Common portrait lighting techniques for studio photography

Introduction: For studio portrait photography, how to creatively arrange lighting and deal with the relationship between the model and the environment is very important. Let’s take a look at the lighting techniques below!

1. The main light is placed on the right side of the model, and an auxiliary light is placed on the upper left side of the model to add some light to the shadows of the model's face to highlight the details of the shadows. The background light behind her makes the model’s overall silhouette stand out from the dark background. The illumination of the main light is slightly insufficient, resulting in insufficient illumination of the fingertips of the model's left hand.

2. Adopt a more classic lighting method of 1 main light and 1 auxiliary light. Since the model’s face, especially the eyes, is the focus of the photo, a softer floodlight is used as the main light. On the one hand, It creates eye light, and on the other hand depicts the details of the red silk shawl, while the auxiliary light located on the upper right is used to reduce the excessive shadows on the model's face and make the nose contour more prominent.

3. This is a full-body photo. The main light is placed directly in front of the model, emitting light from bottom to top, taking into account the lighting of the model's clothing and face. The 45-degree contour lights located on the left and right sides of the model ensure that the light on the model's face is soft enough. This triangular lighting method can be used when the model's entire body needs to be evenly illuminated. However, in this picture, the details of the model's white skirt are not preserved and the cheeks become more prominent due to shadows. These should be avoided.

4. The main light is located on the upper left side of the model, illuminating the model’s shoulders, face, hair and background decorative feathers. The auxiliary light located to the right in front of the model largely compensates for the shadow caused by the main light. Light background lights behind the model are used to create atmosphere.

5. The focus of this photo is the contrast between the model’s red suit and black hair and the white background, and the exposed eye is the finishing touch. Therefore, the main light focuses more on the texture of the red suit, while the auxiliary light located on the upper left side of the model brings out the luster of the hair.

6. The main light located slightly to the left in front of the model creates eye light and the outline of the model’s face. Since the model’s left face is obscured by a hazy black gauze, the auxiliary light is omitted.

7. The main light is located directly in front of the model, and the light on the face is relatively flat. The black cape pulled up by the model acts as a partial reflector here. The hair is illuminated by the secondary light above. The visual highlight of this piece is the white trim on the black cloak.

8. The main light is located on the upper left side of the model, illuminating the model’s hair, face and shoulders. The auxiliary light is located on the lower right side of the model and is used to provide enough light for the model's blue gauze jacket. In order to highlight the ripple-like background, the background light was specially used to illuminate it.