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Clamshell Portrait 2

A lesson produced by Web Photo School

Lighting from overhead is very common in fashion shots for women for several reasons. If the light source is large enough, a very soft light is created. By contrast, lighting from the side can render unwanted shadows of the nose and far cheek.

Lighting from the top also illuminates the hair more fully and renders cheekbones nicely. Coupled with a reflecting Litedisc, the results can be quite impressive as shadows are minimized and eyes reflect large, even catch-lights.



(Click on any image below for an enlarged view.)

Topics Covered:

  • Top lighting for portraits
  • Using reflectors to control lighting ratios

Equipment Used:

    Figure 1

    We suspended an extra large SilverDome from the ceiling using ropes that are clipped to the Dome (the SilverDome is made with nylon hoops sewn into the corners expressly for this purpose).

    Having the soft box suspended eliminates the need for an overhead boom and keeps the working area clear.

    Figure 2

    Our overhead main light is working nicely, but we need to better balance our lighting ratio (light to shadow ratio). We can achieve this by using a reflector to bounce light from the main light back into our subject.

    Figure 3

    We used an oval LiteDisc with the silver reflector in a traditional "clamshell" lighting set up.

    Figure 4

    This gave us great results. We achieved a nicely balanced lighting ratio and attractive highllights in our model's eyes.

     

    Click here to view a more detailed version of this lesson, complete with camera set-up information, on Web Photo School.

     

    Related Lessons
    Following are Web Photo School lessons related to this topic.

    Finessing Soft Light for Fashion
    Learn how to shoot with the "clamshell" style of lighting and how to get a bright, white background.
    Shooting a Basic Head Shot
    Learn how to set up a proven standard lighting solution for portraits.
    Transformations with Portrait Lighting
    We used a large (7-foot) main light to shoot this portrait.
    Creating a Perfect Portrait, Every Time!
    Learn how to get consistent exposure and lighting results using an old pros studio trick.

    Equipment Used:

      Recommended Links

      • To learn more about Photoflex equipment, go to www.photoflex.com
      • For more tips and techniques on lighting and cameras, visit www.webphotoschool.com and sign up for access to the Member Lessons.