Lighting in Portrait - here is why it matters so much.
- info@christinatselnik.com
- Jul 14
- 3 min read
Lighting is crucial in portrait photography. It significantly shapes how your images look and feel. Whether you're snapping a candid shot or staging a carefully arranged portrait, the quality and direction of light can transform an ordinary picture into something extraordinary. By understanding light and how to use it effectively, a skilled photographer will elevate your portraits and help you achieve your vision.
Understanding Light in Portrait Photography
In portrait photography, the interaction between light and the subject conveys emotions, adds depth, and shifts viewers' perceptions. Lighting is not just about visual appeal; it plays a critical role in telling stories through your images.
For example, harsh lighting can produce bold shadows that create a dramatic effect, while soft light can make your portrait feel gentle and dreamy. Many clients favor warm, diffused light, often found during "golden hour," providing that beautiful, flattering glow, while others prefer the esthetic offered by other types of light set-ups.
The Angles of Light
The angle of light is vital in crafting engaging portraits. When positioned low, light can cast unique (though often unflattering) shadows. By comparison, that same light-source, used straight-on to the subject, will soften shadows, which is often more flattering.
Light modifiers
The size of the light source can drastically influence your portrait's quality. Larger light sources generate softer, diffused light, while smaller sources produce sharper shadows.
Softboxes or umbrellas can create a wider spread of light, which is especially flattering. On the flip side, smaller sources of light, such as a flash, may heighten contrast and emphasize textures, offering a bold look for creative portraits.
The Emotional Impact of Light
The emotional strength of a portrait often hinges on the lighting. Thoughtfully-lit photographs can elicit emotions, influencing how viewers interpret a scene.
For instance, warm, golden light tends to evoke feelings of joy, drawing the viewer in, while harsh, cold light may inspire tension or unease. By strategically manipulating light, you can guide your audience's emotional responses, creating a stronger connection to your subject.
Final Thoughts
In portrait photography, light is more than a technical detail; it's an artistic element that shapes your image's story and emotional depth. By mastering aspects like angles, size, and color of light, and utilizing the right modifiers, your professional photographer will be able to offer you extraordinary portraits that help you tell your story.
Whether working in a studio or outdoors, understanding light's nuances allows for mood and narrative to shine through in portraits. For me personally, starting out as a documentary (or "street") photographer taught me to read the ambient light and adjust accordingly, giving me countless opportunities to appreciate the influence of light on my subject matter.
As I began to develop my skills in studio lighting, I began to also understand that the impact of light in portrait photography is profound. Unlike street photography, the subject matter is very much the same from one frame to the next. Mood and interest is then created (in good part) by the value, angle, color, position, and size of light source. amongst other things, ultimately helping my client and me to create portraits that are truly engaging! And with any light source, light in the eyes of my subject creates a wonderful sense of liveliness and connection that somehow leaves me with a profound sense of gratitude for the person I am photographing.
