Today, we’re diving into two lighting concepts for portrait photography—crucial elements that can transform an image from flat and dull to dynamic and engaging. Each concept includes various techniques that allow photographers to alter the mood conveyed in portraits. But first, let’s do a brief overview of what portrait photography is.

Historians trace portrait photography back to the early 1800s. Some of the first images were portraits, as early cameras required subjects to stay still for extended periods to capture a clear image. Portraits were the easiest type of photograph to achieve in that era.

The concept hasn’t changed over time; a portrait remains a depiction of a person or group, capturing their facial features, essence and personal story. This is where lighting becomes essential. We will explore how lighting significantly influences portrait photography and can affect the mood of the image.

You don’t need an expensive lighting setup; even a single light can make a huge difference depending on how you position it. Adding more lights increases depth, bringing us to the basic three-point lighting setup: key light, fill light, and backlight. This setup is the foundation of portrait lighting. Once you master these fundamental techniques, you can start experimenting with shaping lighting techniques in the next section.

The key light is your main source that is illuminating the subject. It will be positioned at a 45-degree angle facing the main subject.

The fill light, positioned opposite the key light, reduces shadows. To maintain depth, it should be at a lower intensity than the key light; otherwise, the portrait may appear flat.

The third light in the three-point lighting setup is the back light. It adds depth by separating the subject from the background, ensuring important details don’t blend in.

Moving on to shaping lighting, we’ll cover styles such as Rembrandt, Paramount, and split lighting. Shaping lighting allows photographers to manipulate shadows and create unique effects that emphasize a specific look.

Rembrandt lighting is named after the renowned Dutch painter Rembrandt, celebrated for his distinctive lighting style in his portraits, which creates a small triangle of light under the subject’s eye.

To achieve this effect, position the key light about two feet above the model's eye level with a downward angle, and place the fill light at a 45-degree angle in front of the subject.

Paramount lighting originates from classic Paramount Pictures films and is often used by studios to flatter facial features, creating a signature butterfly-shaped shadow under the nose.

To achieve this look, place a back light behind the subject, and position the fill light directly in front of the model, angled down from a high position.

Split lighting divides the face in half, illuminating one side and casting a dark shadow on the other. This high-contrast technique adds tension and drama to any portrait.

Lighting is a game-changer in photography. By experimenting with different lighting setups, you can turn an average photo into a standout shot.

Happy Shooting!

Check out the Prolight RGB and Bi-Color editions, along with the Ring Light which are all designed to elevate your iPhone portraits.