Mimi Stojanovic

The idea for Gravity Backdrops was born from a simple wish: to create my most significant photographs — portraits of miners. While researching what Annie Leibovitz uses, I discovered that her backdrops cost €5,000 each or €400 to rent, which was far beyond my budget — and probably most photographers'. That's when I thought: why not offer premium backdrops for the price of renting?

That became and still remains our motto: Buy the backdrop for the same price of renting — and keep it forever.

The early days were anything but glamorous. We started in an old, crumbling house, using leftover paints from hardware stores. I was working full-time as a medical doctor and associate professor, spending every night until 4 AM trying to paint canvases that would someday meet my standards.

Despite countless failures, I kept going — because I knew photographers deserved more affordable options without sacrificing quality.

The first backdrop I ever painted was actually the one I used in my miner portraits. My first customer was a photographer from London. I expected him to call and complain that the backdrop was terrible — but instead, he called absolutely thrilled. Even though I was dissatisfied with that backdrop, his excitement told me we were on the right path.

Mimi is the founder and creative force behind Gravity Backdrops. With over 25 years in photography and a background as a medical doctor and university lecturer, he brings a unique combination of discipline, artistry, and passion to every project.

He started Gravity Backdrops with a vision: making premium hand-painted backdrops accessible to all photographers, no matter their budget.

Today, Mimi personally oversees every detail of production to ensure each backdrop meets the highest standards — and helps photographers around the world create unforgettable images.

Every backdrop is created entirely by hand by professional artists. Nothing is standardized or automated — no two pieces are ever exactly alike. Every canvas is a one-of-a-kind work of art.

Our canvases are custom-made duck canvas blends, specially developed for us to ensure they don't wrinkle, crease, or lose their shape after painting. We exclusively use acrylic paints, which keep the canvas flexible and prevent cracking even when rolled.

Our backdrops are used by professional photographers, studios, production companies, and hobbyists alike.

Clients include photographers working for Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, GQ, W, InStyle, New York Magazine, Esquire, and many more.

Over the years, we've collaborated with some of the world's leading photographers, including John Russo, Lindsay Adler, Jan Gonzales, Justin Bettman, and many others.

We deliver the highest quality backdrops at the cost of renting from our only serious competitor, Oliphant Backdrops. While renting an Oliphant backdrop costs around $400, you can own one of ours for the same price — and keep it for life.

Each backdrop is rolled on a cardboard tube, then placed in a hard plastic tube for protection. Shipping usually takes 3–6 days to most locations and no longer than 8 days to Australia or the most remote areas.

What keeps us going is seeing the joy on our clients' faces when they open their backdrops and realize their photos can look exactly as they imagined — or even better.