up a stand and accommodate guests in the location.

The theme should be chosen based on the wishes of the birthday person.

The ideal solution would be to organize a photo zone in a banquet hall or on the street. In the first case, no weather conditions will spoil the holiday, and in the second, provided the weather is good, the guests will be comfortable and comfortable. In addition, if the holiday takes place in a park or garden, there is always the opportunity to save on a stand and use the natural beauty of nature instead of a background.

Photo zone design rules

By adhering to the rules below, you can properly organize a photo zone for the anniversary of both men and women:

1. The placement of the banner should be planned in such a way that it does not interfere with the passage of guests. That is, it is advisable to install a photo zone somewhere nearby. Be sure to warn guests about its availability.
2. If the event is held outdoors, make sure that the structure is stable and will not fall in a gust of wind. And also all decor should be well fixed.
3. You don't need too many decorations and props. If it is the anniversary of a young girl or guy, then at the discretion of the birthday boy and the number of guests. And if the 45th, 50th, 55th, 60th anniversary is celebrated, then modesty and harmony are welcomed.

Materials for decoration

To ensure that the photo zone is beautifully decorated, you can use the following materials:

Types of photo zones for anniversaries

There are no special rules for creating a photo zone for an anniversary. The theme can be any, but the main thing is that the hero of the occasion likes it. Use your imagination, show creativity and a sense of humor. Differences may be in the design of the stand for the 30th anniversary or 60th.

Banners on structures

The so-called press wall or stand background are very popular when holding any holiday or special event. Previously, they were installed only at social parties, presentations or other official meetings, but now they are used everywhere.

With special effort, the structure can be made independently from wooden beams or metal pipes. And then the canvas is attached to the base. The background, which is on the canvas, is applied in a printing house or drawn independently.

The advantage of such a banner is its low cost and the ability to rent. The stand in the form of a screen is especially easy to transport and assemble. By the way, it doesn’t look as flat as a standard press wall. The disadvantage of the design is the windage, so it will not be possible to install it outdoors in the wind. And it looks very formal and restrained.

But oddly enough, it’s suitable for a man’s anniversary.

Flower stand

A completely gentle and stylish design is suitable for a girl or woman both for a 30th anniversary and for a 55th anniversary, and will truly become a decoration for the holiday. Celebrating a wedding anniversary or birthday with such a photo zone will be pleasant and memorable.

The photos will turn out bright and gentle at the same time. This photo zone is especially relevant in winter, when there is slush and greyness all around.

Both fresh and artificial flowers can be used as decoration, and the latter will cost much less.

If you want to use fresh flowers, then contact a flower salon so that the buds are treated with a special composition that retains moisture and helps the flowers last a long time.

Paperwork

This option for decorating a photo zone is the most common and attractive, because you can make anything out of paper. For example, the same flowers. Huge and incredibly beautiful buds will not only become an attractive backdrop, but will also make the 55-year-old girl feel like a little girl.

But you shouldn’t get hung up on just colors, because there are a lot of options for using paper figures. For example, paper pompoms, pinwheels or fans. The main advantage of this decor is that it can be reused.

Ribbons

Using ribbons you can create an airy and light photo zone. Tapes are attached to the arch, and the arch itself is made of light pipes or any material that bends but holds its shape. This design is best installed outdoors. The photos will turn out more dynamic due to the fact that a light breeze will develop the ribbons. In addition, there is a touch of romance in such a frame, so this idea for decorating a photo zone is suitable for a wedding anniversary. The stylish design is perfect for a man’s 50th birthday.

Fairy lights

Who said that garlands with lights are only relevant for the New Year? When organizing a photo zone, you can use multi-colored lights along with fabric decoration. Thanks to the fabric, the lights will be slightly blurred, which will make the photo more attractive. It is not necessary to use a New Year's garland; you can get by with ordinary light bulbs.

The advantage of such a photo zone is that all the constituent elements can be used on the farm after the holiday is over.

