When adding to my collection of backgrounds for use in glamour compositing, I never pass up the opportunity to photograph sides of buildings or walls with artistic graffiti. Some of the work I have seen is absolutely incredible, and provides for an interesting backdrop. The following seven examples of graffiti are all from Fresno, California, and are five-shot HDRs taken with a Nikon D800 and a 45mm PCE lens. All seven feature Andrelica, who was photographed with a 105mm lens in a studio environment in Tucson, Arizona.
If the graffiti wall has texture like this example, so much the better!
There is something about Andrelica's shiny purple dress that goes well with colorful graffiti.
For portraits that are not full length, there is no need to include the ground in the background image.
The ground below the graffiti can be included for some perspective, as in this example.
Of course, if the model's feet are photographed, then some of the ground needs to be included. I have learned it is best to photograph two versions: one with and one without the ground. Because I use a tripod and a tilt-shift (PCE) lens, it is simply a matter of shifting the lens up or down to get both versions.
Another version with the ground included.
The creativity of these graffiti artists is astounding!