Photography Lighting Setups

By: Grace Han

Terminology:

Key Light: Used to highlight form and dimension; the key light is usually the first and most important light used in a lighting setup.

Fill Light: A light used to reduce shadows and fill out the key light.

Backlight: A light used to illuminate from the back of the subject.

Reflector: Is a reflective surface that is used to reflect light toward a given subject or scene.

Broad portrait lighting

• The subject’s face is furthest from the camera.

• The side of the subject that is closest to the camera.

Short portrait lighting

• Short portrait lighting is the opposite of Broad portrait lighting.

• The part of the subject facing away from the camera.

Split lighting portrait

• The key light is placed at a 90 degree angle to the one side of the subject’s face.

Rembrandt effect lighting

• The key light is placed at a 45 degree angle of the subject’s face.

Butterfly lighting

• The key light high in front and angled down on the subject creates a shadow under the subject’s nose.

• The shadow under the nose across the face is referred to as the butterfly effect.

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