One of the things I’ve learned from years of shooting on location is that the less time I spend fighting with my background, the more time I can spend concentrating on the subject. That’s one of the reasons I’ve become such a fan of the Easiframe system.
The Easiframe Curved is essentially a portable fabric cyclorama that gives me a clean, seamless background without the hassle of building a permanent studio wall. The aluminum frame is surprisingly lightweight. With the included Allen keys, I can have it assembled in under 10 minutes. It can be wall mounted but I most-often mount it on a pair of Kupo light stands, which makes it particularly useful when I’m working in spaces that weren’t designed as photo studios, such as client’s homes or businesses.
I’ve used Easiframe at events where creating consistent, professional lighting can be a challenge. That’s one of the reasons I bring my broncolor lights with me. I know I can rely on them to deliver consistent, controlled light even in unpredictable event spaces. Paired with the Easiframe, I can quickly create a clean, polished setup that looks like a proper studio, even when I’m working in the middle of a busy convention floor. It gives me the control I need to produce consistent results while keeping the setup practical and efficient.
At the Canadian Imaging Conference and Expo for PPOC, for example, I’ve seen firsthand how valuable it is to have a professional-looking background that can be set up quickly and repeatedly. Events are rarely calm, quiet environments. There are people walking around, equipment everywhere and a schedule that seems to get tighter by the minute. Having a system that goes together quickly and gives me a consistent background makes my life considerably easier.
The real magic is the skin. It stretches tightly into the frame using a flexible silicone edge, creating a smooth, wrinkle-free surface. There’s no steaming, ironing or trying to convince a traditional fabric backdrop to behave. I can simply install the skin, pull it tight and get to work. And when I want to change the look, I can swap skins in a couple of minutes using the same frame.
I also appreciate how well the skins stand up to the realities of working on location. They’re made for repeated use and, unlike some backdrops (hello rolls of paper) that make you nervous every time someone gets near them with a shoe, stand or coffee cup, they’re practical. If a skin gets dirty, it can be cold machine washed and hung to dry. It doesn’t need to be ironed afterward, which is exactly the kind of maintenance I like: minimal.
For photography, video, portraits, product work or event applications, Easiframe gives me something I value enormously: consistency without a lot of fuss. It’s durable, portable, quick to set up and easy to keep looking professional.
And right now, there’s an even better reason to add one to your studio or production kit.
SPECIAL OFFER:
Buy an Easiframe and get a FREE skin – your choice of White, Black or Chroma Green, a $209 value!
If you’ve ever wished you could take your studio background with you without taking your entire studio with you, the Easiframe is worth a look.
-> Learn more about Easiframe
Author: Will Prentice
A portrait, fine art and commercial photographer for 30 plus years, Will Prentice is not just a contributor to PHOTONews magazine, but also host of PHOTONewsTV, owner of Captura Photography+Imaging and Technical Support/Brand Manager for Amplis Foto, Canada’s largest distributor of photographic equipment.
Will teaches photographers of all skill levels how to improve their craft – from creative photo projects to picking the right gear for their needs to flattering lighting to getting the best expressions to creating final images for screen and print. His unique style of highly detailed images with perfect tonality, wide dynamic range and stunning colour is instantly recognizable. Commercial clients rely on Will’s creative eye and mastery of lighting.
When he’s not behind the camera or in front of a class, you’ll find Will outdoors in any weather – usually on one of his bikes or enjoying time with his grandchildren.
