Studio props

[Montec]

Wow...Studio props are soooo expensive.

Does anyone have a secret discount supplier they would care to share? I want to build a fairy tale studio set with a painted muslin background that I have.

I need rocks, mushrooms, foliage, moss etc.

[FocusingOnFlorida]

I look around the area and through stores. We just had a Wine and Cigar Pub sell to new owners and i was able to pick up two large wine barrels for $100.00 USD a pop. Amvona has good sales on backdrops every now and again.

What you are looking for seems much more specific and will probably cost you more. I live here in Florida, and Spanish Moss hangs everywhere. I could probably pluck some from the trees and mail it to you if you wanted to pay the shipping. (You may have to "debug" it though) Some mean super tiny bugs could be living in it. "Chiggers" That would also depend on exactly how much you would want.

Best of luck with that and post a few photos when you get it completed.

[Stephanie C.]

Try Pro Studio USA (Pro Studio Supply - Online Photographer's Discount Store) or even take a look at American Photographic Resources (APR photography props: photography studio props and supplies).
I also look on eBay for items and yard sales when in season!
Stephanie

[Benji]

Originally Posted by Montec

Wow...Studio props are soooo expensive.

Does anyone have a secret discount supplier they would care to share? I want to build a fairy tale studio set with a painted muslin background that I have.

I need rocks, mushrooms, foliage, moss etc.

Rocks can easily be made from 4 x 8 sheets of styrofoam cut into smaller pieces (to make it thicker) then glued together with the special glue made for glueing styrofoam. After it hardens rough it into shape with an electric meat carving knife. Then you can smooth it out by sanding with 30 grit sandpaper and make pockmarks in it with a blow torch (DON'T breathe the smoke.) I would have a photograph of a "real" stone in front of me while carving. Paint it with latex paint first, then after that dries you can use "rattle can" paint on it to give it some variation. You CANNOT use rattle can paint first as it will melt the styrofoam as fast as you spray. I have a rock that I have done this way.

A mushroom. I have not done a mushroom, but I'll bet if you could find an old worn out disc blade (from a farmer's disc) and take it, and a photograph of a mushroom to a welder, he could easily weld it onto a piece of pipe, and make a flat base for it. I would have the welder bend the pipe a little to make the mushroom "lean" a little, but keep the top level. The ridges on the stem could be added by the welder, as could the bumps on the top.

You could possibly swap all of this welding for some photographs of the welders kids, or if his kids are older, maybe some family portraits, or maybe of just him and his wife.

Benji

[Montec]

Thanks for all the suggestions...I am going to try building some rocks.
I was thinking paper mache for some of the other items. Definetly looks like 'home-made' stuff for now, a person could spend many thousands of dollars on props if you bought all the gear from retail outlets.

I will post a photo when I get the final set built.

[Mark McCall]

in the old days, we made cheap, realistic rocks from chicken wire, a few towels, sand, and fiberglass resin found in automotive stores.

Mold the chicken wire, (a loosely knit steel fabric), into a rock shape. Cover it with the towels. Form the wire with indentions for subjects to sit.

Mix the resin with hardener (each purchased separately at the automotive store), then mix in the sand so the mixture is saturated.

Pour or brush the resin/sand mixture over the towel covered chicken wire. Allow it to dry.

A few hours later, you'll have an incredibly realistic rock in the shape you've made it.
.....and it's cheap.

[Benji]

Mark,

That sounds like an excellent idea, as does the paper mache idea. Almost makes me want to go out and try it!

One thing about using fiberglass is this must be done outdoors, or at the very least in a garage with the big door open and all the windows open for cross ventilation. As a former Corvette body man, I can testify that the resin is highly volatile and smells to high heaven!

Ben

[rshunk]

Here's a photo of a woodland setting that I put together. The mushrooms and rocks are made from paper mache - I purchased a paper mache mix from Dick Blick Art Supplies. I tried using newspaper, but it never came together like I wanted. Also, the mix from Dick Blick is pure white.



The rocks are simple balls of rolled up newspaper that I flattened on the bottom and taped with masking tape before I paper mached the tops. The mushrooms were created by putting the mix in several sizes of metal bowls and baking in the oven until dry (on a very low temp). After they dried, I attached them with glue & tape to various size coffee cans. They're not perfect, but they get the job done - and they were cheap!

Most of the other props/foliage I got from discount stores like Ohio Pottery, Michael's, Garden Ridge and online from Collection Etc.

Here's another setting that shows off the rocks a little better:



Bob S.

[joshranwest]

I do a lot of "hollywood" type photography from the 1930s and the props I use are sometimes found in thrift stores, and pawn shops. You just never know what someone will want to lean against or be photographed with.