Diorama 101: Photograph your scale model against an easy to create backdrop

Miniature cars need miniature backgrounds if you want to photograph them right. There's some pros that build entire cityscapes just so they can put the car into a realistic environment. Others use perspective to use real backgrounds at a distance to appear the right scale for small cars.

Rubel Roy does something that niftily falls between the two. He prints out an appropriately scaled  backdrop and a floor on two separate pieces of paper. Folding it into an L shape easily creates a neat diorama. Good trick for the lazy photographer.

Pro tip: Go for buildings because those are closer to the car and easier to scale. Also, additional props like oil cans, crates, junk car parts help with the realism but those you need to scratch-build or buy separately. Check below for more photos.

Photo courtesy: Rubel Roy