The search for uniquely patterned backdrops is always on, especially for studio shooters. And while there’s no shortage of backdrops available from innumerable manufacturers, it’s easier to find mediocre backdrops than excellent. Drop it Modern specializes in the excellent category. (The image above features the Swanky pattern.)

Since May 2008, Drop it Modern has specialized in high-quality textured backgrounds. They make some of the most unique patterns and designs that I’ve found, and they work especially for senior portraits and children photos.

First Impression
From the moment I received my Drop it Modern backdrops, I was impressed. I’m talking from the moment the man in brown dropped them off. Each one arrived in its own Drop it Modern branded box.

But opening them made it even more clear that Drop it Modern takes pride in their products. Each backdrop was tied with a branded ribbon, and then wrapped in branded tissue paper. Classy, right?

Unmatched Quality
Presentation aside, I was blown away with the quality of these backdrops. It was clear from the moment I handled these that they weren’t your typical printed muslins. Drop it Modern backdrops are a heavy ground fabric with flocked velvet patterns. Whats ground fabric? Heavy duty weave that makes for a weighty and near wrinkle-free material. Add to it flocked velvet and you’ve got a highly durable backdrop that photographs beautifully. Velvet, by nature, is non-reflective—it soaks up light—which means it appears rich and saturated in photos.

Not only are Drop it Modern’s backdrops durable, they’re easy to care for. When I asked owner/creator Breanne Schaap about care and maintenance, she said, “In my studio I have seen it all—babies have accidents, shoes stomp all over it and get it dirty, etc. I just take it to the local dry cleaners—tell them that the velvets are flocked, and I get it back as good as new.” 

One of a Kind
All of Drop it Modern’s designs are unique to Drop it Modern, so you won’t find these patterns anywhere else. They are the result of a collaborative effort between Schaap and her printmaker. She sketches a pattern she’s envisioning, and then works with her printmaker to make it a reality.

Not only are Drop it Modern backgrounds unique only to Drop it Modern, but they’re seasonal as well. That means they produce a limited number, and once they’re gone, they’re gone. That also means it’s easier to differentiate yourself from other photographers because not everyone will have the same backdrops.

Known best by their damask patterns, which offer a great modern-retro look and feel, they also have other patterns: