(Small-Scale) Photo Backdrop DIY

SIDE-NOTE (That has 100%  nothing to do with this post...) Do you see my GFC follower count over there? YUP, I am SIX away from 1,000. WOW. Now, I realize that "numbers don't mean anything", but I would sure love to get to 1, 000 GFC followers!! When I do I'm going to be giving away something F-U-N! :)

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I have been loving sewing up clutches for my shop! It has been so. much. fun. picking out fabrics for new designs and doing my best to keep things f.r.e.s.h.!
The only "thorn in my side" when it comes to owning a shop has been taking the product photos.
I know, I know, I should hire professional help. BUT, I don't have the funds currently & am perfectly capable of taking a photo of a clutch. Or so I thought when I first started!
At first (and if you're reading this post in late August, the photos are still there!), I was using a white poster board propped up near a window.
I could NEVER get the contrast, brightness, etc. to look right in any of my pictures, even when shooting in manual.
So, I decided to try something new. I love the look of old wood, so I convinced my husband last Friday night (date night, mind you) that I NEEDED to go to the hardware store and make a few purchases.
So we did. And he is a saint.
Here's how we did it:

From the store we bought:
6 1"x4"x8' boards & had 5 of them cut in 2' sections & 1 of them cut in 3' sections
Screws in 2 different sizes
4 hinges
Wood stain (or paint!)

When we got home, we laid 8 of the boards down and attached them at the top with one of the 3' sections putting a screw in each board (using large screws).

We did the same for another set of boards.
Then screwed one of the extra 2' boards towards the bottom on each of the sections (not right at the same point, so that it will close!)
Add your hinges (small screws).

Flip it over, and stain (or paint!) the front side. This is where you can get creative & make YOUR SHOP PHOTOS look cohesive and unique from everyone else's!
Do you have a signature color? Use it! This is where you can make your products shine!

Once it's all dry, you're good to go start taking photos!

(open for photo-taking)

(closed for easy storage)

(over-sized clutch in dainty floral being an exquisite model)

See how easy that was? And look at how nice it make the photo turn out! I just love the outcome!
The whole project cost us around $25.

I am working on getting the shop updated with several new designs & nicer photos by the end of the week! I hope you'll check back and see when I do!

What do you think? Is this a project that interests you?