Octa 100cm softbox key light, hair light
with honeycomb, Nikon D2Xs and
24–70 lens.STUDIO PORTRAIT LIGHTING
TECHNIQUES
An extremely useful practice when learning about
portraitureistostartlookingatimagesthatyouwouldwish
toemulate.Learningto‘read’animageisagreatskilland
onethatteachesyoutounderstandhowlightsworkinthe
eyes and on the mask of the face. By looking at the
reflectionsoflights(catchlights)inthesubject’seyes,you
can determine how the photographer has utilized their
lightstogetthedesiredresult.Fromthesesmallcluesyou
candiscovervariousdetails:Arethecatchlightssquareor
circular?Wherehasthelightbeenpositionedtoobtainthe
best lighting? How many lights have been used?
Asanaspiringphotographerthemoreimagesyoureadin
this waythemorefluentyouwillbecome, andthis will
advance your own tastes and
stylesastowhatportraitureyouaredrawntowards.This
capabilityinreturncanshapeanddevelopaphotographer’s
ownparticularstyleandtechniquewhenshooting images
for their own clients.
Eachofthesixprimarytechniquesdescribedbelowwillbe
moresuitableforsomesubjectsthanforothers,andallwill
giveaslightlydifferentfeelandqualitytoyourportraiture.
Whenunderstandingandlearningeachtechnique,youmay
finditusefultobeginbystudyingthebasicidea,usingjust