Understanding light begins by understanding its properties, such as quality, color, direction, and luminosity. We’re sharing five tips for lighting portraits that could be applied to outdoor, indoor, or artificial lighting settings.

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Learn the “Hand Test” For Finding the Light Direction

Even with very little sunshine, there is always lighting direction. Put your hand towards your face, turn it around, look at how light is directed where you are, and observe what happens to your hands. Even though you may appear like an insane person for a short time, this is an effective technique for lighting portraits to avoid unflattering shadows.

Lighting tips for portraits: Use shadows and hard light as your primary light source instead of having them with their backs against the sun.

Know the five most commonly used vital light patterns

Here’s a quick overview of the basics, but I suggest you watch the video below to get a better understanding:

Flat Light: The flat lighting directs the subject through an angle.

Butterfly Lighting (or Paramount Lighting) is directly in front of and over the face of the issue.

Loop Lighting is the reasonable middle ground where most of the face is in daylight, yet you can use enough shadows to clarify.

Rembrandt Lights: can be distinguished by the proportion of the face’s shadow, except an angular light pattern on the cheekbone and the eye.

Split Lightingsimply “splits” your subject’s face, lighting half of the subject’s face while keeping the rest in shadow.

Learn to use a reflector as your primary light source, fill light, and Scrim

Reflectors are the best lighting and modifier tools for photographers who want to use them. With the capability to alter lighting in more than one manner, you receive an excellent portrait lighting tool at a low cost. Find out our Top 10 reasons why every photographer needs to use a reflector.

Lighting tips for portraits: Utilize the reflective silver on one side and layer an additional scrim to create a diffused fill light.

Understand Why To Use Top-Down Lighting

The lighting from below makes it seem like a story about a campfire within the next few years. That is why it earned the term “campfire lighting” over time. Lighting with a top-down angle is preferred because it’s the average direction of light from the sun, overhead lighting, and street lamps in offices and other places. This light direction creates flattering looks with shadows and highlights at the appropriate spots.

Learn to use the Hard Light to separate Subjects from backgrounds

A light that is soft or hard .is simple. It is the transition between light and shadow on an object. When the change is smooth and swift, as in the photos above, it’s a harsh light. The sharpness can be easily distinct from the shadow underneath the chin. Utilizing the available light source can aid in creating a different look from the background and make an edgier, more formal appearance.

Tips for lighting portraits: Watch this short clip by differentiating between hard light and other characteristics.