Setting studio lights for portraiture can seem like a daunting task, but in reality it is a simple process. There are several different lighting styles for portraiture and all of them can be attained with a few simple pieces of equipment. To set studio lights for portraiture requires a main light, a side light, and a hair or fill light for the background. From these basic pieces of equipment, many lighting styles can be created.
Instructions
1. Decide where the subject will be seated.
2. Place the fill or key light and focus it on the background. This light is used to create separation from the subject and adds dimension to the image. Turn off this light until ready to shoot as it will affect the meter readings when creating the lighting ratio.
3. Determine the desired lighting ratio. The lighting ratio measures the amount of contrast in the portrait; a portrait with a high lighting ratio of 4:1 will have more contrast than a portrait with a low lighting ratio of 1:1. When setting lights for studio portraiture a ratio of 3:1 or 4:1 is commonly used, meaning that the highlights of the subject are receiving three to four times more light than the low lights or shadows.
4. Place the fill light to the left or right of the subject on a 45-degree angle. This fill light will lighten the shadows. Meter the shadows of the subject with the fill light on and adjust this light until the meter is at an even f stop reading, which will make creating the ratio in the next step easier.
5. Set the main light above the photographer, directly in line with the subject. Meter the main light plus the fill light, adjusting the light's intensity until the desired lighting ratio is achieved on the highlight section of the subject. This will be the larger portion of the lighting ratio.
6. Pose the subject. This lighting setup allows for easy changes between broad side and short side portrait lighting by moving the subject. Broad side lighting lights the broad portion of the face, with the shadow cast by the nose falling onto the narrower side of the face. Short side lighting is when the main light illuminates the side of the face turned away from the camera. These lighting styles can be alternated by turning the subject towards or away from the light source.
Tags: lighting ratio, fill light, main light, lighting styles, away from, desired lighting, desired lighting ratio
