Corrective Lighting Techniques for Portraits
Corrective Lighting Techniques for Portraits. A portrait photographer’s primary objective is to idealize his subject. The subject’s appearance can be made more flattering through posing, lighting, and camera angle. In many instances, more than one of the following suggestions will be employed. Evaluate each subject individually.
| Prominent Forehead | Tilt chin upward, Lower Camera Position, Use Gobo (Head Screen), Use Barn Doors |
| Long Nose | Tilt Chin Upward, Face Directly Toward Lens, Lower Main Light, Lower Camera Position |
| Angular Nose | Turn Face Towards Camera, Place Main Light To Produce A Straight Line |
| Narrow Chin | Tilt Chin Upward, Lower Camera Position, Use 3/4 Head Position |
| Double Chin | Tilt Chin Upward, Body Straight And Leaning Forward, Use High Camera Position |
| Baldness | Use Gobo To Shield Top Of Head, Use No Hair Light, Blend Top Of Head With Background |
| Broad, Round Face | Use Short Lighting (move key light so it strikes the subject at greater than 50o), Turn Face Away From the Main Light To 3/4 Position |
| Narrow Face | Use Broad Lighting, Use Umbrella, Turn Face Towards Camera |
| Wrinkled Face | Use Soft Lighting, Use Feathered Light, A Relaxed Non-Smiling Pose, Use High Camera Position |
| Facial Blemishes, Scars, Etc. | Use Diffused Lighting, Place Blemishes, Scars, Etc. On The Shadow Side Of The Face If Possible |
| Ears | Show Only One Ear |
| Prominent Ears | Hide Far Ear Behind Head, Keep Near Ear In Shadow |
| Glasses | Tilt Lenses Downward By Raising The Glasses Stems, Have Subject Raise Or Lower Chin |
| Deep-Set Eyes | Lower Main Light, Use Lower Lighting Ratio |
| Pop Eyes | Lower Camera Angle, Talk To Subject From Camera Position |
| Droopy Eyelid | Have Subject Look Up, Put Catch Light In Eyes |
by Bonnie J Matthews-Franke
Bonnie has been taking pictures since she was a little girl, but she didn't get into digital photography until about 2009, just before she joined the club.
Matthews-Franke finds the club to be very beneficial to her. The interaction with other members, being able to ask questions, the workshops and the knowledge that I take away from the club is phenomenal.
She believes the meetings, workshops and field trips are very beneficial, specially to the new members. Her favorites were the Fall Color Trips; Mono Lake Trips and the workshops were she had her camera and could play along.
She love landscapes. She just finished a vacation trip to Oregon where she photographed lighthouses, old barns and covered bridges. The older the structure the better
.
She also loves portraits, and shooting in her own studio.
Matthews-Franke has more than a few Canon's, a Canon 7D, a Canon 5D MKII and a few more with a variety of lenses and accessories. Her favorite lens is a 28-135mm ,70-200mm. & 100mm.
Matthews-Franke was our secretary of the club for a few years and helped made many changes to help us grow.
Matthews-Franke finds the club to be very beneficial to her. The interaction with other members, being able to ask questions, the workshops and the knowledge that I take away from the club is phenomenal.
She believes the meetings, workshops and field trips are very beneficial, specially to the new members. Her favorites were the Fall Color Trips; Mono Lake Trips and the workshops were she had her camera and could play along.
She love landscapes. She just finished a vacation trip to Oregon where she photographed lighthouses, old barns and covered bridges. The older the structure the better
.She also loves portraits, and shooting in her own studio.
Matthews-Franke has more than a few Canon's, a Canon 7D, a Canon 5D MKII and a few more with a variety of lenses and accessories. Her favorite lens is a 28-135mm ,70-200mm. & 100mm.
Matthews-Franke was our secretary of the club for a few years and helped made many changes to help us grow.
