Headshot & Portrait Lighting Styles
Headshot & Portrait Lighting Styles
Are you feeling a bit lost for the style of your personal branding portraits or company headshots?
There are lots of styles to consider for your portraits, and not every style will suit every brand, personality or industry.
I’ve written this blog post to showcase several lighting styles for headshots and portraiture.
Soft, natural light
Natural light is frequently favoured in portraiture. When used correctly, natural light is soft, glowy and open.
I prefer to photograph in shade, or with the sun behind my subject. This is how I capture bright eyes and subtle highlights.
Natural light is not just used outside. There are many times when indoor natural and ambient light is great. Standing in a shaded doorway, garage opening, or near a diffused window is a great way to get soft, wraparound light.
Studio Light: Soft and even
There are so many conveniences of a studio environment. Studio lighting is consistent, can be easily replicated and is not influenced by the weather or time of day. I also love how easy it is to move and change studio lighting for different looks.
In a studio session, we can still achieve soft and natural light styles for a bright, even feel. Capturing the light reflection in your eyes makes them feel brighter and more alive (“catchlights”).
Studio Light: Commercial & Poppy
I love adding a little sparkle to portraits with additional lighting.
Adding a hair light behind can add a pop that has a commercial feel to it. The added highlight brings another dimension to the portrait and also separates the subject from the background.
Pair that with colour, and you have a very fun vibe!
Studio Light: Dimensional
Looking to elevate your portrait and go for a more sophisticated headshot? A dimensional lighting style uses highlights and shadows to create depth and an elevated look.
The main goal is to ensure there is light captured in the eyes. Shadowed eyes don’t fit the brief for headshots, as the eyes are the first point of connection we make.
Pair this lighting style with a slightly darker background for a really crisp feel.
Studio Light: Dramatic and angular
Following on from the previous style, an even more dramatic and angular lighting style works well for portraits that really want a particularly classy vibe.
The portrait I have featured here uses lighting that highlights the textures and shapes in his clothing and adds some drama to the image.
Not everyone suits this lighting style, and it can be trial and error. If you like to accentuate shape and form, this is a fun one that you could consider trying.
This lighting style also works with lighter backgrounds and in environmental settings too.
Need a portrait photographer?
My name is Julia, and I am a professional headshot and portrait photographer based in Melbourne, Australia.
I run a professional studio in the eastern suburbs and regularly travel on location for photography within workplaces and businesses.
If you need a photographer, check out my sessions with the button below:
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