DIY Coastal Wood Plank Photo Backdrop
If you enjoy learning what goes on behind the scenes for a blogger or shop owner, you are in for a treat today!
Because I’m going to show you what my new-and-improved photo shoots actually look like.
{SPOILER ALERT: they involve two DIY pallets of white planked wood, and you’re gonna get the full run-down for how to make them, too. Cool? Cool.}
But it wouldn’t be a true Thinking Closet post if we didn’t start with a little backstory, now would it?
It all started with a trip to the Jersey shore….
{Cue the Wayne’s World dissolve.}
The Inspiration
We were visited my family in New Jersey this past September, when Mark found himself enamored by the big white lifeguard stands on the beach. He admired their magnificence. Their construction. The contrast of the crisp white paint on the sand. Plus, you can’t beat the view from atop that chair.
Well, I know that when Mark gets a bee in his bonnet, it’s not long before that buzzing bee turns into a DIY project.
Sure enough, by winter, we had ourselves a lifeguard stand of our own down here in Orlando, Florida. A massive, wooden, bright white lifeguard stand complete with blue umbrella. Ain’t she a beaut?
So far we haven’t had to make any life-saving rescues, but we’ve certainly found our new favorite getaway.
Your troubles don’t follow you when you climb up that high, especially when you have a view of the whole lake before you. It’s the perfect spot to read a book just for fun. Or get lost painting with watercolors.
It also quickly turned into my favorite place to shoot photos. Odd, I know…but the bright white-painted lured me with their coastal-vibe (which you know I love). It was a welcomed change from my default of the dark brown living room floor or my textureless white foam boards.
However, I did find myself wishing my “photography studio” was a bit closer to the ground.
And Mangey agreed.
A Birthday Wish Granted
So, when Mark asked me what I wanted for my birthday this March, for once I had a definitive answer:
I wanted a white wood plank backdrop for my photo shoots just like the lifeguard stand.
Oh, and not just one…but two! That way, one could serve as the wall (and sun block!) while the other served as the floor.
Mark was actually really stoked to work on this project. And we set to work to decide which dimensions might best suit my photo shoots. Scrolling through my blog projects from the last year helped give us a typical range.
He also decided to make two different sizes for the backdrops. A smaller one that is more portable and easy to pull out for flat-lay shots. And the bigger one for when I need a taller wall behind my straight-on shots. So smart. (Their dimensions are approximately 2′ x 4′ and 3′ x 4′.)
But I’m getting ahead of myself. You see, the handy hubby himself has so generously volunteered to take over the tutorial portion of this blog post, so you can get the full 411 on exactly how to make a Coastal Wood Plank Photo Backdrop of your own.
Take it away, Mark!
Mark’s Konstruction Korner
Tutorial
Step 1: Gather supplies. Hey folks! So, to start, here’s your list of necessary supplies:
- 1″ x 4″ boards (actual dimensions are 3/4″ x 3 1/2″)
- 1 1/4″ star-drive deck screws
- saw
- *3M protective eyewear
- power drill
- 60 – 100 grit sandpaper
- rag
- white outdoor paint
- paint brush
- optional: non-skid bumpers
- optional: handle
So, let’s talk about the wood boards for a second. You can use any boards you wanted to – – even pallet wood – – but we decided to go for a uniform decking look with this project, so I went to Home Depot and purchased untreated pine 1″ x 4″ boards (8′ long).
If you plan to leave your backdrop out in the rain, then be sure to use pressure-treated (green-tinted) wood. Remember, though, that pressure-treated wood is heavier, and you also should make sure it is very dry before painting.
How many boards should you purchase? Well, if you want to make a large and small version of the backdrops like we did, you’ll need 6 boards for the larger and just 5 boards for the smaller.
As for the wood screws, I prefer the star-drive deck screws (they will not corrode and are much easier to drive), but you could also use plain phillips drywall screws of the same length.
Step 2: Cut and sand pieces. For the larger backdrop, here’s what you will do:
First, put on your protective eyewear . Then, cut the (5) 8′ boards in half to make (10) 4′ boards. With the remaining 6th board, cut two connector pieces at 35″ each. A mitre saw (chop saw) is hard to beat for this kind of cutting, but use whatever you have.
For the smaller backdrop, just use 7 instead of 10 parallel boards, and cut two connector pieces at 24.5″ each.
Next, use rough (60-100 grit) sandpaper over all surfaces. This will get rid of splinters and make a smoother finish to paint.
Step 3: Prepare connector pieces. Take the 35″ pieces and mark every 3 1/2 inches (this is where the parallel boards will overlap). Then drill 2 holes in each segment created, as in the sketched plans.
