The 9 types of portrait lighting photographers need to know-whether they're on location or in studio

In this video you will learn one of the keys to mastering lighting!
The term "lighting pattern" is just a fancy way of describing how shadows fall on your subject. It's fundamental knowledge that all of us need to have when choosing how to light our subjects. And if you're a natural light shooter, don't think for a second that this is some fancy stuff only those flash people need to know.
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To better illustrate this concept, let's imagine a clock, with the camera positioned at 6, facing 12, and the model standing right in the middle. The hours around the face will represent different positions for our light sources. These sources could be a flash or they could be the sun.
Split Lighting (9 or 3 o'clock): Split lighting involves setting a single light at either 9 or 3 o'clock, resulting in one side of the subject's head being illuminated. While this technique can create interesting contrast, it may not always be the most flattering choice. In fact, I must admit that I personally find this lighting pattern to be less than ideal. To showcase my reservations about it, I had to delve deep into my archive to find an example. Surprisingly, the first image I came upon happened to be a test frame.
Backlight or Rim Lighting (12 o'clock): When the light is behind your subject at 12 o'clock, it can result in beautiful rim lighting. I love to pose my subjects in profile with a black foam board between them and a large octabox. If the light source is a lot larger than the card, you will probably get a catch light on their eye. But if you don't get one automatically, there is a little trick that you can use. First, have the subject stand in profile facing your left, then have them turn their head slightly towards the light. Then if you shift to your left, you can probably capture a perfect silhouette with light on their eyelids. Of course, you can have them face right and turn slightly left as you wiggle over to your right.
Butterfly Lighting (6 o'clock): Butterfly lighting results when you place a light source slightly above and in front of your model at 6 o'clock. The resulting shadow under their nose and their nostrils are supposed to resemble a butterfly, but let's be real-not everyone sees it. If you place the light too high, you could end up with dark shadows covering their eyes, or there won’t be any catch lights, which are a reflection of the light in their eyes. If this happens, just turn on the modeling light and lower the modifier until you see a reflection in their pupils.
Clamshell Lighting: Clamshell lighting is achieved by combining butterfly lighting with a reflector or a light placed underneath as fill light. From a side view, it resembles the shape of an open clamshell. This technique creates flattering light for a lot of people because the fill source fills in wrinkles.
Loop Lighting (5 or 7 o'clock): Loop lighting involves positioning the main light just above eye level at approximately 5 or 7 o'clock. This creates subtle shadows on one side of the subject's nose and is generally pleasing for most people. If their nose bends to one side, you might get better results with the light on the side their nose bends towards.
Rembrandt Lighting (4 or 8 o'clock): Rembrandt lighting is named after the Dutch painter Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn and is achieved by placing the light closer to 4 or 8 o'clock. The light source should be far enough away to allow the shadow from the subject's nose to extend towards the shadow from their cheekbone. This technique also results in an upside-down triangle-shaped light patch under the eye opposite the main light. While not suitable for all faces, Rembrandt lighting offers a captivating and artistic look that I personally love, and I use it frequently alongside loop lighting.
Short Lighting: Short lighting involves positioning the light source similarly to Rembrandt lighting, but you also turn the subject towards the light. This technique can have a slimming effect on the subject because most of their face will be in shadow.
Broad Lighting: Broad lighting is similar to short lighting, but the subject is slightly turned away from the light source. In this position, both eyes should receive light, and the face will likely appear broader by virtue of the fact that more of it will be illuminated.
Cross Lighting: To achieve cross lighting, place the main light source at 4-5 o'clock and an edge light at 10-11 o'clock. This technique creates a dramatic image with a three-dimensional look.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
01:36 - Split Lighting
02:21 - Back Light or Rim Lighting
03:14 - Butterfly Lighting
03:54 - Clamshell lighting
04:19 - Loop Lighting
04:52 - Rembrandt Lighting
05:46 - Short Lighting
06:03 - Broad Lighting
06:47 - Cross Lighting
07:06 - The Takeaway

[@sheldonnorton9035]

Rim light with the Black background. 🤯. Epiphany!

[@luisarevalo6112]

Kudos! The best, easiest and most efficient peresntation I've seen on TH-cam from any professional photographer!👋👋👋

[@JohnGress]

WOW! Thank you!!!

[@bobsykes]

This is one of the best lessons for me. I love the simplicity of one light, or one light plus a reflector or fill light. I can practice and experiment with many of these methods outdoors with just the sun and natural fill lighting from the sky or surroundings. I think the best part is when photographing a person in natural light, thinking about how much the look changes just by asking them to turn their head one way or the other. So helpful to the inexperienced photographer.

