Mastering the art of studio lighting can elevate your portrait photography. This helpful video will walk you through a pratical setup and shoot.
Coming to you from Prince Meyson, this informative video breaks down the lighting setup for a skincare photoshoot. Meyson begins by explaining the concept behind the shoot: capturing natural, clean, and aesthetic headshots. The goal was to highlight the model's skin in a way that looks both professional and effortlessly beautiful. This set the stage for understanding the importance of each lighting decision.
Meyson's detailed walkthrough of his lighting setup provides valuable insights into his process. He used a Canon EOS R5 paired with a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens. This lens is Meyson's go-to for headshots due to its sharpness and the flattering compression it provides. For the key light, he used a Godox AD300Pro with a 24-inch Rotalux Octabox, which offers soft, even lighting. A v-flat served as a fill light, bouncing light back onto the model's face to reduce shadows and create a balanced look.
Meyson emphasizes the importance of playing around with light until you find what works best for your specific setup. He notes that providing exact power settings isn't helpful since factors like lens choice, model's skin tone, and light distance all affect the final result. This encourages you to experiment and adjust based on your unique conditions.
For the second look, Meyson kept the setup mostly the same but adjusted the background lighting. He used a large Octabox aimed at the background to brighten it up and add depth to the image. This change helped create a more dynamic and visually interesting photo. The consistency in key light placement ensured the model's face remained the focal point.
In the third setup, Meyson introduced a different approach by feathering the light. This technique involves angling the light so that the edge of the light source, rather than the center, illuminates the subject. This method produces a softer light with gentle falloff, ideal for full-body shots. Meyson bounces light off the white ceiling, creating a bright and airy ambiance in the studio. This setup highlighted the model while maintaining a soft, natural feel.
For the final look, Meyson combined elements from previous setups. He used the same key light and fill light configuration but added more ambient light by bouncing another source off the ceiling. This created an even brighter and more evenly lit environment, perfect for achieving a high-key look. The attention to detail in each setup demonstrates how subtle changes can significantly impact the overall image. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Meyson.
If you would like to continue learning about how to light a portrait, be sure to check out "Illuminating The Face: Lighting for Headshots and Portraits With Peter Hurley!"
