Portrait light

Simulator

How portrait lighting works

Most portrait lighting is built from a few lights with distinct jobs. Where you put the main light decides the pattern of shadows on the face; how much the other lights fill those shadows decides the mood.

• Key light

  The main light. Its direction and height shape the face and create the main shadows. Everything else is measured against it.

• Fill light

  A weaker light, usually near the camera on the other side, that lifts the shadows the key creates. Less fill means more drama.

• Back light

  A light behind the subject that draws a bright rim along the hair and shoulders, separating them from the background.

• Lighting ratio

  How much brighter the lit side is than the shadow side. 2:1 is soft and open, 4:1 is classic portraiture, 8:1 and beyond is dramatic, low-key light.

• Rembrandt

  Key about 45° to the side and above. The nose shadow joins the cheek shadow, leaving a small triangle of light under the far eye.

• Loop

  Key a little lower and closer to the camera than Rembrandt, so the nose casts a small loop-shaped shadow down toward the corner of the mouth. Flattering for most faces.

• Butterfly

  Key straight in front and high above, making a small butterfly-shaped shadow under the nose and sculpting the cheekbones. A classic Hollywood glamour look.

• Split

  Key at 90° to the side at eye level, so exactly half the face is lit and half falls into shadow. Strong and moody.

• Broad and short

  With the face turned, broad lighting lights the side facing the camera, which widens the face; short lighting lights the side turned away, which slims it and adds depth.

• Hard and soft light

  A small light source, like a bare bulb or the sun, casts crisp shadows. A large source, like a softbox or a window, wraps around the face with gentle transitions.