How to add a background to portraits?

Question

Hi,

All the portrait studios I called will need 10 days to deliver the holiday cards. That's too late for me. I am thinking to take the photo at home and add a background to the photo by myself.

I would like to know what software to use and where to find backgrounds.

In addition, is professional service available online where I can email them the photo and they add the background for me?

Thank you very much!

Note: I don't have experience in this matter. I only imagine that it is done in a cut-and-paste manner with appropriate software.

Answer 1

If you think about the background BEFORE you take the shot, you won't have to worry about putting another one in. Look around your house for places that would make a good background. Plain walls work well, but if you're doing Christmas cards, you might also want to try in front of the Christmas tree, by a fireplace, or something that represents the people in the picture. If you're big fans of a certain team, hang a poster or something similar on a wall and gather round :) Then you'll just have to worry about pickin the best one to get your cards done.

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

If you have experience in this matters, just select and drop the background and put the one you want, scenery, flowers, etc.

there is a professiona I sent my photo once (year ago) to eliminate some parts I did not liked, [e-mail] I do not know if still, but try anyway.

Answer 3

Photoshop will be ideal - however it is expensive and takes a bit of learning. So, do an actual "cut and paste" using scissors and paper glue. Then have the result scanned at somewhere like "Staples". There it will be with minimum effort.