Using hard light in portrait photography offers distinct advantages. It enhances the texture and details of the subject, adding a dramatic flair with its striking contrast between light and shadow. Hard light also sets a specific mood, evoking a sense of edginess or boldness. Furthermore, it effectively directs attention to the subject, making them stand out in the image. While not suitable for all portraits, incorporating hard light provides photographers with unique and creative options to explore and experiment with different lighting techniques.
Get started with the gear needed for hard light portrait photography
To achieve hard light portrait photography, you will need specific gear to control and manipulate the light effectively. Here's a list of essential equipment:
- Hard Light Source: This can be a bare bulb flash, a speedlight with a small modifier, or an LED constant light with high power output. The key is to have a light source that produces strong, direct light without diffusion.
- Light Modifiers: While hard light is inherently sharp and direct, you may still want to control its spread or add some subtle diffusion. Grids and snoots can help to focus the light, while barn doors can shape and direct it.
- Light Stands: Sturdy stands are necessary to support your hard light sources and modifiers, allowing you to position them precisely.
- Reflector: A reflector can be used to bounce some of the hard light back onto the subject, filling in shadows and reducing harsh contrast if needed.
- Color Gels (optional): If you want to add a creative touch or modify the color temperature of the light, color gels can be used with hard light sources.
Position the light above the subject and angle it slightly downwards to create natural look
The key to creating a natural-looking portrait is to position the light properly. Ideally, you should place the light above your subject and angle it slightly downwards. This will create natural-looking shadows under the chin and cheekbones while adding a catch light in the eyes. However, be careful not to position the light too high, as this can cause unwanted shadows under the eyes.
The goal here is to emulate the sun's natural lighting setup, which our brains tend to find appealing. By exaggerating this setup, we can create more striking portraits. Remember that you can also adjust the shadow detail by positioning your subject differently, and using a light stand with wheels makes this easier.
Tip: If shooting in a studio with off-camera flash, it's best to use the lowest ISO setting to avoid accidentally capturing ambient light from windows or ceiling lights. This ensures that you're only exposing for the light from the flash, creating a clean and controlled image.
Creatively use the shadows caused by hard light in portrait photography
The major advantage of this hard light setup is that it creates dramatic shadows. It is advisable to include them in your photographs and make them part of the image.
Move the light around until you find a shadow that appeals to you and fits with the overall style you want to achieve. For example, longer harsh shadows will work if you want a powerful look. As you take the light away from the subject, the shadows become longer, but keep in mind that the increasing distance will most likely change the exposure.
Try getting close to the subject for stunning portraits
Sometimes, some of the best results of a hard light setup are achieved when the light is closer to the subject. This creates that dictionary definition of hard light where the shadows are stronger and the cheekbones and eyes really pop.
But don’t get too close as you risk creating a hot spot. There are basically three options to solve this, turn down the power or pull the light back a bit, that drop in distance is like dialing down the power a stop. You can also simply adjust the camera settings.
Modify the lighting to avoid reflection or add softness if needed
One drawback of utilizing a large, intense light source is the potential for light to bounce off the walls and diminish the subject's definition or detail. There are several methods to restore these details. For instance, you can employ two black poly boards positioned on either side of the subject. Alternatively, V Flats, black reflectors, or flags can serve the same purpose.
Another effective approach to modify the hard light for portrait photography is to introduce a larger reflector to broaden the light spread, combined with a plastic diffuser. This minor addition helps to gently soften the harsh edges of the hard light, particularly beneficial for skin tones. If a bare bulb represents 100% hard light, consider this setup as delivering about 85% hard light. While maintaining the hard shadows and strong contrast, there is a subtle softness added to facial features.