The Art of Portrait

Photography

Portrait Studio Lighting Techniques

REQUIREMENTS:

Portrait Studio Lighting Techniques:

Butterfly Portrait lighting

Rembrandt Portrait Lighting

Split Portrait Lighting

Rear Side Lighting

1. A contact sheet of 20 images including each images’ lighting technique and the

camera settings (ISO, F/Stop, Shutter Speed)

2. A final edited image of each portrait studio technique sized of 5x7@300DPI

3. Self Reflective Questions

4. Rubric that demonstrates self-assessment by scoring your work with rubric

Studio Lighting Techniques Project is worth 20 Major Project Points

Rembrandt Portrait Lighting – Rembrandt lighting is a name given

to the lighting effect that the old master used to use for the lighting

effects in many of his paintings. It’s basically short lighting where

the shadow from the nose connects with the shadow on the side of

the face, thus creating a triangle of light on the short side of the

face. If the nose shadow does not connect with the cheek shadow,

it’s not considered to be Rembrandt lighting, just short lighting.

Split Portrait Lighting – There will be a patch of light cast onto the shadow

side of the face. If the main light is placed so far off to the side of the

subject and only half the face is lit, then it is considered to be “Split”

portrait lighting. With split lighting, it really doesn’t matter to which side

of the camera the nose is pointing or if the lit or shadow side of the face is

facing toward the camera. Either of these situations would be considered

split portrait lighting.

patch disappears and

only half the face is

lighting.

camera the nose is

pointing or if the lit

or shadow side of

camera.

would be considered

Rear Side LightingThis is a good way to create hair-lights

Can be done

in studio or

out of studio

1. A contact sheet of 5 images including each images’ camera settings (ISO, F/Stop, Shutter Speed)

2. A final edited image sized of 4x6@300DPI

3. Self Assessment

1. Magic Hour Portrait

2. Candid Portraiture

3. In-Direct Self-Portrait (NO ‘SELFIES’)

4. Environmental Portrait

5. Silhouette (Can be done in studio or out of studio)

6. High Key Portrait (Can be done in studio or out of studio)

7. Low Key Portrait (Can be done in studio or out of studio)

Home LearningREQUIREMENTS:

Each Portrait technique is worth 5 Points and is due every Monday

Magic HourHOMEWORK 1

Using natural light to create lighting effects…

Sitting by a

doorway and

having an unlit

room in the

background is

perfect lighting.

The light is coming

from an open door

to camera left. The

plain wall helps

keep the viewer's

attention on the

Tibetan Monk.

Using windows to

create dramatic

soft or strong

lighting depends

on your exposure.

Candid is an un-posed photograph;

a moment in time: HOMEWORK 1

In Direct Self Portrait:

HOMEWORK 2

In Direct Self Portrait cont’

In Direct Self Portrait cont’

Environmental Portrait:

HOMEWORK 3

The environment tells something about the model.

Silhouette

4

The photographer

exposes for the

back-lit

area and not the

subject

High key refers to a style of photography that utilizes

predominantly light tones to create a dramatic looking

image. High key lighting seeks to over light the subject

to the point of reduced contrast.

HOMEWORK #5

Low key refers to a style of photography that utilizes

predominantly dark tones to create a dramatic looking image.

Where high key lighting seeks to over light the subject to the point

of reduced contrast, low key lighting intensifies the contrast in an

image through intensely reduced lighting.

HOMEWORK #6