Photo studio portrait lighting technique

The indoor monochromatic background uses a variety of light, which can be "ever-changing" with different shooting themes. Here, I will share with you several lighting methods of monochromatic background, and discuss how to make the picture more suitable for the theme and express the photographer's creative intention through the design of light. Let's take a look!

In the monochromatic background, the use of single lamp is relatively common, and it can be said that it is varied and eclectic. Of course, different themes use single light techniques-soft light, hard light, flashing light, continuous light, etc., and the lamps used-soft light box, radome, beehive, etc. are different. Here we will go from simple to complex, and gradually decompose the usage of lighting.

There are two simple and practical single-lamp lighting methods

One is hard-light single-lamp shooting, and the other is soft-light single-lamp shooting. Lamps and lanterns use radome and soft box. Obviously, using different light quality can express two different characters' emotions: fashion and femininity.

When shooting with a radome, the person should be as close to the background as possible, which can reduce the shadow area on the background when the light illuminates the person.

The lighting should be as far away from the characters as possible, and the recommended distance is about 6 meters, in order to make the background receive light in a large area. In this way, the lighting picture is cleaner, and the shaping of the characters' faces is more stereoscopic.

The height of the radome should be higher than the person being photographed, and the light level should be in a straight line with the lens and behind the camera, so that the projected area of the person can be reduced, which is more conducive to shooting.

The advantages of shooting with this kind of light are: the figure and the background are in the same light field, the light is cleaner, and the figure has better texture performance. The disadvantage is that the projection caused by the light on the face of the person is slightly hard.

The single light shooting method of the soft box is actually the same as using the radome, but the difference lies in the change of projection caused by different light quality. The projection under the soft box is softer and the transition is more natural.

shooting with radome

aperture: f/4.5, speed: 1/125s, ISO: 2, focal length: 85mm

shooting with soft box

aperture: f/5.6, speed: 1/16s, ISO: 2, focal length: 7mm.

The two lights next to the background are very important to control the light ratio of the whole picture. A strong light value makes the background light, a weak light value makes the background dark, and the projection is strong.

lighting points:

it is recommended to use a soft box for the two lights next to the background, so that the light quality is softer. The direction of the light is to hit the walls on both sides of the background, so that the light can be reflected back and shine evenly on the whole background and characters.

the light ratio between the background and the characters is controlled at 1: 1 or 1: 2, so that the light of the whole picture will be cleaner and softer. The light projection transition on the characters and faces is smooth.

single-lamp lighting method with aperture: f/4., speed: 1/16s, ISO：2, and focal length: 85mm

White background is also commonly used when shooting the theme. There are many lighting methods. Here, I would like to introduce one of my favorite forms: two background lights and a foam reflector. This kind of light is transparent and soft, which is easy to shoot. After the light field is arranged, the light doesn't have to change with the turn of the face.

1. Arrange the main light

If conditions permit, it is best for the figure to be about 3 meters away from the background. Place a light in the corner parallel to the background as the main light. As far as possible, raise the position of this lamp to the highest position, and the lamp head shines down 45 degrees on the area behind the figure and the background.

Try not to sweep the main light onto the person, because the main light is hard light, and if it shines on the person, it will enhance the light ratio between the highlight area and the dark part of the whole person. It is difficult to control the details of highlights and dark parts, and it is also difficult for dark parts to fill the light with the same or close light ratio as the highlight area (this is the case of using foam reflector to fill the light).

2. Arrange the auxiliary lights

After the main light is arranged, we can arrange the auxiliary lights. The auxiliary lamp is placed in the other corner parallel to the background, except that the lamp holder faces the ceiling.

the height of the auxiliary lamp should not be too high, and there should be a certain distance from the ceiling, so that the light area reflected by the auxiliary lamp hitting the ceiling will be larger. With the cooperation of the main and auxiliary lighting lines, the light ratio of the whole picture is basically controlled.

The main light exposes the background and creates the silhouette light of the figure, and the auxiliary light makes up for the light in the dark part of the figure.

3. The reflector fills the light

At this time, a large foam reflector needs to be placed on the floor in front of the figure to fill the light on the front of the figure. The light effect of the whole picture is a diffuse dream effect.

Aperture: f/2.2, speed: 1/16s, ISO: 2, focal length: 85mm

Aperture: f/2.8, speed: 1/16s, ISO: 2, focal length: 85mm

Several kinds of reflected light are applied with a monochromatic background

. Next, I will share with you the application of several kinds of reflected light on the monochromatic background. The light shines on the characters through diffuse reflection, with soft texture and natural light effect.

1. Diffuse light on the front side

Two large foam reflectors are placed at a 45-degree angle on the front side of the figure, at least 3 meters away from the figure. Because the farther away from the person, the greater the area of reflected light.

place a flash lamp with a soft box in front of the reflector, and pay attention to the distance between the lamp and the reflector. If the lamp is too close to the reflector, the reflected light will easily become a point light source. The farther the flashing light is from the reflector, the wider the reflected light area and the more diffuse the light quality.

At the same time, the up-and-down angle of the main lamp holder and the height of the lamp also directly affect the light effect reflected to the face of the person. If the lamp cap is too low, the reflected light will become "ghost light". If the lamp holder is lifted too high, the intensity of the reflected light will be reduced. So try more and adjust the light level according to the posture of the character (standing or sitting).

On the other side of the figure, a foam reflector should also be placed to fill the light, in order to reduce the contrast of light. The intensity of the main light is weakened as much as possible, so that you can shoot with a larger aperture value.

aperture: f/2.2, speed: 1/16s, ISO：2, focal length: 85mm

2. High-position diffused light

Diffused light is also directional, and it can also be used as a light ratio. The key is how to control the intensity and direction of light. The light distribution form introduced next is actually the same as the above one, but the difference is the incident angle of light, that is, the light source irradiated from the upper side of the character is applied.

Similarly, if we want to get a larger projection area, we should pay attention to the distance between the light and the reflection source: the farther the distance, the larger the reflected area. If I need more diffuse light area, I can use two soft boxes and put them on the side of the character. The distance between the two soft boxes should also be extended to further expand the irradiation area.

Two lights are facing the ceiling at the same time, so that the light can diffuse from the upper side of the figure, creating a light effect with soft light ratio and strong directionality.

Put a foam reflector on the other side of the figure to fill the dark part. Because the light diffuses from the top of the figure, the details of each area of the figure are ideal.

aperture: f/2.8, speed: 1/16s, ISO: 2, focal length: 125mm

aperture: f/2.8, speed: 1/16s, ISO: 2, focal length: 85mm

aperture: f/2.8. When shooting, we should pay attention to the light ratio between the background and the characters, and handle the direction of light. If you fully understand the principle of light reflection, you can shoot with ease in a monochrome background, and draw inferences from one another. I hope this sharing can help everyone's indoor shooting.