[@JohnGress]

Thanks Bob! I hope this video helps a lot of photographers!

[@AbbasBinYounas]

An interesting thought Bob, especially for those of starting out and getting worried about not having the latest and bestest😅 lighting gear ❤👍

[@jeram84]

I’ll like this 10x or more! Thanks for this callback I really learned

[@JohnGress]

Thank you so much! That is great to hear!

[@vperalta]

This video goes into my archive of most important to review from time to time,

[@JohnGress]

That's great to hear!

[@virgian2]

The correct pronunciation in English: Rembrand Haremzone (son of Harem) wan Rain. Great video! 👌🏾

[@jpdj2715]

There is no "correct" English pronunciation of a Dutch name. Go to Google Translate and set it to Dutch-English. Put "Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn" in the Dutch side and click the loudspeaker icon. That's it.
If an English person reads your version then it goes all wrong and a Harmen becomes a harem. So sad. Also note that "zone" in English has a slight trailing "e" (eh, uh) sound after the n that Dutch does not. Between Rain and Rijn is a big difference. Contemporary Dutch pronunciation of Rijn sounds (almost) identical to Italian "rein" in "reina".

[@juergenbaumann8817]

Thank you John, great summary. Nice to see that you essentially can do a whole loop with one light, one background, a black flag and a white reflector - even in small space too.

[@JohnGress]

Thanks! You can get great results in any space.

[@ZPOLLAK]

Man I love clamshell lighting!

[@BamBamLostMyFish]

Thank you so much. I have dyslexia and seeing it layout out on the clock really really helped me understand it better ❤ is there any way to download the images of the clock and light lay out. you used for a reference?

[@barkyvonschnauzer2188]

So loved this! ❤

[@JohnGress]

Thanks!

[@luissalazar2021]

Great stuff! Thanks for sharing

[@JohnGress]

Thanks for watching!

[@Chickboom34]

great stuff! Simply explained. Thanks for sharing!

[@JohnGress]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful!

[@joesrustyshutter3189]

Super lighting tips. As always, a great video.

[@JohnGress]

Thanks!

[@derrickdd]

This was so well done. Thank you.

[@JohnGress]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@steviedphotos]

Great video John, you really gave out the sauce and I think that's amazing!!!

[@JohnGress]

Thanks Stevie D! I really appreciate it!

[@dimaphotographer90]

Straight to the point! I love it! :)

[@JohnGress]

I hope it helps!

[@gerarddesilva5193]

Brilliant! Thank you so much.

[@JohnGress]

You're very welcome!

[@UntilheKingcomes]

This was the best video ever about lighting. Thank you John

[@JohnGress]

Wow, thanks!

[@LucaSportelliCreationsLL-or4yl]

Incredibly helpful and very professionally done!
Thank you

[@JohnGress]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jchasevisuals2024]

This is an amazing training and refresher tool.

[@JohnGress]

Thanks! I hope it helps. 🙏🏼

[@MayaConigliaro]

Love this tutorial... super helpful and so easy to follow.

[@JohnGress]

That’s great to hear! I’m glad it was helpful!

[@josephchan4198]

Your very good instructor. Easy to understand and to the point. I will have to check your channel for other videos.

[@JohnGress]

Awesome, thank you!

[@ringoffireguy]

Wonderful tutorial. You put everything in very clear, easy to understand and easy to visualize terms. Thank you.

[@JohnGress]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful!

[@marcodemedici1032]

Brilliant! One of the best videos I have today on these lighting patterns. Thank you for going slow, explaining it with detail and being so thorough excellent videos.

[@JohnGress]

Awesome, thank you!

[@p0ggles]

This video was excellent! Thank for your effort and time!

[@JohnGress]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful!

[@georgephotostudio]

Thanks you for sharing.

[@JohnGress]

My pleasure!

[@kenjavier8603]

Thank you!

[@JohnGress]

You're welcome!

[@andrzejo7813]

I am so grateful for your explanation. It made the topic easy. Kind regards, Andy

[@JohnGress]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful!

[@muniruoluwagbemisola3462]

Wow! I love how you use the clock to simplify it

[@JohnGress]

Thanks! I hope it was helpful!

[@koteto999]

Oh wow that was a super informative video! It makes it so easy! Love love love! Saving it to try all of these in the next days 🖤 thank you!

[@JohnGress]

Wow! Thanks. Glad it was helpful!

[@TheDornix]

Thank You for extremely helpful video! :)

[@JohnGress]

Wow🙌🏼🙏🏼 You're very welcome!

[@michelcornelius2137]

A clear, straight to the point and complete memo/check-list for each portrait photo shoot. As always very well presented, in a calm and cool way, for not as easy in real life photo challenges. Not every one has your experience, creative expertise and talent to make and explain great portraits. Congratulations from Belgium.

