ONE-LIGHT PORTRAITS

Learn how to master a simple lighting setup, and shoot professional portraits using minimal kit and space

Perfecting a professional studio lighting setup can be a little daunting, so learning how to master a simple single-light setup is invaluable. A wide range of looks and effects can be created, and there’s not always a disadvantage in using fewer individual lights; extra lights can sometimes complicate things needlessly.

When only using one light you’ll have less to think about and control than if you were using multiple lights – you’ll be able to spend less time fiddling with light settings, and more time interacting with your model and perfecting poses. Not only that, but it will make you more mobile for on-location shooting, and help you truly understand how light can affect and manipulate a subject’s face.

Over the next few pages you’ll discover a number of different one-light techniques, including understanding hard and soft light, Rembrandt lighting, split lighting, as well as low-key and high-key effects, and a traditional beauty style of lighting. You’ll learn how easy it is to create professional-looking images with just one light, and how you can add in a few different modifiers to enhance and manipulate the light further.

WORK WITH SOFT AND HARD LIGHT

Embrace the simplicity of one light, and learn to make use of its qualities

Because a one-light setup is relatively simple, it’s particularly important that you perfect your exposure and consider the power and quality of the light you’re using, as well as learning how to control it to create different effects.