Continuous lighting is an essential tool for photoshoots that can significantly enhance your shooting results. By applying some simple techniques to set up continuous lighting, you can achieve incredible effects. In this article, we will explore continuous lighting setup based on the number of lights used, illustrating these 3 commonly used setups:
- One-light setup: Using a continuous light, a softbox, and a V-flat
- Two-light setup: Combining two continuous lights with modifiers
- 3-light setup: Placing the key, fill, and back lights strategically
One-light setup: Using a continuous light, a softbox, and a V-flat
One-light setup uses only one key light. It is a good choice of continuous lighting setup for portraits. Here are some ideas for setups using a continuous light, a softbox, and a V-flat.
Setup 1: Place the light to the left of the camera
To create a good shooting effect, position the light to the left of the subject at a 45-degree angle and slightly above eye level. Using a black v-flat on the camera right and a softbox with a grid helps produce deep shadows on the subject's right side and restricts light spill, resulting in strong contrast. This setup creates pronounced black areas in the shadows, which can be striking but may not suit every photographic goal.
Or you can flipp the v-flat on the camera right so that its white side faces the subject. This change softens the shadows, reduces contrast, and reveals more detail in the background and around the subject's lower half.
Setup 2: Place the light directly above the subject
Place the light directly above the subject and angle it downward. This positioning casts shadows under the chin, highlighting the jawline and creating an effect similar to a beauty dish but with softer shadows due to the larger size of the modifier. This setup is versatile, suitable for both full-length portraits and close-ups. Placing the subject close to the background enhances the interaction between the shadows and the background, but if the background is not a prominent element of the image, moving the subject farther away can achieve the desired effect.
Setup 3: Place the light behind the subject
In this continuous lighting setup, the light is placed directly behind the subject, and the grid is removed to create a silhouette effect. To prevent a completely black silhouette, a white v-flat is placed in front of the subject to reflect light back onto the face. This technique provides enough front-lighting to preserve detail in the shadows while maintaining the silhouette. Achieving the correct exposure here will be difficult because it requires experimentation to balance the silhouette effect with visible details, ensuring an aesthetically pleasing result.
Two-light setup: Combining two continuous lights with modifiers
In this continuous lighting photography setup, one light typically serves as the key light, while the other provides fill. Notice the use of “typically”? This is because there is always room to explore other better methods for photographing the subject. Next are some practical setups that combine two continuous lights with reflectors, softboxes, flags, and other modifiers.
Setup 1: Key + fill light
This common setup involves positioning one light directly behind the camera to provide even fill light across the subject, ensuring no visible shadows on the background. The second light, known as the “key” light, is placed about 45 degrees to one side of the subject and should be one or two stops brighter than the fill light, creating a Rembrandt lighting effect. This setup does not include background or hair lighting, making it suitable for scenarios where the background is naturally lit or intended to remain dark, such as in a low-key shot.
Setup 2: Key + reflector, hair light
This continuous lighting setup is actually a variation of the setup 1. It utilizes a reflector for fill light, while the second light is positioned directly overhead as a hair light or placed behind the subject to illuminate both the background and the back of the head. This setup creates separation between the subject and the background.
Setup 3: Key + kicker/rim light
This setup involves using a softbox or umbrella positioned at a 45-degree angle as the main light source, with a reflector providing fill. The second light, known as the “kicker” or the rim light , adds dramatic highlights to the head and shoulders and can also be directed to spotlight the background. To prevent light from hitting the camera, a flag or gobo may be needed.
3-light setup: Placing the key, fill, and back lights strategically
How to set up continuous lighting for a photoshoot? Three-point lighting is a core method in photography, involving the strategic placement of three main light sources around the subject to achieve a well-balanced and visually compelling scene. Each light serves a specific function:
- Key Light: The primary light source, it provides the main illumination, shaping the subject and setting the overall tone of the scene.
- Fill Light: This light softens the shadows cast by the key light, providing gentle, diffused illumination that reveals details in darker areas while preserving depth.
- Backlight: Positioned behind the subject, it creates a subtle outline or halo effect, helping to distinguish the subject from the background and adding depth and dimension.
5 easy steps to follow
Now that the basic definition and the three main light sources are clear, let's dive into setting up your own three-point lighting with these five easy steps.
1. Start in complete darkness: For any film, video, or photo shoot, it’s important to start in a dark environment to prevent any external light sources from affecting your subject. If a professional studio or soundstage is unavailable, choose a room with minimal or no windows. Ensure all lights, including overheads and lamps, are turned off before you start.
2. Turn on the key light: Position the key light at a 45-degree angle to the right or left of the camera, depending on the direction your subject is facing. It will usually be the most intense, providing the primary illumination for your subject. Adjust its brightness by changing the light source settings or by varying its distance from the subject to achieve the desired effect.
3. Bring in the fill light: The fill light should generally be set to a lower brightness than the key one, as its purpose is to lighten the shadows on the subject’s face and features. In this case, a continuous light with adjustable brightness is required. And COLBOR CL60 is a good choice. Position it on the side opposite to the key light. For instance, if the key light is positioned on the right side of the subject, place the fill light on the left side, and vice versa.
4.Add the backlight: After setting up the key and fill lights, add the backlight. It helps to distinguish the subject from the background by creating a distinct edge around them. It should be placed behind the subject, directing it towards the back of their head. Position it higher and angle it downward to achieve a more defined outline.
5. Fine-tune for balance and style: After setting up all the lights, the next step is to adjust the balance, style, and overall appearance. Keep in mind that adjusting one light affects the others, so allow ample time for modifications, especially if you're not familiar with this setup.
Conclusion
In summary, continuous lighting is a powerful tool for enhancing your photoshoots, offering various setups to achieve diverse effects. This article outlined practical methods for continuous lighting setup, ranging from one-light setups to more complex two-light and three-point lighting arrangements. Now, set up your continuous lights, experiment with different configurations, and start capturing great images!