What background should I use for powdered tea??

I am a photographers assistant and a client hired us to do photos of their powdered green tea. Its goign to be displayed in mounds on a white plate. what type of background would look good with it? I don't want a standard white background. I think something with a little mor einterest like what you see in magazines. What do you think?What background should I use for powdered tea??
Yes I agree.What background should I use for powdered tea??
The complementary color of green is red; however, red might be too bold and will 'steal the show', so perhaps something more like burgundy, but in a lighter saturation (faded) to provide good contrast. Check your color wheel to find the exact complement. A background of red bamboo might be nice. You might not need the lighter saturation due to your white plate however, unless the mound of powdered tea rises above the plate (where you lose the white background which is providing the contrast.) You can get past this problem if you isolate the subject from your background (use a larger aperture and a backlight on your background.)


For exposure, be sure to use an incidental light meter too (or spot meter on the plate then add 2 or 3 stops.)
Are you going for a solid background or more of the tea in some type of ';element';?





You could get some of the tea plants for the background, or items that describe the company or their motto or their business philosophy.





The solid color suggestions listed previously are good as well, if you decide to go that route.





Or heck...shoot them both ways and let the client decide which one they like. If you are lucky, they'll like both and buy both!