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Simple Lighting Technique Pt.3 | Raleigh Portrait Photography

1 Comment Portraits

The third and final installment of this series.

(You can read part one HERE and part two HERE.)

You may recall in part two I utilized a lighting technique called split lighting.  This type of lighting splits the face  into equal halves with one side being in the light, and the other in shadow.

For part three, I decided to face my subject towards the light 100%.  I wanted to achieve soft, bright & even light.

We are using the larger piece of foam board for the background.  We are using the smaller piece for …. a man made breeze!

This is the result:

ISO1000     f/3.2   1/250th

First of all, I LOVE this image!

  Second of all, I love sharing it because you would never know she was in pajama pants on my front porch with her big sister waiving a foam board in her face – which of course resulted in this fabulous grin!

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Time for big sis to step into the wind zone …

ISO 500     f/3.2    1/400th

I love the soft, flowy feel to this image.  I wish I had unpinned her bangs – probably would have resulted in more hair movement.

And lastly, we stopped the wind and used that same piece of foam board as a reflector placed to her right waist area (you can see it in her eyes if you look closely)

ISO 500     f/3.2    1/400th

Mmmmm love those freckles.  Mmmmm I dig the light in this image so much.

If this was a paying client I would probably remove some of the redness from her eyes.   If I print it I will!

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I hope you enjoyed this series & are inspired by this information. I’d love to read any comments that you may have!

If you are on Pinterest, I have a board dedicated to lighting.  Click HERE to visit.

If you have any other ideas for tutorials please leave ’em in the comments too.

Thanks!

~Kathy

Amy & Brad | Jones Chapel Meredith College Wedding

3 Comments Love

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From the moment I met these two at their engagement session, I knew right away that this love is true & lasting.  I feel so blessed to have met these wonderful families, so open hearted,  kind & just great folk to be around!

Happy marriages begin when we marry the ones we love, and they blossom when we love the ones we marry ~ Tom Mullen
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Much love & happiness to you both!

~Kathy

Simple Lighting Technique Pt.2 | Raleigh Portrait Photography

1 Comment Beauty, Portraits

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This post is part two (see part one HERE) of my fun & easy simple lighting set up.  I am so excited to share because it really is so darn easy and produces great results.

Cloudy day.  Part one showed how we were on my covered  (important to acheive this look) front porch with ten dollars worth of foam core board we are using for background and reflectors.

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This image we are in same location with same set-up, MINUS the reflector to the right side of her face. I wanted more light/dark contrast for this portrait.

This type of lighting is called split lighting. It splits the face  into equal halves with one side being in the light, and the other in shadow.

I had her look her eyes to the sky to get those gorgeous catch lights …

My youngest assistant was holding a small piece of foam core at the subjects waist

(you can see how the foam core lightened the bottom of her iris a bit).

I really like it in B&W too

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Simple & effective.

Part three will show how I moved the set up slightly & gained some wind in the hair without the convenience of electricity!

~Kathy

Hi there!

1 Comment Beach, I Heart Faces

 

If you are visiting my site for the first time, welcome to Kathy Howard Photography!  Glad to have you.

Feel free to take a moment to look around & view my work.

Comments or questions ?   I’d love to hear them!

Have a spectacular day.

~Kathy

Simple Lighting Technique Part 1 | Raleigh Portrait Photography

4 Comments Beauty, For Photographers, Uncategorized

 I realize more and more everyday how much a simple portrait makes me happy, deep down happy.

The portrait that captivates the viewer.  Eyes open to the soul.

 A few weekends ago my husband and son left to camp for the weekend.

Three girls in the house with new lipstick & excitement to have what we called our magazine glamour portrait party.   Lots of laughter, music & chocolate chip cookies!

Front  porch & a cloudy day.

Cloudy days ( in my opinion) produce flat lighting.  I like to try to liven things up by tunneling the light, meaning be in an open yet covered area. The light is coming more directly into the subject, instead of  overhead.

Three pieces of white foam core board, one large & two poster size.  Total cost approx. $10.00.

A. The background

B. Reflector held by subject underneath face

C. Reflector held by me to the LEFT of the face, to brighten her right face side and block any blue color casts from the door.

D. Comfy pajama pants 🙂

The resulting image :

f 3.2   1/320th  ISO800

(slightly different hair-do & collar from behind the scenes photo, but same simple lighting set up)

Notice the catch lights in the bottom of her eye, created by the white foam core she is holding at her waist.

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Coming up in part two we will remove one reflector, yet get even brighter catch lights!

And a favorite out take from the weekend, as I was attempting a glorious sisterhood portrait …

I think Cyndi Lauper had it right many years ago … “Girls just wanna have fun”

If you have any questions, leave ’em in the comments & I’ll be sure to answer!

~Kathy