Butterfly Lighting: An Easy Way to Create Dramatic Portraits
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Loading... - Paulina Sanchez
- 11 Apr 2023
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Butterfly lighting is a fantastic portraiture technique, especially if you’re looking to produce photos that are both dramatic and refined. It’s not hard to use, either; all you need is a camera, a single off-camera flash, and a light stand (or a cooperative assistant!).
That said, the effect does require some practical knowledge, and it can take a bit of work to achieve the best results. In this article, I explain everything you need to know to get started, including what butterfly lighting is, when you should use it, and how to create it. I also offer plenty of examples for added inspiration.
What Is Butterfly Lighting?
Butterfly lighting is a common portrait lighting technique, known for the butterfly-shaped shadow it creates under the portrait subject’s nose. The effect is also referred to as “Paramount lighting” and “Hollywood lighting” because it was frequently used in older movies. But it’s also used in fashion magazine portraits, and it’s an excellent glamour lighting pattern to have in your photographic tool belt. In general, the effect is created using artificial lighting, though you can use natural light to get a similar result. Read More…
