the key light, as this way you will get a better
understanding of howthe light is behaving towards the
subjectandhowitaffectstheface.Thekeylightineach
scenario should always be placed above thesitter’s eye
level; this is theideal positionfor flattering portraiture.
Lookforhighlightsinbotheyeswhenvisible,andensure
theyareinthecorrectposition;ifnottheclientwillhave
dead eyes, with no sparkleor life. When this has been
masteredyoucanthenprogresstomorecomplexlighting
scenarioswherereflectors,filllightsandbackgroundlights
can add greater depth and shape to the portrait.
Withthecorrectunderstandingofthelightingratiosneeded
tocreateabalancedandwell-structuredimage,youarefree
to createa variety of effects,moods, dramaand feeling
withintheportrait.Onceyouhaveachievedaheightened
level ofskillandmastery inthestudio, somewonderful
portraitscanbe created.However,to achievethesehigh
qualitiesthekeyistoreallyunderstandtheprinciplesand
ratiosandtoapplythemcorrectlyandappropriatelytoeach
individual subject.
Rembrandt Lighting (also known as 45-degree or
Chiaroscuro lighting)
Asthenamesuggests,Rembrandtlightingisnamedafter
the Dutch renaissance painter. Rembrandt’s distinctive
styleoflightinghispaintedportraitsisoftenusedtodayin
photographic portraiture, due to the depth and detail it
givestheimage.Thedramaandqualityofthedarkerareas
oftheportrait createdbythis approachdraw theviewer
intotheimage;ithasarichnessandtonalityunmatchedby
other techniques. Portraits become instantly