Portrait Light Basics and Vocabulary

Butterfly

1. Shadow under nose, chin shadow and shadows on cheeks

2. both sides of the face can be seen, beauty shot for woman

3. 1

Loop

1. Loop of light that build on cheeks, one side is a little shadowed the other is highlighted 

2. Not good for people for need flattering pictures 

3. 1

Rembrandt:

1. Creates a triangle shadow on the side of face, 

2. Flattering 

3. 1

Split:

1. Shadows half the face down the nose, lots of contrast 

2. Creates a dramatic feeling

3. 1

Broad and short:

1. Broad light, shows the longer side of the face is lit

2. Most flattering 

3. 1

Fill light-Used to lighten shadows and control contrast.

Key light (main light)-Determines lighting, for example a strong back light. 

Hair light-Accent light for the top of the head. 

Background light-Helps separates background from subject

Shadowless-creates no shadows

Hard light-Small light, produces highlights and shadows

Soft light-Directional light, large and close to subject

Grey card-Reflectance card used instead of a subject for a reflected light

Reflector-A reflector shape used with some focusing fixtures to provide efficient output, especially in Spot setting.

Diffuser-Placed in front of light to soften highlights and shadows

Intensity-Strength, or how to set shutter speed and aperture's appropriate to portraits

2:1 lighting ratio-one light is half as bright as the other

Direction: Where the light is coming from.

Intensity: How bright the light is.

Color: What color is the light.

Contrast: Transition from highlights to shadows-soft or hard?

Hardness: What the edges of the shadows look like.