Photography Background

Watch your photography background! Realize that there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to deciding what to include or exclude from the background.
On the one hand, you don't want an exquisitely carved and bejeweled ivory elephant taking the focus away from a once-in-a-lifetime family reunion photo.
On the other hand, if there are small splashes of color livening up an otherwise bland background that could be acceptable. Bottom line, it's very subjective, and your decision is final. The picture's background is just one of many factors on the road to great portraits. And truly outstanding portraits don't just happen by accident.
They take planning. Even casual-looking group portraits are often planned using props, poses, background, and the personality of the subjects. Since the photography background is just one of the building blocks for a great family portrait, you, the photographer, need to take control and leave nothing to chance.
Most of the time, the photographer determines where and how the subjects are arranged. If there is a perfect background, arrange a pose to use it. On the other hand, always steer clear of backgrounds which have Disaster written all over them.
If possible, stay away from:
Glass windows
Mirrors
Brightly lit signage (Exit signs, for example)
Very light colors... possibly
The problem with white or light-colored photography backgrounds is the challenge it brings up... in the form of shadows. The best advice for dealing with shadows is to avoid using a flash.