Purple Paper Backdrop Portraits: Les-Lee Lesch in the Studio
South African fashion portrait photographer Les-Lee Lesch shot a studio portrait series on a Camerastuff purple paper backdrop with model Lorenzo Kriel. Here is what a bold backdrop colour looks like when it is part of the shoot plan from the start.
Watch Les-Lee Lesch Shoot on Purple Paper
Les-Lee Lesch uses a Camerastuff purple paper backdrop for a fashion portrait session, showing how bold colour holds up under studio lighting from setup through to final frames.
Featured Product
Camerastuff Seamless Paper Backdrop 2.70x10m Rugby Bruises Purple
A deep, saturated purple on a 2.70m wide seamless roll. Rugby Bruises sits between a rich violet and a dark plum, giving portrait and fashion subjects a strong, moody background that reads cleanly in both colour and black and white conversion. The matte finish keeps the tone even across the full width without hotspots or glare.
View ProductWhy Paper Backdrops Work So Well for Portrait Photography
Paper backdrops solve the three main problems photographers face with background materials: consistency, colour accuracy, and setup speed. The seamless format removes the floor-wall junction from the frame. That single detail produces a cleaner, more professional result than almost anything else at a comparable cost.
The matte finish is the other defining factor. Paper absorbs light rather than reflecting it. Strobes, softboxes, and natural light all behave predictably against a matte surface. There are no hotspots to burn out, no sheen to manage, and no unexpected colour shifts caused by a reflective coating. The background simply reads as a flat, even tone.
For a shoot like this one, with strong studio lighting and a subject wearing bold wardrobe, that even tone is what keeps the background from competing with the image. Les-Lee's work relies on the backdrop doing exactly what it is supposed to: staying out of the way while the subject takes the frame.
Working in colour also gives you a bonus later in post. A clean, saturated paper backdrop converts well to black and white. The purple tones in Rugby Bruises and Jacaranda Bloom both carry strong luminosity values, which means the background holds tonal depth in a monochrome conversion rather than collapsing to a flat grey.
Pull your subject at least two metres forward from a deep colour like Rugby Bruises Purple. Closer placement causes the purple to bounce back onto skin tones, particularly on lighter complexions. Separation keeps the colour where you want it: in the background, not on your subject's face.
Photographer: Les-Lee Lesch (@lesleelesch) | Model: Lorenzo Kriel
Lighting a Deep Colour Backdrop
Deep colours like Rugby Bruises respond differently to light than neutrals or pastels. Soft, broad light keeps the colour even across the full width and produces a clean, saturated background. Harder, more directional light from a single strobe source creates gradient falloff across the backdrop, which adds depth behind the subject and separates them from the background more clearly.
Both approaches work. The choice depends on the mood and the shoot. For tight portrait work with the subject close to camera, soft and even light reads as polished and controlled. For fashion work with more space in the frame, allowing some gradient behind the subject adds dimension that makes the image feel less flat.
The matte finish on Camerastuff paper backdrops handles both approaches well. A reflective coating would create hotspots under direct strobe light, which forces soft lighting as the only option. Matte paper gives you more range to work with, including harder light sources without the glare.
When working with a deep purple, setting a manual white balance at the start of the session is worth the two minutes it takes. Auto white balance reads the purple tones and adjusts across frames, which causes inconsistency between shots. One manual setting holds the colour steady across the full session.
If you plan to convert purple backdrop shots to black and white, shoot in RAW and expose correctly in camera. The purple channel carries a lot of tonal information. Underexposing it loses the depth you need for a clean monochrome conversion, and you cannot recover it in post the way you can with a neutral tone.
Creator Spotlight: Les-Lee Lesch
Les-Lee Lesch is a South African fashion portrait photographer based in Johannesburg. Her work spans editorial, fashion, and portrait photography with a strong focus on colour, styling, and subject presence. For this studio session, she worked with model Lorenzo Kriel on a Camerastuff Rugby Bruises Purple seamless paper backdrop. See more of her work at lesleelesch.com and on Instagram at @lesleelesch.
Browse All Paper Backdrop Colours
We stock seamless paper backdrops in over 30 colours across two widths, from bold purples and jewel tones to soft neutrals and clean whites. Find the right colour for your next shoot on camerastuff.co.za.
Shop Paper BackdropsFrequently Asked Questions
What is a seamless paper backdrop?
A seamless paper backdrop is a wide roll of matte paper used as a photography background. It hangs from a stand or wall mount, and the paper sweeps down to the floor in a continuous curve with no visible seam between wall and ground. Camerastuff backdrops come in 1.35m and 2.70m widths, both on 10m rolls.
What makes a purple backdrop work for portrait photography?
Purple sits in the cooler half of the colour spectrum, which creates strong contrast against warm skin tones. This contrast keeps the subject visually separated from the background without needing heavy retouching. Deep purples like Rugby Bruises also carry enough tonal weight to hold depth in a black and white conversion, which makes them unusually versatile for a single backdrop purchase.
Does a purple backdrop cause colour casting on skin tones?
It can, if the subject is positioned too close to the paper. Placing your subject two to three metres from the backdrop reduces colour bounce significantly. The matte finish on Camerastuff paper backdrops also absorbs light rather than reflecting it, which minimises colour cast compared to satin or glossy surfaces.
Can I convert purple paper backdrop shots to black and white?
Yes. Deep purples convert well to black and white because they carry strong luminosity values. In a monochrome conversion, Rugby Bruises reads as a mid-to-dark grey with tonal depth rather than collapsing to a flat tone. Shooting in RAW and exposing correctly in camera gives you the most flexibility in post.
What size paper backdrop do I need for full-length portrait work?
The 2.70m wide roll is the better choice for full-length portraits. It gives you enough width for the subject to move freely across the frame without reaching the edges of the paper. The 1.35m wide roll works well for headshots and three-quarter length compositions where a tighter frame is preferred.
Why buy paper backdrops from CameraStuff?
CameraStuff stocks seamless paper backdrops in over 30 colours across both standard widths, with local stock held in South Africa for quick delivery. We also carry backdrop stands, reeling systems, and accessories to complete a full studio setup in one order. Our 60-day return policy applies to all backdrop purchases, and our team is available to help you choose the right colour and size for your setup.
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