Choosing a lighting scheme

Choosing a lighting scheme: The guys who help me out with my shoots usually start by asking what we are going to do on the set. They tend to stop asking after a short period of time. I suppose they get tired of hearing me say “I don’t know!” I rarely have a preconceived idea of how I will light my set. The normal exceptions are when I am photographing a beauty headshot or white garments. Those set-ups are not necessarily set in stone either. I enjoy the freedom that I have when I walk into my empty studio and want the model and her choice of wardrobe to partially dictate how I will light her. I had to make up a number of lighting schemes for my Softbox book. The experience was as daunting as it was exhilarating. The numerous exercises left me with a large number of tools to play with and I try remain open to the sets I designed for the book as well as new ideas. I never know whether I will use one light or seven to illuminate my model and set. I like simple lighting as much as I like elaborate sets with overlapping lights of varying sizes and effects. Sometimes it depends on my mood—or the mood of the studio while other times it is her wardrobe that sets the stage. The idea that the studio can have a “mood” is a very important concept—and one that I have never really contemplated on paper before. Photo shoots are living breathing entities unto themselves. The “vibe” of a shoot stems from the culmination and integration of everyone who is on the set. Each person’s individual mood plays a very important role in how the mood of the studio will be defined for that day. Sometimes the mood dictates a subtle approach while other times I can let the room lead me into a more playful set.
The purpose of the photo shoot will also obviously play a role in how my set is lit. I probably would not drag out too many lights for a simple portrait. The converse is not necessarily true however; I tend to use many lights for a glamour photograph, but there are times when one or two lights do the trick. Once again it comes down to a combination of the intent of the shoot, her wardrobe and the “feel” of the day.
Two recent shoots illustrate these points. We were asked to create headshots and lingerie images of Brooke and Jocelyn. The shoots would be my first opportunities to work with these beautiful young ladies. Both shoots were a blast, with a great vibe from the start. The shoot with Brooke was first and the idea from the get go was to keep it simple. A large softbox would be used to provide a soft side light while a beauty dish would provide enough fill to keep the shadows from going to dark. It was simple clean lighting for more of a commercial look and feel.



















Brooke joined us for the shoot with Jocelyn and provided make-up services for the creation of what would be a more of a “glamour” feel. Three lights of different sizes were chosen to light Jocelyn from the front. A large 40”X60” softbox was used as a fill while a 30”X40” softbox was chosen for the main light. A spotlight with a three degree grid added a “pop” to Jocelyn’s face. Rim lights and spot lights were used to separate her from the dark backdrop and add the illusion of depth in the photograph.









The photographs are very different, but they work for the intended purpose. I am looking forward to working with Brooke and Jocelyn in the future. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to hire either of these very professional models. I will gladly pass the information on to them.