The bright and cheerful design is suitable for both a woman on her 60th birthday and a girl on her 25th birthday.

Chalk board

Recently, a chalk or slate board has become popular, on which you can draw your wishes or congratulations. It can be decorated with paper flowers and the photo zone will become even more beautiful. When using small accessories or some attributes, such as smiles on a stick, the shots will be significantly diversified, and it will be more interesting and fun for guests to take pictures.

Disco style

Use old vinyl records or CDs to get creative and imaginative. It will turn out very original and non-standard. A similar retro style can be played out in clothing, inviting guests to dress accordingly. It is recommended to use for the hero of the day on his 50th or 55th birthday.

Balloons

No holiday is complete without balloons, because they are a kind of symbol. Therefore, we begin to design and try to ensure that all the balls correspond to a certain style. You can endlessly fantasize about decorating with balloons: arches, figures, flowers, etc. will make the anniversary brighter and more fun. It is even possible to make a symbolic number out of small balls, which will indicate the significance of the celebration. A ball surprise for a man or woman's 50th or 60th birthday will be an unforgettable gift.

Tantamaresca

A special feature of these banners is the presence of a slot for the head, so that anyone can stick their face through the hole and feel like the hero drawn on the poster. The subjects depicted on the banner can be different, including children's themes. In addition, you can make a lot of slits and then guests can take pictures in groups. The advantage of such a zone is that it is easy to dismantle. The disadvantage is that the guests’ outfits will not be visible. But it’s not scary, because you can always take a photo in front of the zone. Be sure that guests who come to the 45th anniversary of a woman or man will be happy to take part in a photo shoot.

Inventory and necessary attributes

To help your guests relax and feel more at ease, encourage them to use a variety of props during the shoot. As a rule, these are small elements: glasses, hats, sponges and mustaches on a stick, masks and the like. When guests start trying on these things, it will be difficult to contain the fun, and the embarrassment will disappear by itself.

It is advisable to use things that do not imply a complete change of the guests’ attire, but only slightly change or complement it.

You can use the following as accessories for a photo shoot:

• Old things, such as suitcases, a suitcase, a knapsack, an armchair;
• Various frames and baguettes;
• Toy weapon;
• Inflatable toys;
• Ties and bowties like clowns.

In order for the photos to turn out bright and clear, you need to install a backlight. Experiment and your photos will be pleasant to review after many years!

Using a special area for a photo shoot is an excellent opportunity to make the shooting more impressive and memorable. You should take care of choosing a photo zone and the necessary props in advance.

Photo zone – a space for organizing wedding photography, specially decorated in the theme of the celebration.

Important advantages of its use:

• stylish exclusive background, allowing you to create original photographs;
• entertainment for guests(opportunity to take self-photos in a beautiful space);
• eliminates the possibility that they will get into the frame unnecessary objects, strangers;
• unusual a touch of room decoration generally.

Dimensions

Often used at weddings classic version - 2x2m or 3x2.5m(usually no more than 5 m on one side).

Determining factors when choosing suitable photozone sizes are:

• planned budget(rent, self-registration);
• wedding theme(some styles require a minimum number of decorative elements, while others, on the contrary, require an abundance of design);
• location(the place where this zone will be located must have such dimensions as not to block the passage in the banquet hall, not to impede the movement of guests, not to interfere with dancing, active competitions and the direct work of the photographer and videographer);

Another important requirement: the choice of a photo zone should be carried out in such a way that guests can freely pose against its background without fear that unnecessary details (fasteners and frame) will get into the frame due to its small size.

Where to place it?

There are two main options:

• accommodation in a restaurant(cafe, any banquet hall);
• accommodation on the street(for outdoor ceremony).

In the first case, it is convenient to place the photo zone near the entrance to the establishment, but so that it does not block the passage. In the second case, the photo zone is placed close to the buffet venue(order special signs in advance so you can find your way around).

