subject: Portrait Lighting - Learn 4 Tips To Shoot Like A Pro [print this page] Though it may seem simple from an outside perspective, portrait lighting is one of the trickiest photography skills to nail down and takes years to master. On the plus side, because of the posed and scheduled nature of portrait photography, it is also one of the easiest ones to practice. If you want to start a studio out of your house, here are a few helpful tips to remember before you do your first shoot.
Brighter Isn't Better
Hard, bright lights definitely make shooting a breeze and give you plenty of illumination to properly expose your photos. Rarely will harsh bright lights give you the look you want so it's best to avoid them if you want professional quality results. The best lighting for portraits is, by far, soft light. Another way to get this quality of light is to shoot on overcast days or by shooting in a studio using photo umbrella reflectors. Soft, even light is easier to work with and will help compliment your subject without accenting their possible flaws.
Light Setup
Two lights should be sufficient for portrait lighting. Use one main light to determine the tone and direction of your light, then offset it with a second light placed near the camera. This will soften any harsh shadows and help even out the contrast. You can also get this type of light by putting a light above your camera and a fill reflector below your camera. Both of these solutions will give you great results with very little equipment.
Use What You Already Have
If you don't have money to spend on a professional light setup, you can often get near-professional results by using a few desk or floor lights. To control the lighting even more, try using bed sheets to reflect the light around the room. Treat everything in your house like lighting equipment and you may begin to find unique opportunities to really play with your portrait lighting, all without the need to buy gear.
Don't Forget the Sun
We often associate portrait photography with studio photography, but the truth is that the two are not codependent. You can get amazing results using available natural light if you know how to properly use it. For instance, if you have a big window, you can always use it as a source of available or natural light. If you're taking pictures outside, use a big sheet of white poster board (or foam board) as a reflector and point it at your subject to minimize harsh shadows.
Much like every other sort of photography, portraiture requires practice, patience, and a whole lot of love. Luckily, it doesn't mean you have to spend a lot of money to get professional results. If you use a little bit of creativity with items you have at home, you'll be happily surprised at the results you get. Portrait lighting is all about getting the subtle detail right, but that doesn't mean it can't be a lot of fun!
