How to style around a background: Annie Marie shows how to style around a backdrop with one stunning example—Tantealizing from Background Town—which inspired a rich, moody fine art portrait session, from wardrobe to lighting. It's a reminder that in fine art photography, the right backdrop can spark the entire creative vision.
IInspiration can come from anywhere. Sometimes it’s a piece of art, a record cover, a magazine image, a person we meet, a location we notice—or sometimes it just pops into our minds unexpectedly. In this case, it was the backdrop that started it all. We can't always control when or how inspiration strikes... we just have to stay open to it.
As soon as I saw the Tantealizing backdrop on Background Town's website, I knew it had to be part of my collection. It has just the right balance of blues and greens—bright yet moody, colorful yet subtle. I could already see how different lighting setups would transform it, essentially giving me multiple backgrounds in one. It was the perfect canvas for a fine art portrait session.
I wanted to emphasize the rich blues and greens in this studio backdrop. I had a beautiful blue-green butterfly prop that had been waiting for the right moment, and this was it. To complement it, I styled the subject in a long, slim navy dress—something elegant that wouldn't overpower the butterfly or subject. I added a blue lace fabric over her hair for extra texture and visual interest. To tie it all together, we used blue eyeshadow that matched the tones in the drop. It’s a perfect example of how to style around a background—letting color and mood guide the wardrobe, props, and finishing details. Everything came together beautifully for this styled fine art portrait.
For this session, I used a three-light setup. In both lighting arrangements, I placed a constant light behind the subject to illuminate the backdrop and create separation. Since her dress and headscarf were dark, that backlight added necessary dimension. I also positioned a large constant light behind me and just to the left to serve as a fill, adding detail to the dress and lace.
In the first set, I added a Godox RS60R RGB LED with a projector attachment to camera right. I used a gobo to shape a strip of light across her face, highlighting the butterfly and drawing attention to key features. For the second setup with the larger butterfly, I moved the RS60R behind the camera and added a reflector to evenly illuminate her face, the butterfly, and upper body.
Creative portrait styling starts with being open to inspiration—and sometimes, it begins with a single backdrop. If you're wondering how to style around a background, the range of studio drops at Background Town offers endless possibilities to support nearly any artistic vision in fine art portrait photography.
This is the equipment I used for the images in this article:
Camera: Canon R6
Lens: Canon 24-70R
Godox RS60R RGB LED with projector attachment: (constant light - main)
Stella 8000 (constant light - background
Small Rig (constant light - fill)
Modifier: 72in. umbrella w/diffuser
Backdrop: Tantealizing
Meet Annie, a Minneapolis-based photographer celebrating nearly 30 years behind the lens. Internationally award-winning and deeply passionate about her craft, Annie’s work is rooted in emotion—capturing the kinds of images that make you laugh, cry, and relive the small, breathtaking moments that often slip away. She’s driven by connection, honesty, and the beauty of real expression, and it shows in every frame she creates. When she’s not photographing amazing people, Annie is soaking up life with her grown kids, two sweet grandchildren, and her soulmate by her side. A chocolate lover, adventure dreamer, and fan of neighborhood cafes, Annie is all about living fully and creating art with heart.