Beyond size the following principles must be adhered to:

• attractiveness;
• harmony (matching the theme is great if it doesn’t stand out too much from the rest of the holiday decor);
• selected accessories.

Design options

Below are the most popular ideas and techniques for decorating a photo area for a wedding.

• Living plants. Buds of fresh flowers or a picturesque “green” wall (decoration with ivy, maiden grapes) can be used. It is advisable to entrust this design option to a professional florist, because... It will be difficult to fix flowers on a vertical surface on your own (use a special floristic oasis). During a photo shoot in the cold season, you can use stabilized flowers, dried flowers, and natural materials that are more resistant to temperature changes.
• Artificial flowers. An alternative option for floral decoration is fabric or paper flowers. It should be noted that the use of paper decorations outdoors requires taking into account weather conditions.
• Chalk (slate) background. Against such a background, you can write or draw anything - the name of the young spouses, funny congratulations, short wishes, drawings. A large area for wedding photography can be painted in advance with colored chalk.

Advice: There is a risk that guests will touch the slate and the drawing or inscriptions will be smeared. To avoid this, you can ask the decorator to place some kind of limiter in front of the stand. For example, a composition of flowers or other decorative elements.

• fabrics. The area decorated with fabric drapery looks very beautiful and elegant.
• . This is a wide-format banner on which the initials of the newlyweds, wedding symbols, the date of the event, and other decorative elements are usually printed. This banner is installed on a special frame.
• From balloons. A simple and budget-friendly design idea is to use balloons of the required colors (single color or a combination of several shades). The newlyweds can pre-order printing on the balloons (names, wedding date).
• Fairy lights. An area decorated with garlands and other lighting fixtures looks very impressive in the evening.
• Interior. To create it, part of the surrounding interior is used. Any piece of furniture can be used - a sofa, armchairs, chairs, a chest of drawers, a table. As a decoration, the area is supplemented with decorative elements of the existing interior (for example, pillows, candlesticks, lamps, vases).

Any of the listed types can be supplemented optional interesting accessories:

• small flower arrangements;
• tapes;
• bows;
• gift boxes;
• volumetric letters;
• umbrellas;
• framework.

Thematic

Often photo zones are designed in full accordance with the chosen wedding style, complementing with accessories appropriate to the theme:

1. Rustic style(pastel shades, light chairs, light wooden background, flowers, barrel, straw hat and other attributes).
2. Sea style As a rule, it assumes a white and blue color scheme, and the zone itself imitates part of a sea vessel (ship, boat, yacht or separate cabin). Possible decorative elements are a fishing net, ropes, anchor print, inflatable lifebuoy, steering wheel, etc.
3. "Breakfast at Tiffany's"– turquoise color and similar shades (blue, mint, silver), flowers, draperies, vintage font and black/white photographs printed on the banner.
4. Outdoors– just choose a beautiful natural location with a picturesque landscape (garden, park, river bank). The option does not require complex preliminary preparation or high costs, but there are risks - weather and seasonal conditions.
5. Autumn photozone can be decorated in yellow-orange colors (decor - natural materials - physalis, fruit baskets, pumpkins, tree branches, voluminous paper flowers, leaves, etc.).
6. Popular winter decoration– New Year, Christmas theme (red and white shades, small Christmas tree, candles or garlands, lanterns). An interesting winter option is to use a decorated bright sleigh as a shooting location. In a room, an area with a stylized fireplace is often chosen.
7. Summer zone involves the widest choice of options and allows for almost all of the listed ideas. It is in the summer that most ceremonies are held, so natural locations are often used.
8. spring photozone involves decoration with delicate fabric draperies and flowers.

Wherein a combination of several stylistic options is possible and corresponding decor.

Additionally: We have collected detailed information for you list of accessories for on-site registration and recommendations for decorating the ceremony.

Price

In most cases, agencies provide photo zones for rent. The rental period is usually no more than a day, with installation and dismantling included in the cost of services.

