What’s best? Keeping your subject close to the backdrop or moving them away? It sounds like a fair and simple question but the answer needs a little more investigating which is where photographer Gavin Hoey steps up to help. As Gavin says right at the start, the honest, but helpful, answer is… it depends on the look your trying to create because adding distance between a model and the background opens up opportunities for creative portraits. Gavin Starts with his model, Chloe, leaning directly against the background. Zero gap sounds limiting but as Gavin shows it can also be one of the most flattering choices with options of soft shadows to give depth and shape to your portraits. Next Gavin move Chloe 1 meter (around 3’) from the background and slides in an option patterned backdrop. The extra gap is small enough to maintain some light on the backdrop but big enough that a shallow depth of field look is achievable. Finally Gavin increases the distance from the model to the backgrou...