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DIY Background Stands

In addition to camera, lenses and studio lights, backdrop and background stands serve as important pieces of equipment for studio photographers. If you go to retail outlets, you can spend a few hundred dollars to buy a studio background stand. However, using PVC piping, connectors and a couple of hours on a rainy afternoon, you can build your own do-it-yourself background stand at home. After the project is complete, you can glue the sections together or leave them separate to be able to disassemble the stand for transport.

Things You'll Need

8 6-inch lengths of 1-inch PVC pipe
4 12-inch lengths of 1-inch PVC pipe
3 6-foot lengths of 1-inch PVC pipe
2 1-inch PVC pipe elbows
6 1-inch "T" PVC pipe connectors

Instructions

- 1
  Insert a 12-inch piece of 1-inch PVC into the front and back of a "T" connector. Connect a "T" connector at the end of the 12-inch lengths. Insert a 6-inch length of PVC piping into the openings on the "T" connector to form the foot of the stand. Repeat this process for the second foot of the stand.
- 2
  Insert a 6-foot length of 1-inch PVC piping into the vertical opening of the "T" connector that is in the middle of the foot. At the top of the 6-foot length, attach an "elbow" connector. This process completes the foot and vertical support stand. Repeat this process for the other stand.
- 3
  Insert a 6-foot length of 1-inch PVC piping into the elbow connector at the top of each vertical stand to form the crossbar of the background stand. Your stand is completed and can be used with fabric or paper backdrops.

Photography