PORTRAIT LIGHTING

Mike Giovinazzo
Jan 8 2010
Built-in Flash
on camera with
No Diffuser

Also provides
“Flat Lighting”

Given the quality of

light most people
get from this type of
typical lighting,
no wonder folks
complain
“I hate to have my
picture taken”
Already a huge
improvement, this
photo was taken by
holding a piece of
while plastic over
the built-in on
camera flash.

Built-in Flash
on camera with
simple diffuser
Hash Lighting

(characterized by a
sharp definition between
the dark and light areas)

Increasing the size

of the light source
relative to the
subject reduces the
degree of
harshness, hence
the desire to bounce
light off a wall,
ceiling or umbrella.
Similarly shooting
through a larger
diffuser helps soften
the light.
Classical Rembrandt
Lighting

(characterized by a lit
triangle on the cheek)
Single Light off-camera
Two-o’clock Position
Light softened using a “Soft
Box” or Umbrella

(With hair light)

Two Light Set-up
1:1 Lighting Ratio

(lighting in the shadows

and highlight areas are
about equal)
 Two Light Set-up
1:2 Lighting Ratio

Common Lighting Ratios

Ratio Stops Difference Description

1:1 No Difference Flat lighting

2:1 1 Stop General color photography

3:1 1 1/2 Stops General black & white photography
4:1 2 Stops Dramatic lighting, low key
8:1 4 Stops Very dramatic, low key
Combined Lighting

Main Light at 10 O’clock

Fill at 2 o’clock 1:2 ratio
Hair light top right
 Other Resources (in alphabetic order)
Benji's Studio Lighting and Posing Tutorial
http://www.lumitouch.com/benstudiotutorial/index.html

Foundations of Lighting Placement

http://www.lowel.com/edu/foundations_of_lighting.html

Light & Dark Tutorial

http://super.nova.org/DPR/

Strobist: Lighting 101

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html