Jeff Jacobson Photography

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Developing Portrait Photography Lighting Skills

Since it so greatly influences the mood, ambiance, and general effect of your image in portrait photography, lighting is among the most important components. Understanding and applying several lighting techniques will help you to produce amazing portraits that really reflect the nature of your subjects.

 

Mastering Lighting Techniques in Photography

 

  1. Natural Light

Ideal for portrait photography, Golden Hour is the hour following sunrise and the hour before sunset, offering warm illumination. Shooting behind buildings or trees can produce diffused natural light, which is fantastic for soft and pleasing appearance. Depending on the angle and time of day, window light can produce a dramatic and private environment.

 

  1. Manmade illumination

Using studio strobes or continuous lights lets you entirely control the lighting conditions. Try several configurations to produce several results. Portable flash units let you add light to your portraits, either on- or off-camera. Using current artificial light sources—such as streetlights or lamps—allows one to create fascinating and distinctive lighting situations.

 

  1. Lighting Systems

Often utilized in fashion photography, high-key lighting produces a brilliant, airy impression. Conversely, low-key lighting—often found in film noir and noir photography—evokes a dramatic and enigmatic mood. With a triangle of light on the subject’s face, Rembrandt Lighting produces a traditional portrait effect. By orienting the light just above the subject, butterfly lighting produces a soft and pleasing appearance.

 

Final Thoughts

Developing portrait photography lighting methods calls both experience and experimentation. Understanding the many kinds of light and how to apply them can help you to produce amazing and unforgettable photos that highlight the special beauty of your subjects.

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