First off, I love the cemetery of it all. I love the chandelier, but I think it could be showcased a little better with a different background. But I love the blue screen thing that is behind it. Maybe instead of cemetery, which I love, you could put the screen on the left and move the white curtain in. And then swam the middle little bench with the chair on the right. It would add a little movement to the photo. I love the lamp's height and think that would be shown off more with the blue screen behind it. I love the pop of pink on the right. I love the pillow you have on your chairs. I also love the chairs.

Thank you for your great response @annhmartin4. I fooled you though! The shutters and chandelier is actually a backdrop ! So, not much movement can be made haha

What a fun job! I'd remove the lamp.

yeah I was thinking the same thing about removing the lamp maybe if I bought a similar lamp in a darker color that would pop more. I'm also thinking about adding a few suitcases in front of the bench for a little more dimension. what do you think?

It's funny that you're considering the suitcases for dimension because I thought you needed something too. Then I realized, once you add people, it might all get a little busy. But I do like your suitcase idea.

@Artfullyput Thanks so much for the detailed suggestions. Love them! The pillows facing the wrong directions is my mistake. When I put the chairs back after hanging the curtains I put the chairs in opposite spots. Now It's driving me crazy too!

oh that's funny... such little things! :) You mentioned, too, adding the "darker color." I always love to infuse a little black for that definition... I don't think you need a lot tho. Even the stems from the flowers offer that accent (like a "grounding to all the light colors), but maybe just a touch more. Sounds silly, but I always keep a roll of black ribbon around... because sometimes just a little piece tied some random place is all you need! Black florals are another great way to add that dark definition, without looking too heavy.

Personally love suitcases... and understand looking for the depth. You have a tricky job in creating this fantasy, but still highlighting your person-subject and not blocking or overwhelming them. I wonder if moving the side chairs slightly forward or backwards, maybe tilted inward... would add the depth you're looking for, without overwhelming. Remember too... the "Triangle Rule." When placing a color in a "room," try to place it in 3's, in a triangle formation.... big triangle... little one.... doesn't matter. I wonder if angling the brown of the chairs would give you a little polish along with the depth?

True. I will try some suggestions and post back!

Find a neutral rug, maybe a seagrass one. My eyes immediately went to the cardboard on the floor. Hide wires too;) Good luck.

Love where you are going with this. I would prefer a bench where all the ladies can sit together rather than so separate from each other. I think the photos will look stuffy with each person so far apart.

@Margo Yes I agree, this is my garage, haha. This will be setup in an actual event site. This is where I initially setup my design and play round. I was going to purchase a white furry small area rug for the front.

@purplewatermelon Working on a larger bench. Beige upholstery. :)

Like these suitcases on top of white furry rug.

It's nice. I think the lamp is too causal for the room. Either remove or change to a more formal one like chandelier.

Also don't like the bench you are on. Replace with a more formal chair.

Don't like cushions on chairs, not needed. Also fake flower should go keep it simple.

Given it's not for decoration at the bridal shower and its main purpose is for photos, I would keep it simple. The chairs are lovely and I would remove the covers and pillows. Would also remove the middle bench and place an antique white table there instead with some real flowers. Would remove the lamp and the flowers on the right. Your backdrop is lovely and good luck with your business.

I think a little more color in the room would make it a little more eye catching. Here is a suggestion. http://www.mylightingsource.com/Cyan-Design-05390-p/cd.05390.htm

I rearranged some things. Don't mind the cardboard floor. :)

Would switch the curtains out for sheers. The ruffles aren't working with the chandelier backdrop.

Clever idea for a business! Good for you! This is not as easy as one would think though.

The good news is that you have focused attention to the area in front of the shutters, under the chandy - we now know where to look.

Some things to think about for the rest.

Is there a theme for the shower? If so, you could reflect that in your "set". Do the pieces of luggage have a meaning relative to the shower? If not, remove them. You could ask the hostess of the shower if there is a theme and do all you can to support that.

Any table you decide to use should coordinate with either the shutters or the chandelier and not dominate the people in the pix. Remember that all of these ladies are going to have on totally different clothing and that is one good reason to make your set interesting but not cluttered. A table is not really needed! Not needed as well are the lamp, the pink branches or the pillows on the chairs. The pillows, cute as they are, will be covered by a person, just get in the way and is more stuff to haul..

The curtains are too busy and are begging for attention - you do not want that. `Simple sheers would do just fine and be even better.

If you want to add a floor vase of flowers or branches, the bunch should be full and posh and in an appropriate size urn - if you cannot come up with that, leave it out. If you can put this together, use the bride's color[s].

Use a long bench or 3 chairs [easier to sit the bride in the middle of a group - where she should be]. Chairs would give you more flexibility when composing the photo and they would not have to match exactly. Others can sit on the floor in front and/or stand behind the bride.

Keep your eyes on the look out for props to dress your sets. Huge, light weight urns for florals, more louvered doors to extend that wall and allow you to leave out the sheers, big bunches of baby's breath [grow your own!], bunches of roses and other bridal flowers, etc. Think big. Better to have one amazing thing in stead of several smaller things. You might be asked to take pix of the groom and his pack of buddies. Besides the shutters, how would you dress that set? Be prepared!

Keep all of this to as little as possible or you will be schlepping stuff forever! This is another reason to make each and every piece fulfill it's job. When you begin to think that you need more on set, think again. How could you pump up what you already have so that more is not really needed.

Take some test shots and then critique your work. Ask friends and family for their opinions also. You do not have to use all of these suggestions. Things look different on screen than they do in real life.

I was in theatre for 30 years as a costume designer and worked closely with the set designers. A great resource for your business would be community theatre or the high school drama dept. Get to know them and ask for their opinions. You could also, probably, use free or rent props from them.

Simplify, simplify, simplify. [Thoreau]

@Sandy G. Itd Thank you for your comments and suggestions. This is our very first event and the good news is that the bride doesn't have any bridesmaids only a maid of honor. This is also going to be at a bridal shower so that's why I choose a more feminine feel. It has been very challenging adding in a 3rd seating element with this particular backdrop. I would love to have a large bench in front however the backdrops chandelier is placed quite low, and test pictures showed it to appear actually on top of someone's head, haha. So, unbeknownst to me at the time of ordering the backdrop, I wouldn't be able to sit anyone in front of the Damn thing! I'm hoping to have more events outdoors so I don't even need a backdrop. I'd just leave the curtains tied back and use nature for the middle portion. The curtains are a tad busy, but I thibk they add that feminine/shabby touch to the picture, which is what the bride wanted, shabby. For other events, I'd use a more basic sheer and gender neutral backdrop. Thanks you so much for your suggestions everyone!

I think the blue chandelier gets lost against the blue background.

I dated a photography major in college. Backdrops for photography need to be carefully designed or they can make photos look strange. This is why many photographers have a bunch of roll down backdrops (kind of like movie screens) that they can use so that they know how much flashback they will get from the backdrop so the picture isn't too bright, that the flashes they use when taking pictures won't make the backdrop look transparent and show things going on behind it that they didn't mean to photograph, etc. I'd make sure I was working with the photographer so he can use his light meter to make sure you won't be getting too much flash or any other unexpected things. I did a quick search and found this informative website about setting up backdrops for a studio photographer. http://www.adorama.com/alc/0008287/article/Buying-guide-Studio-backdrops

You might consider changing the curtain color. From a photo shoot standpoint, it may not read well in a photo. Speak with some photographers.