Studio lighting - guide
Scanned from 50 Lighting setups for Portrait Photographers
I found this lighting guide in a book I got from the library "50 Lighting setups for Portrait Photographers". Lighting effects different faces in different ways and it is vital to get the right pose and lighting otherwise the subject will look wrong!
Side lighting:
The main light is placed at the side of the subject (level with the face) and pointed towards their nose. This light illuminates half of the face, shadowing the other side.
Paramount (butterfly) lighting:
Placing a butterfly shadow under the subjects nose, the main light is placed with the camera about 2 or 3 feet above the subjects head. This was popular in Hollywood in the 30s and 40s, accentuates the cheekbones, chin and shape of the nose.
Rembrandt lighting:
Characterised by a triangular highlight on the cheek. The main light being placed to the side and angled down from about 2 feet above the head, a classic style but not suitable for all faces.
Side light modified:
Adding a second light opposite the main light illuminates the shadow areas, creating 2 highlights on the nose and on the outside edge of the eyes.
Rembrandt lighting modified:
For this a softbox was used for the main light, a reflector was placed opposite the light to open up the shadow side a white reflector used on the table to bounce the light back up to the face. Adding reflectors helps open up the shadows!
I found this lighting guide in a book I got from the library "50 Lighting setups for Portrait Photographers". Lighting effects different faces in different ways and it is vital to get the right pose and lighting otherwise the subject will look wrong!
Side lighting:
The main light is placed at the side of the subject (level with the face) and pointed towards their nose. This light illuminates half of the face, shadowing the other side.
Paramount (butterfly) lighting:
Placing a butterfly shadow under the subjects nose, the main light is placed with the camera about 2 or 3 feet above the subjects head. This was popular in Hollywood in the 30s and 40s, accentuates the cheekbones, chin and shape of the nose.
Rembrandt lighting:
Characterised by a triangular highlight on the cheek. The main light being placed to the side and angled down from about 2 feet above the head, a classic style but not suitable for all faces.
Side light modified:
Adding a second light opposite the main light illuminates the shadow areas, creating 2 highlights on the nose and on the outside edge of the eyes.
Rembrandt lighting modified:
For this a softbox was used for the main light, a reflector was placed opposite the light to open up the shadow side a white reflector used on the table to bounce the light back up to the face. Adding reflectors helps open up the shadows!
Begleiter S.H, (2008), 50 Lighting setups for Portrait Photographers, Amherst Media Inc, Page 9