Holly Wren takes you through some terminology and setups, so
you can perfect these common studio lighting approaches
S
ooner or later, be it because of the weather,
through client needs or perhaps your own
drive to learn, as a portrait photographer
you’re going to have to master light, and more
specifically lighting your subject. And for that, you’ll
likely reach for an off-camera flash or studio strobe.
Most of us begin our lighting journey with natural light,
then on-camera, then progress to moving off-camera.
And for most, that’s when things become more
complex and a little overwhelming.
So what then? Well, you’re probably going to have
to experiment, test, re-test and test some more, with
a multitude of failures and a handful of successes in
between. And for that, some structure is handy. If
you’re like me, you’ll likely look to other photographers
and lighting experts to apply some structure.Like most things photography-related, it’s an asset
to learn the basics, so you can apply, master, then
break the rules as you see fit. Lighting is a progressive
sport, one that takes time, patience and creativity to
master, but broken down it’s really not as complex
as it may seem when you’re staring at a beautifully
finished image.
Whether you’re in a bona fide studio, work out of
your front room or would rather choose a location
in your subject’s environment, these terms and
techniques will still apply – you might already be
using some without realising it!
We’ll explore some of the terminology and setups
to explain how and why you can create and use this
light, and demonstrate that it’s much easier than
these fancy words would have you believe.Studio
techniques
lighting
Introduction to
Background light
The side light here adds some
softness to the shadows and crates
a soft light on the background paper
All images © Holly WrenTECHNIQUES
HollyWrentakesyouthroughsometerminologyandsetups,so
youcanperfectthesecommonstudiolightingapproaches
S
oonerorlater,beitbecauseoftheweather,
throughclientneedsorperhapsyourown
drivetolearn,asaportraitphotographer
you’regoingtohavetomasterlight,andmore
specificallylightingyoursubject.Andforthat,you’ll
likelyreachforanoff-cameraflashorstudiostrobe.
Mostofusbeginourlightingjourneywithnaturallight,
thenon-camera,thenprogresstomovingoff-camera.
Andformost,that’swhenthingsbecomemore
complexandalittleoverwhelming.
Sowhatthen?Well,you’reprobablygoingtohave
toexperiment,test,re-testandtestsomemore,with
amultitudeoffailuresandahandfulofsuccessesin
between.Andforthat,somestructureishandy.If
you’relikeme,you’lllikelylooktootherphotographers
andlightingexpertstoapplysomestructure.Likemostthings photography-related, it’s an asset
tolearnthebasics, so you can apply, master, then
breaktherulesas you see fit. Lighting is a progressive
sport,onethattakes time, patience and creativity to
master,butbroken down it’s really not as complex
asitmayseemwhen you’re staring at a beautifully
finishedimage.
Whetheryou’re in a bona fide studio, work out of
yourfrontroomor would rather choose a location
inyoursubject’senvironment, these terms and
techniqueswillstill apply – you might already be
usingsomewithout realising it!
We’llexploresome of the terminology and setups
toexplainhowand why you can create and use this
light,anddemonstrate that it’s much easier than
thesefancywords would have you believe.St dio
techniques
lighting
Introduction to
Background light
The side light here adds some
softness to the shadows and crates
a soft light on the background paper
All images © Holly WrenTECHNIQUES