Average cost of such services fluctuates in the range from 6,000 to 20,000 rubles. If you need to create larger-scale compositions (with many decorative elements, additional furniture or installation of prefabricated structures), the cost can start from 35 thousand rubles.

Photos (examples)

In the photographs below we have collected examples of photo zones decorated in different styles and colors.

Useful video materials

Is a photo zone necessary at a wedding (as told by a professional photographer Maria Alexandrova):

Possible errors when creating a photo zone ( says Pavel Yeletsky):

A photo zone is an original decoration for any wedding ceremony. A beautifully decorated area in the style of the celebration will complement the atmosphere of the holiday, and will also provide the newlyweds and guests with stunning memorable photographs.

To the joy of most newlyweds, boring and canonical wedding ceremonies are a thing of the past. Traditions that came to us from the West are interpreted and are very popular among those getting married. Beautiful outdoor ceremonies, the touching custom of reciting an oath of allegiance to each other, buffet receptions, and themed and stylized celebrations have taken root well in our wedding fashion. Such innovations include a wedding photo zone - a specially prepared and decorated space for creating beautiful, bright photographs of the newlyweds and their guests.

Wedding slideshow

Photos are clickable - click to enlarge.

How to organize space

To create a photo zone at a wedding, it is important to consider a few simple rules:

1. the banner or stand must be large enough, at least 2*2 meters;
2. it is better to locate it outside the banquet hall, by constructing signs for its location for guests;
3. if the location will be located indoors, take care of the necessary space for it and free access to it;
4. organize a photography location away from the entrance/exit, aisles and dance floor, so that no strangers or objects get into the frame;
5. The photo area at the wedding should be comfortable enough, spacious and uncluttered so that the photographer and models can move freely.

Thematic photo sessions

One of the main conditions for a photo zone for a wedding is its full compliance with the general style and theme of the holiday. By sticking to one direction, you will create a harmonious space that complements the festive mood. For a celebration in a certain style or color, you can order a photo zone in suitable shades, with the desired drawings, photos, and inscriptions.

So, a classic, chamber ceremony can be decorated in the form of a wall with beautiful wallpaper, hanging paintings, cozy armchairs and an artificial fireplace, and floor vases with flowers. You can rent a ready-made banner for a photo zone in a neutral color with “general” inscriptions, romantic confessions and wishes.
The ceremony in a nautical style will be decorated with images of a lighthouse, pier, and sailboat. This could be a view of the sea from the porthole of a cabin or the window of a cozy room, decorated with accessories on a chosen theme: an anchor, a steering wheel, a compass, decorative elements made of ropes, a bell, a captain’s cap.

The design of a photo zone at a wedding in retro style can include a painted retro car, a model of a car against the backdrop of the old city, or imitate a restaurant or cabaret room. For decoration, pearl threads, lace, feathers, rhinestones, and draperies made of fabric in soothing colors are used.

A photo zone at a wedding in a rustic style includes decor made of natural wood, a cart, a wagon wheel, pottery and simple furniture, natural materials: linen, burlap, cotton. The character and style of hay sheaves and boxes of seasonal vegetables and fruits are perfectly emphasized. Instead of a banner, a gazebo or arch made of branches and vines, decorated with fresh flowers, can be used.

By adding a rustic photo zone with checkered furniture blankets and lavender flowers, you can get excellent decor in the Provence style. Decorative cages with birds or flower buds, soft pastel shades in the design correspond to the shabby chic style. And by adding a little colored ribbons, lace and bohemian negligence, you can get wonderful decorations in the boho style.

At a wedding agency you can rent or order a photo zone taking into account all your wishes. It will be done professionally, flawlessly, but by someone else’s hands. The cost of such a service can be quite high. If you want everything to be done with soul and for a reasonable price, you can entrust the design of the photo zone for the wedding to witnesses and close friends, if you have the time and the opportunity to do it yourself. Another option is to create several locations for photography. Install a traditional banner with the names of the newlyweds at the registration place or in the banquet hall and one or more stylized locations outside the restaurant/cafe.

