Portrait

Five main portrait photography light setup

1. Rembrandt Lighting

This dramatic type of lighting is used more often without a fill light or with a weak fill light to accentuate the contrast between highlights and shadows. It is used more often for men than women since men are more apt to appreciate images in which they appear “dark”. Characterized by long shadows under model’s eyes, nose and chin and a triangular highlight on the cheek opposite to the key light and deep.

Also called 45-degree lighting and its Better suited for Men and situations where dramatic feel is intended.

2. Split Lighting

This setup is similar to side lighting, but the difference between two sides is less contrasted, although this lighting is considered dramatic too.

Characterized by deep shadows. Better suited for Situations where the photographer needs to narrow a wide face or nose or to hide facial irregularities.

3.Paramount / Butterfly Lighting

Paramount lighting is produced by placing key and fill lights exactly in front of the face. It was particularly used by Paramount Pictures in the ’30s and ’40s, which explains the name. Characterized by A butterfly-shaped shadow under the subject’s nose.

Also called Butterfly lighting, Dietrich lighting and better suited for women (although it can be used for men too). Accents the cheekbones, chin, and shape of the nose.

4. Loop Lighting

In this setup, the shadow of the key light extends to the lower curve of the cheek, while still being relatively short. Closed-loop lighting is a variant where the nose shadow follows the underside of the cheek until the area of the face which is not lit.

Characterized by a short shadow the nose casts on the cheek and better suited for people with average, oval-shaped faces.

5. Broad Lighting

Broad lighting is a portrait lighting pattern where the portion of the subject’s face that is turned toward the camera is lit most brightly. This is the ‘broad’ side of the face – from camera position it is wider than the ‘short’ side of the face, the side that is turned away from the camera.

Broad lighting is typically less flattering than short lighting as it widens the look of the face. However, it is useful for subjects whose faces are very narrow that would like the perception of a wider face.