Professional Headshot & Portrait Lighting Techniques!

Headshot Lighting Techniques are often not noticed by the client until they see themselves on the computer monitor. How many of us have reviewed a magazine with amazing images or a favorite photographers portfolio and wondered, how did they get that shot? I’m sure some say, it must be an expensive camera or we question if it was heavily edited in PhotoShop? What these photographers share in common is a skill on controlling the light and knowing how to use light to create beautiful images.

First, headshots should be framed from the chest up with the client looking directly at the camera. Eye contact is one of the most important elements of a great headshot. A professional photographer will guide you through the process so you can showcase your personality. There’s an art to taking images that really pop or stand out.

Butterfly Lighting – Paramount lighting is named after the butterfly-shaped shadow that’s created beneath the nose. Butterfly lighting creates a shadow under the chin, nose, and around the cheeks. When the subject is turned at an angle, it can create more dramatic shadows under the cheekbones. The higher you position the light behind you and above the subject, the longer the shadows will get under the nose and chin. It’s flattering for most faces.

Loop lighting shifts the nose shadow to one side of the face. Instead of a butterfly-ish shadow, you’ll end up with a small loop. Loop lighting sometimes has a lengthening effect on the face. It’s flattering on most people and is used a lot for headshots and can be set up on either side.

Rembrandt Lighting – Named after the Dutch painter who used this style in his work, Rembrandt lighting is very similar to loop lighting. In Rembrandt lighting, the shadow loop of the nose is long enough to connect with the shadow on the cheek. This traps a triangle of light on the cheek.

Split Lighting – Split lighting is a form of lighting where half of the subject’s face is lit, while the other half is left in shadow. It creates a dramatic, unique feel and is not as common as other positions. Keep in mind, this kind of lighting will highlight texture in your model’s face. Split lighting is great for very moody portraits and is stylish but not always flattering.

If you have any additional questions or are interested in booking a photo session, please send me a message.