Minimal Lighting

There are many ways to light a portrait photograph from using natural light to complex studio light configurations. Today I wasn't able to use natural light indoors because it's been grey and miserable outside - not enough light available for a good picture. For the example below I wanted to keep the lighting as simple as possible, given that I'd need to use some artificial light. The lighting setup couldn't have been easier, with a single studio light combined with an umbrella to soften the light. I positioned the light directly in front and above the models - you can see the catch-light it created reflected in the eyes. Everyone's facial features are different and when a light is positioned above and in front, it creates shadows under the eyes, nose, neck etc. Sometimes those shadows add depth to the picture but I like to soften those shadows to create a more flattering result. The solution is relatively simple, I positioned a white reflector beneath the models to reflect some of the light back into the faces. So with one light, umbrella and reflector it's possible to create the look you see below. I added the vignette in post-production because the umbrella scatters light quite widely. Using a beauty dish would have created the vignette naturally. My favorite shot of the day I've added to the images on the homepage.