Adorama Camera
Adorama Learning Center
Techniques and How-Tos
Adorama TV
The Secret to Flattering Portrait Photography With Hard Light

The Secret to Flattering Portrait Photography With Hard Light

Back to Adorama TV page
Average: 4.5 stars
 

4 comments Add comment
Read comments Rate this article

Exploring Photography—AdoramaTV

Adorama Photography TV presents Exploring Photography with Mark Wallace. In this episode, Mark debunks the myth that hard light can't be used for beautiful portraits.


The key to hard light portrait photography is positioning the light properly and watching the shadows. Using strobes with no modifier or just a basic reflector can deliver some amazing results. Watch this exclusive AdoramaTV video as Mark shows how it's done.

 

The Secret to Flattering Portrait Photography With Hard Light

Related Products Available at Adorama


Learn more at the Adorama Learning Center

 

Shop at Adorama

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Forward this article to a friend
To use this functionality you should have JS enabled
Bookmark this page

Reader Rating and Comments

4 readers rated this article. Average rating: 4.5 stars
 
  • View
  • 4 comments
0 of 0 people found this comment helpful
 
Flash

Hey Mark , Great episode. But .. what was the flash set up you were using? TTL I assume. Would you have the same effects using built in flash ?

by in St Petersburg Fl on

0 of 0 people found this comment helpful
 
Diagrams contain error

The diagrams showing the model direction (up to at least 5:20) show the model facing away from key light (i.e. nose facing reverse of actual shot). Otherwise, great examples of this technique.

by in San Jose, California on

0 of 0 people found this comment helpful
 
Underwhelming lesson

Using the same amount of time you could have shown how a single key light can produce the 5 standard portrait lighting patterns. Instead, your examples look a lot like on-camera flash. You missed an opportunity to explain how facial planes are defined by key light location. When you were getting close to showing the 'facial cut' with profile loop lighting, you turned the model's head and created another mediocre shot. Why? Even your reflector shots weren't an improvement. You get a C-.

by in California on

0 of 0 people found this comment helpful
 
Light Position

It the light aimed directly at the model or is it feathered to one side?

by in Oregon on

Items per page
Showing 4 of 4 results
Bookmark this page