Ramadan Digital Backdrops

What is in this collection

The Ramadan collection is set mostly at dusk and after dark, lit by lanterns. Outdoor scenes include a low iftar table with dates, water jugs and lanterns on a terrace under a crescent moon, a cream stone arcade of pointed arches hung with amber, ruby and teal glass lanterns at blue hour, and a souk wall covered in rows of glowing tin, brass and coloured-glass fanous lanterns. Indoors there is a navy studio with a cluster of hanging fanous lanterns and a gold crescent moon, a carved walnut mashrabiya screen glowing behind a low linen sofa with a tray of dates, and a living room with an ivory sofa against a terracotta wall under paper lanterns and crescent and star string lights.

Iftar, family and greeting photos

For iftar gatherings, the terrace with its low table is set for a seated group, and the mashrabiya sofa and terracotta living room suit relaxed family portraits at home. The navy studio with hanging lanterns is the simplest set, good for single portraits, children and greeting images. The lantern arcade and the souk wall are the most atmospheric, for evening portraits in deep colour. Photographers can use these as Ramadan photography backgrounds for mini sessions, and community events can use them as Ramadan photo booth backgrounds at a shared iftar; see photo booth backgrounds for print layouts. For the celebrations at the end of the month, see Eid digital backdrops.

Tips for using these scenes

• Match the lantern light. Most scenes are warm and low-lit, but the arcade at blue hour is cool, with light from above. Bring your subject's exposure down a little and warm or cool their white balance so they are not brighter than the scene.
• Seat people for iftar. The terrace table is a seated scene, so shoot your subjects sitting on floor cushions or a low seat at eye level and add a soft shadow beneath them. The mashrabiya and living room sofas also take seated groups.
• Use the navy studio for greeting images. It has the plainest space around your subject. Use the square file for social posts and portrait for stories, and add your own greeting in your editor.

For evening portraits, keep exposure low and warm; how to use digital backdrops lists the common mistakes that make a composite look pasted in.