How do you set up a low-key portrait studio in a small space?

2 Set up your main light

The main light is the key source of illumination for your subject, and it determines the direction and quality of the shadows. You can use a flash, a strobe or a continuous light, depending on your preference and budget. However, you will need some way to modify the light, such as a softbox, an umbrella or a grid, to make it softer and more directional. You can also use a reflector or a bounce card to fill in some of the shadows, if you want a less dramatic effect. The position of the main light depends on the angle and mood you want to create, but generally, you want to place it slightly above and to one side of your subject, at about 45 degrees.

4 Experiment with different poses and expressions

The pose and expression of your subject are crucial for conveying the emotion and story of your low-key portrait. You can experiment with different poses and expressions, depending on the personality and mood of your subject. Some common poses are to have your subject look directly at the camera, to create a sense of intimacy and connection, or to have them look away, to create a sense of mystery and intrigue. You can also have them tilt their head, close their eyes, smile, frown or show any other emotion that suits the image. You can also use some props, such as a hat, a scarf, a book or a flower, to add some interest and variety to your portrait.

5 Fine-tune your lighting and composition

Once you have your subject posed and ready, you can fine-tune your lighting and composition to achieve the best results. You can move your main light closer or farther away, to change the intensity and size of the light source. You can also change the angle or height of the light, to create different shadows and highlights on your subject's face. You can also use a second light, such as a rim light or a hair light, to add some separation and definition to your subject from the background. You can also adjust your composition, by changing your perspective, zooming in or out, or cropping the image. You can also use some rules of composition, such as the rule of thirds, the golden ratio or the rule of space, to create a balanced and harmonious image.

6 Edit your images

The final step of low-key portrait photography is to edit your images, to enhance the contrast, colors and details of your portrait. You can use any photo editing software or app that you prefer, such as Photoshop, Lightroom or Snapseed. Some common editing steps are to crop and straighten your image, to adjust the exposure, contrast, shadows and highlights, to correct the white balance and color temperature, to sharpen and noise-reduce your image, and to apply some filters or effects, such as black and white, sepia or vignette. You can also use some tools such as dodge and burn, curves or levels, to selectively lighten or darken some areas of your image. You can also use some retouching tools, such as clone stamp, healing brush or spot removal, to fix any blemishes or imperfections on your subject's skin or hair.