DIY space decoration

Video on how to make large paper flowers for decoration.

Ideas for a wedding photo zone can be drawn from the daily life of the newlyweds, from their hobbies, taking into account the temperament and characters of the couple. Feel free to use a variety of themes, motifs from your favorite books, films or cartoons. Models of fairy-tale or fictional characters with holes for faces will amuse the newlyweds and wedding guests.
An interesting solution for a photo zone in nature would be an impromptu tea party or a romantic dinner. Candles and lamps on the table, beautiful dishes, a long tablecloth and fresh flowers will allow you to create gentle and sensual images of the bride and groom. Paper lanterns or light bulbs in the dark will complement the atmosphere. You can set up a photo zone in the forest using available materials: branches and wildflowers. To create an atmosphere, you can use kerosene lamps or lanterns hung on branches, colored ribbons, and tulle. Stumps of various sizes are suitable as tables and chairs.

An old wooden door, preferably a large double door, decorated with fresh or artificial flowers, will look interesting and original. A wall made of antique-painted boards, with a garland of colored flags, a bench and a checkered blanket looks laconic and elegant. A wall hung with many clocks of different shapes and sizes is very symbolic for a wedding photo shoot, as a reminder of the onset of a new stage in life, the transience of time and the need to appreciate every minute spent together.

Decor made of paper flowers is suitable for decorating a photo zone for a wedding in any style and color scheme. This can be a solid flower wall, one or several shades corresponding to the palette of the celebration. Volumetric flowers of different sizes made of corrugated paper look fantastically beautiful, emphasizing the delicate and fragile image of the bride and the touching youth of her bridesmaids. A garland of paper flowers and hearts will decorate any location. A light floral atmosphere will be a wonderful interior design for your first wedding anniversary.

Simple, fun, creative

How to make a photo zone for a wedding with your own hands so that the photo session is interesting, fun, and memorable?
A coated board for a photo zone will help you create an unusual and creative location, a cheerful and relaxed atmosphere, and a feeling of a real holiday. You can initially write your names, the date of the ceremony on it, and leave the rest of the space for friends and family to write their wishes. You can diversify the photo zone at a wedding using a variety of props, very different in meaning and character:

• all kinds of musical instruments - pianos, guitars, balalaikas, mandolins, harps, trumpets, saxophones, drums, rattles, tambourines, spoons, maracas;
• wigs, huge hats, sombreros, glasses with large colored frames;
• for ladies - fans, hats, carnival masks, lace umbrellas;
• for men - top hats, canes, monocles, pipes;
• a large chess field with several pieces, where guests will play the role of queen, king, queen, bishop and knight;
• toy sabers, pistols, large cars, dolls and plush toys;
• transport – scooters, bicycles, mopeds with helmets, tin cans and “just married” signs;
• simple sports equipment - hula hoops, jump ropes, boxing gloves, tennis rackets, badminton, Frisbee, golf or croquet clubs;
• easel, children's inflatable pool with fishing rods, soap bubbles, hammock, garden table, bench with newspapers, books.

In such a photo zone at a wedding, every guest will find props to their liking, have fun and get an unforgettable experience.

Use funny accessories on sticks: mustaches, smiles, glasses, crowns. Feather boas and funny colored hats will add expression to your photos, become an addition to the location or an independent prop. Just like small coated signs of various shapes and sizes, with wishes or funny inscriptions. Large colored cardboard letters from which you can add the names of the newlyweds, the words “love”, “family” cut out from chipboard, the phrases “happy together”, “together forever”, “husband and wife” will add an atmosphere of celebration and fun.

This will be the place where the history of a new family is born, where some of the happiest and most memorable moments of family life will be captured, a place that your family and friends will remember for a long time and warmly. Create it with love.

How not to ruin the photo zone?