How To Make a Faux Bed for Mini Sessions

This is a fun, easy setup, that is perfect for Christmas mini sessions. A faux bed could easily make a great second background option, for full Christmas session, as well. Likewise, with different colors and background options, it could be used for just about any other type of session. Just be creative and have some fun with it!

Adding an additional scene to any session can also offer the perfect opportunity for an upsell. Any photographer with kids can tell you, we are just as guilty at wanting ALL the images from our kiddos sessions. I don't think I have ever deleted any of my little one's pictures from all our sessions, even the "bad" ones.

Feel free to share your own faux bed setups, or any suggestions you have that worked out for you!

First, you will need a headboard, of course. I found mine at a local thrift store for $30. That was a little more than I had envisioned spending, but I was running out of time before my event and didn't have many other options. It was like pulling teeth, figuratively speaking, of course, trying to get anyone that had posted one on Facebook or Craigslist to reply to my messages; and my car was full of props already, when I past one sitting out on a curb--I missed out on FREE! YOU, on the other hand, may have much better luck than I did, if you don't wait until the last minute to find one, like I did.

I used some short light poles, ziptied to the legs, to make it stand up. You could always paint the ties the same color as your bed, if you want to keep it that color. I plan to paint mine a different color, the next time I use it.

I used an air mattress for the first few sessions I had, but it ended up being easier for the clients to move around, when I stacked two thick comforters on top of one another and covered them with the blanket I wanted to show in the photo. However, I think, had it been small kids or babies, the air mattress would have been the better option, because the gap under the headboard would have shown the floor and bottom of backdrop.

Behind my background, I also hung a green screen, to make it easier to extend the edges, when needed, in post production. I had several teenagers and families; so, to be safe, I added this for my circumstances.