Hint: if you just mark one of the two boards and stack them, it will save you drilling twice. Below is a marking tool I created for myself out of a block of wood.
Use a 3/16″ drill bit and go all the way through the connector pieces (there should be 20 holes per piece).
Then, re-sand these pieces.
Repeat the same process for your smaller backdrop but with your 24.5″ connector pieces.
Step 4: Construct. Next, I’d suggest laying out the parallel boards on a large sheet of plywood, a table, or something else you know is square. If there is a “good side” of these parallel boards, you’ll want it facing down.
Then place the 2 connector boards on top, “indenting” the width of one board from each end to prevent splitting. When everything is square, go ahead and drive the 1 1/4 inch screws to hold it all tightly together.
You’ll see that all of the screws end up on the back, so the front surface is just clean parallel lines.
Step 5: Sand and paint. Sand everything one more time, brush all the dust off, then apply your paint.
We used the same paint I had purchased for the lifeguard stand, which is an outdoor paint resistant to both water and dirt (link to come!).
Paint one coat, and if any of the paint bridges in the gaps, you can use a flathead screwdriver to scrape out the gaps.
Then, do a second coat, careful to keep the gaps clear. A foam roller brush was sufficient for this job, but a bristle brush would probably be even better (to avoid the foam getting caught on any splinters).
Step 6: Add bumpers and/or handle. This is an optional step, but I decided to place 4 non-skid bumpers at the corners, so that the two backdrops can be stacked and so they will be more stable on a table or floor.
I also installed an old wooden handle we had leftover from Lauren’s Roll-Top Desk on a middle board of the larger backdrop to make it easier to carry. The smaller backdrop is quite a bit easier to handle in terms of weight and size, so it’s good to go as is.
And that’s a wrap! -Mark
Photos of the Backdrops in Action
Thanks, Mark! And thanks for letting me add in a few of my own exclamation points to your tutorial. {Smile.}
So, friends, I thought I’d share some “after” photos of the backdrops in action.
I like to lay one board on the ground and lean one against the lifeguard stand so it keeps my little studio free of direct light.
That way, I can take photos like this:
And this…
Here’s the view from above in photo…
…and video.
I also love that they’re so stable and sturdy; I don’t have to worry about them blowing away if the wind picks up (though I sometimes have to be careful to hold onto the subjects of my shoot so we don’t have another craft-in-the-lake incident!).
Storage
We’re storing the backdrops down at the dock since that’s where most of my shoots take place right now. Thanks to the bumpers, I can stack them and shove them under our deck seating, which is under a roof, protected from rain.
TIP: If you don’t have the storage space, you could also just paint the wood planks and lay them out side by side for your shoots.
To Close
This was truly such a “blogger” birthday gift to ask for, but it really has proven to be so useful in the few weeks I’ve been able to put it to use. I love that I can enjoy the great outdoors while working, and when it gets too hot and rainy in the summer, I love that I can muscle-up and bring the backdrops inside. It really has taken the guesswork out of what used to be a long and tedious process for me. Now, it’s beachy keen!
I hope you enjoyed this behind-the-scenes post. And for those of you eager to DIY your own backdrop(s), we encourage you to make them your own! Adjust the size and paint treatment to suit your tastes and needs. Remember, the world is your oyster!
Your Turn
Bloggers and shop owners: I’m curious, what is your go-to move when it comes to shooting photos of your projects / products? Any helpful hacks you’ve discovered or tricks of the trade? I’d love to hear them in the comments section!
Everyone else: What other “behind the scenes” aspects of blogging would you like to see more of? I’m all about revealing the man woman behind the curtain, so let me know what you’re curious about!
*Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase after clicking through, The Thinking Closet may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for helping to support this site!
I’ve recently seen your lifeguard stand when I was out walking (while my daughter was at theater rehearsal nearby) and I wondered what the story behind it was. Came across your blog via Pinterest and have enjoyed reading your posts. So when I saw you reference the lifeguard stand in the Coastal Backdrop email, I had to come find the rest of the story. How fun to link the dots together and confirm that it was your lifeguard stand I had seen. Such a beautiful lake to see the sunset from!
That wood plank backdrop of yours is an awesome idea! I will have to get my “master of power tools” to put one together for me. I’ll let you know how it goes. Thanks for the inspiration!
Hey Girl! This idea is awesome! I was planing on do something like this, I actually had this guy that was working on my mom’s closets to make a back drop but seem like this idea would better than what I had in mind! Love that is easily stored. I guess I’ll have to call the guy and change guide lines LOL. XOXO and I can’t get enough of your awesome ideas!
