1. Studio Portraits

2. Contents
Types of Lighting
Basic Posing
Where to put those hands

3. Lighting for Portraiture
General
Three-Point Lighting
Rembrandt Lighting
Broad Portrait Lighting
Short Portrait Lighting
Split Portrait Lighting
Butterfly Lighting

4. Lighting For Portraiture
When Portrait photographs are composed and captured in a studio, the photographer has control over the lighting of the composition of the subject and can adjust direction and intensity.
There are many ways to light a subject’s face and there are several common lighting plans.

5. 3-point Lighting One of the most basic plans using 3 lights
1. Key Light (or Main Light)
Usually placed to one side of the subject’s face,between 30 and 60 degrees off center and a bit higher than eye level.
It is the brightest light in the set up.
2. Fill Light
Placed opposite the key light to fill in or soften the shadows on the opposite side of the face.
The brightness is usually between 1/3 and 1/4 that of the key light.
3. Back Light (or Rim Light or Hair Light)
Usually placed behind the subject to provide seperation from the backround by highlighting the subject’s shoulders and hair.
The placement and brightness is a matter of taste and technique.
Can be fitted with a Snoot or Barn door.

6. 3-point Lighting

7. Rembrandt Lighting
Emphasizes texture and works well for full faces but not narrow faces. Not good for ruddy faces.
Very drammatic effect.
A diamond should be formed below the farthest eye and it should be as long as the nose and not wider than the eye.
The Key Light should be slightly lower and moved closer toward the background.
The Fill Light should be even with the camera and up higher while remaining opposite your Key Light.

8. Rembrandt Lighting

9. Broad Portrait Lighting
Broad portrait lighting is when the main light is illuminating the broad side of the face and the shadow from the nose is being cast onto the short side of the face.
In other words,broad lighting is when the more exposed side of the face is facing toward the main light.
Another way of thinking of this is to say that the nose is not facing toward the same side of the camera that this light is coming from.

10. Broad Portrait Lighting

11. Short Portrait Lighting
Short portrait lighting is when the main light is coming from the short side of the subject and the broad side of the face is more in shadow.
In other words…If the subject’s nose is facing left and the light is coming from that same side.
*Notice how the patch of light is on the “large side of the face.

12. Short Portrait Lighting

13. Split Portrait Lighting
In broad,Short and Rembrant lighting,there will be a patch of light cast onto the shadow side of the face.
If the main light is placed so far off to the side of the subject that the patch disapears and only half is lit,then it is considered to be “Split” portrait lighting.
With split lighting,it really doesn’t matter to which side of the camera the nose is pointing or if the lit or shadow side of the face is facing toward the camera.either of these situations would be considered split portrait lighting.

14. Split Portrait Lighting

15. Butterfly Lighting
Very popular over the past decade or so; only two lights are used.
Key light placed directly in front of subject, often above the camera or slightly to one side, and a bit higher than is common for a three-point lighting plan.
Hair/Rim light is used as the second light with a reflector placed below the subject's face to provide fill light and soften shadows.
This lighting can be recognized by the strong light falling on the forehead, the bridge of the nose and the upper cheeks, and by the distinct shadow below the nose which often looks rather like a butterfly and thus provides the name for this lighting plan.

16. Butterfly Lighting
Reflector

19. Basic Posing Turn the body away from the camera
If you shoot square on it will look very boxy; the sitter will look fatter than they really are.
Their bust line will not be enhanced at all.
Shift the weight to the back leg, turning the leading foot towards the camera
This should give you the automatic S-curve that looks best.
Bring the tummy in and the chest out; shoulders back.
This enhances the whole shape of the torso.
If the hands are on the hips,then bend the elbows back-the space between the arms and the waist gives a slimming effect.

20. Basic Posing contd
If the bust still needs some help, you can bring the hands up.
Hands have a knack of looking long ,so they need to be seen side on, generally together and with a relaxed poise.
Break everything!
The joints should be bent: arms, wrists and legs will all look better if they are slightly bent.

21. Where To Put Those Hands
There really aren’t that many places for the hands to go: thighs, hips, shoulders or hair.
Generally you will get a better image if the two hands are not directly opposite.
Go for one on the thigh, one on the shoulder in preferance to both on the thigh.
This is a rule made to be broken.
If the hands are holding something, make sure the something helps the pose.
By hiding tummies and things for a slimming effect.
Keep the object at an angle for a more dynamic image.

22. The End