Light It, Shoot It, Retouch It: Learn Step by Step How to Go from Empty Studio to Finished Image

Chapter Eleven: 1-Light Dramatic Setup

Dramatic Side Lighting

The Setup

For this dramatic look (perfect for business portraits, the CEO-type shot, and dramatic sports portraits), we just use one single light—a large 39×39′ softbox. The softbox goes directly beside the subject, but your subject looks at a 45° angle (so from the camera position, just to your left). That way, the light catches one side of their face, leaving the other side to mostly fall to shadows. If you look on the contact sheet on the previous page, for the shots where he’s not ...