XOXO
WOW…..WOW….WOW this is absolutely amazing! Mark is a keeper! 😀
Hey! Just happened to stumble upon your blog and really enjoyed scrolling through and reading your posts, looking forward to the next!
XO JNESS
http://jenessasheffield.com/
Lauren… you are just way too awesome! This great photo backdrop! This is the reason why I picked you to be one of the most Inspiring bloggers in my life! I mentioned about you on my blog today 😀
http://helengullett.com/?p=6999
I love love LOVE this backdrop Lauren! It’s so light and airy and you just /cannot/ go wrong with white!! I really need a new backdrop. I have white one that is a vinyl one that’s supposed to look like wood slats, and then my handy dandy trusty wood cutting board, but i’d like something a little darker and one that’s more white like yours! I’m about to move back to Arizona soon (on that note, we might be taking a trip to FL this summer!) so I will have access to tools and a place to make a backdrop! I’ll keep your tutorial handy!
Hugs,
Gabby
What a great tutorial with such great directions and photos Mark (and Lauren). Love Mangey sneakin’ a peak. Couldn’t help but think of the “Lifeguard Church” instagram of all the lifeguard chairs lined up behind each other in two rows at the end of the season. But we’re thinkin’ about the beginning of the season now. Only a month to go until we hit the Jersey Shore!
Great job, you guys!
Love, Dad
Hi Lauren! Forgot to let you know last week that I shared this post and pinned. Love it! 🙂 HOpe you are having a great week.
PErFECT! I’ve been meaning to make something similar for quite some time, perhaps this is the reminder I need to get on it!
This is the coolest! Also, I love the Jersey Shore and I happen to be visiting MY family in New Jersey right now, and sitting in a beach trailer in Sea Isle City. I may have to sneak up onto one of the lifeguard stands and catch the view just for the fun of it now!
Well done, Mark, on both the lifeguard stand and white wood back drop. You two are a great team. It was a joy to be on the spot last summer when Mark got the idea to build his own stand. What a splendid idea that then led to this wonderful back drop at your request!
Thanks for the inside story and splendid photos and video…makes me want to be there right now, sitting up on the stand and watching the birds, water, and enjoying the breeze! I’ll be looking for the back drop in future posts!
Wow these are amazing!!! Mark is the best! That diagram is awesome. I loved seeing the original inspiration. I’ve been wanting to make something like this for a long time now, and I really appreciate the tutorial. I love how there are two parts and not just one… I bet that comes in handy for larger objects. You know I love white backgrounds (haha maybe too much), but I love that this backdrop is white but also has some texture and lines to make it a little more interesting. xo, Rachel
oh, girl. you just gave me an idea! now if I can only remember to write it down….
seriously, this is great. love that it’s simultaneously neutral and visually interesting as a backdrop.
YES!!! I LOVE it. It’s so perfect for you and I’m so glad you finally have your own backdrop! Happy Belated by the way 😉 And good job Mark!
What an awesome idea. I have a few fabric-y backdrops but they are so hard to use outside. Now I know what to ask hubby for for mother’s day! Plus it reminds me I am really limiting myself as to where I take my photos, I need to get more creative. Thanks!
Lauren this is totally fantastic! You are always so creative. I love your watercolor instagram feed. it instantly makes me feel instagood. Thanks so much for the detailed tutorial. It’s awesome. Hugs for a happy weekend, Coco
That hubby of yours…he’s a keeper. 😉 Must be something about handsome men named Mark. LOL!
I love your lifeguard chair, and your backdrops! I seriously need to make some for myself because the foam board doesn’t always get the job done. For the best lighting, I usually end up opening my front door and laying my project on my pretty cherry hardwoods. But then I have to deal with dogs trying to escape, and other such nonsense.
Looks like my Mark has a DIY project on his honey-do list! Thanks girl! XOXO
My husband’s name is also Mark. We must have some pretty awesome and handsome husbands.
I love your lifeguard chair and view. I don’t think I would ever get down if I had one to escape to. It is gorgeous. I am thinking I need something new and different for backdrops too besides white foam board. Thanks for sharing your ideas and behind the scenes.
Wow Mark & Lauren ~ another fabulous project! I love the way you two take on projects and work so beautifully together! The Lifeguard Stand is truly unique, and because of that gleaming white creation, we can pick out your cozy spot from clear across the lake! Not to mention how much Mangy likes to climb on it! Great job!
How awesome is that that you have a real lifeguard stand? I was trying to read about this tutorial but kept on mentally going back to she. has. a. lifeguard. stand!!!! 🙂 Love the backdrop too and that it is portable so you don’t have an extra piece of furniture to deal with. 🙂 Thanks for sharing the awesomeness, Lauren, and have a great weekend! 🙂