| Studio portrait photography is a really great skill to | | | | love to use this type of lighting for couples. It brings |
| grasp when expanding a photographer asset base. I | | | | in an intimacy and softness that other setups do not |
| remember when I first started out as a | | | | achieve. Although it is not absolutely necessary to |
| photographer almost all portrait photography was | | | | shoot in the dark it helps, because you can use the |
| done in the studio. It is now quite popular to shoot | | | | modelling lights to see the effect of the lights. |
| outside portraits but there is still a place for really | | | | Remember light spills and bounces really well so if low |
| crisp high key images and moody studies. | | | | key is the choice then you have to be disciplined with |
| 1. Lighting setup. Over the years I have had a | | | | directional lights. Harder lights are also better for this |
| selection of different types of lights and they have all | | | | type of shots. The same basic lighting setup as in |
| had their benefits. However my favourite is the one I | | | | high key though. Just have the fill light at 2-3 stops |
| am going to mention. I have one really powerful light | | | | less than the main light. |
| with a high quality soft box on the front of it. This | | | | 4. Black & White. As much as colour is great, I |
| light will light up a room and go right down to shoot a | | | | believe black and white works really well in high and |
| little baby. I love it. I use this light in the studio with a | | | | low key images. There is something about the |
| selection of smaller lights. Some are shot through | | | | contrast that is drawn out of the images when shot |
| accessories like a snout, honeycombs or shoot into | | | | in Black and White. If you have never shot Black and |
| brollies. Depending on what I am shooting depends on | | | | White I would encourage you to try and experiment |
| how I use them but I will as a basic set up use the | | | | with studio lights and see how the addition of |
| main light 20 degrees off the camera and a smaller fill | | | | contrast can transform the look and feel of an image. |
| light 45 degrees off camera on the other side. The | | | | 5. Make it welcoming. I have been into many studios |
| smaller light is set at 1-2 stops less than the main | | | | in my time and I have been shocked at the mess |
| light, depending on how much shadow I want on one | | | | and gear lying around, I have also been surprised |
| side of the face. | | | | how cold some studios can be. People love to feel at |
| 2. High Key. The most popular family type shooting I | | | | home when they are being photographed and to |
| do in the studio is a high key look, which is basically | | | | have a warm friendly environment will help your |
| shooting onto a white background. I have a shoot | | | | subject to relax and respond to the photography |
| through Lastolite background that stands 6 foot tall | | | | session positively. |
| and use this because it gives a really great clean | | | | Studio photography is rewarding artistically because |
| white finish. The secret to getting this right is to set | | | | you have complete control of your lighting. It is the |
| the light inside the background to 2 stops more than | | | | place to play and learn how light effects the way |
| the subject. Any more it will flare. I love to put | | | | things look. I enjoy shooting in the studio, I would |
| people on the floor in these high key shoots and we | | | | encourage you to get some lights and have a go, it |
| always have an informal time and lots of fun. All the | | | | really is not that expensive these days if you buy |
| rules from other articles I have written apply when | | | | second hand gear. I have never brought a new light |
| posing. | | | | because the good brands go on forever. Happy days! |
| 3. Low Key. This is the opposite of high key and I | | | | |