How do I change a background?

I went to the zoo last week and took this lovely shot of a wallaby looking right at the camera. I’m really proud of the photo, but I don’t like the ugly wire fence in the background. How can I replace it?

It can be difficult to capture wildlife looking at the camera, but it does enhance animal photos. It is also hard to get a great backdrop for zoo shots, as you can’t tell your subject to move to a different place.

Luckily, it is easy to remove an unattractive background using an editing program. You just need a photo of a more pleasing one to replace it with. Let us show you how.
Photo needs rescuing?

Ugly backdrop
The wire fence in the A background is not particularly attractive and spoils an otherwise wonderful shot

Dull colours
The background colours of the shot are a little dull and uninteresting and don't help to make the photo stand out

Distractions
The fence post and other elements in the background of the photo also distract away from the main subject

Open both images
Open up the image of the new background you would like to use. Go to File>Place and open your original photo, then click on the green tick to make it a new layer.

Add a layer mask
Go to the Layers panel on the right-hand side of the screen and click on the thumbnail image of your original photo. Now click on the Add A Layer Mask icon above it.

Adjust your brush
Pick the Brush tool and set it to black by clicking the colour palette under the toolbar. Make the Opacity 100% and open the Brush Settings menu to set the Hardness to 50%.

Remove the background
Select a suitable Brush Size, then apply over the background to remove it and reveal the new one underneath. You can use a small brush to get around awkward shapes.

Ways to avoid unattractive backgrounds

Change your aperture
You can blur out ugly backgrounds in your photographs by selecting a wide aperture (low f-number). This will create a shallow depth of field and blur out anything you do not want your camera to focus on.

Find a new location
When choosing a location for your photo shoots, look for places with attractive, natural backdrops such as a pretty garden or field, or try to find a colourful and textured wall to place your subject in front of.

Create a backdrop
Try standing a plain piece of paper, card or wallpaper behind your subject to create a new background. Use a coloured backdrop that complements your subject and make sure there aren't any distracting joins or creases.

Change your position
If your current backdrop is unappealing, sometimes simply changing your position or shooting angle can help you find a new one. For example, you can get down low to use the sky as your background.