Butterfly Lighting (also Beauty or Paramount
Lighting)
Butterfly lighting is so named because, when produced
correctly, the shadow that occurs underneath the nose
resemblesthat ofa butterfly. AstheRembrandt lighting
set-up is ideally suitedto photograph male models and
clients,butterflylightingisgenerallymoresuitedforuse
with thefemalebonestructure andnarrower faceshape.
Used commonly in beauty and fashion shoots, the light
isflatterandmoreeventhanthemoredirectionalapproach
oftheothertechniquesexplainedhere,theresultingeffect
beingto evenoutany blemishesand to highlight lovely
cheekbones and the beautiful symmetry of the face.
Toproduceasimplebutterflylightyouwillneedthekey
light–againideallyalovelyoctagonalsoftboxorabeauty
dish–tobeplaceddirectlyinlinewiththesubject’snose,
and pointing downwards towards the nose, whilst being
placed at an angle higherthan eye level. You must be
acutelyawarethatanymovementineitherthemodelorthe
light can lead to shadows becoming unflattering and
incorrectly placed.
Whenthis has beenmastered you mayfind that adding
anotherlightorreflectordirectlybeneaththefilllightwill
softenanydarkershadowsthatwillfallunderneaththechin
of the subject.