[@JohnGress]

Merci beaucoup! I hope the video will really help people to see more possibilities 😊

[@michelcornelius2137]

@@JohnGress J'en suis absolument certain :-) !!!😄 May I add that your written French is much better than your spoken Dutch :-) !!! Congratulations anyway, you dared try ! But don't stress, we all refer here to Rembrandt and nobody knows his full name, except experts in the field.😄

[@JohnGress]

LOL! You might like watching my Fresnel video. I still think he should be named Jean Augustin and not Augustin Jean 😅

[@varleeb.fofana2995]

Amazing video

[@JohnGress]

Thank you so much!

[@Bert.Stappenbeld]

Well John, you explained this in a nice practical way. I'm glad I watched this video. You explain it nicely, briefly and concisely. Thank you so much for this video. And good luck with your next videos. One small thing. Just stick to Rembrandt. Those other names are a big disaster for most English speakers to pronounce. Almost everyone knows who Rembrandt was. If not: Google is your best friend

[@JohnGress]

Thanks Bert I am sure my Dutch ancestors are embarrassed!

[@terrymcnavage5104]

Terrific 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@JohnGress]

Thanks!!

[@monztermovies]

Great video! 😎

[@JohnGress]

Thank you so much!

[@user-oy5id4er1g]

Thanks alot for this sir🙌🙌🙌🔥🔥🔥

[@JohnGress]

Thank you!

[@user-ps4tm1cq3r]

Hands down one of my favorite videos on TH-cam thanks John

[@JohnGress]

Wow, thanks! I hope it helps!

[@user-ps4tm1cq3r]

Of course credit given to where it’s so far to many time people wait til it’s too late…. I’m excited to be opening my first studio next month been shoot for about 6yrs

[@JohnGress]

Good luck!

[@ahmadtaheri5639]

Perfect! 😎👌👌👌

[@JohnGress]

Thanks!

[@BOXX-nu5ey]

Thank you

[@JohnGress]

Thanks!

[@Losochill]

Idk why good information is so hard to find now! Thank you for making this video. I don’t have $300-$1,000 to spend on a course. Back in the day I could amazing information on TH-cam. That was around 2010-14 now everyone charges. I want to learn but can’t afford that much. I’m already around $3,500 invested in photography

[@jellederaedt9628]

During that time TH-cam wasn't also that commercial trashbin it is nowadays.
And it wasn't that restricted for other information too. Nowadays it's a censored trashbin with way too much commercials.
Anyway kudos for Gress with his channel.

[@Karthik-qz6rw]

I love u sir... you are good artist and have well communication. Great

[@JohnGress]

Thank you so much! I hope it helps!

[@josecarlosmora9318]

Muy interesante, gracias

[@JohnGress]

That’s great to here!

[@davidrodstein9461]

You explained it to me like I was a 10yo. Kudos.

[@JohnGress]

I hope it helps!

[@davidrodstein9461]

The clock is the key here

[@rickjbradbury]

LOl at the Rembrandt name pronunciation part.. I would of done the same.
Great video again John.
Big fan of rim or short lighting myself.. just love the catch light in the eye closest to camera or the little sliver of light on the shadow side cheek.

[@JohnGress]

Ha! Thanks. I am glad you appreciated that part!

[@vinaykumar562]

very helpfull sir .thanks a lott.a fan from INDIA

[@JohnGress]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful!

[@bigMheavysay]

so clearly and straight explain, many thanks for this content, then like and follow . french photographer 😊

[@JohnGress]

Merci beaucoup!

[@RonK]

Top !!

[@JohnGress]

Thanks!

[@donwhite332]

This is about the best concise and easy to follow summery I have seen. I have 7 years of university and a Dr degree but always get confused over some of these, as I do not practice them often enough being primarily a travel and landscape shooter.

[@JohnGress]

Wow! Thank you for the complement. I hope the video helps you on your journey.

[@carolinamaristad9369]

Really enjoyed watching this educational tutorial. I would love to learn what kind of settings do you use for back lighting. I've never tried and would love to learn❤❤❤❤

[@JohnGress]

Thanks! It’s all based on how much depth of field you would like in the images.

[@icedtorres]

Bought a book about lighting. This is WAY better!!! Thank you!

[@JohnGress]

Wow. Thanks!

[@davidscottbowlesphoto]

Great Video John! I love split lighting though... haha

[@JohnGress]

Ha! To each their own. Thank you!

[@Fsquared21]

Subscribed! ❤

[@JohnGress]

Thanks!

[@apexmultimediaproplus]

Great 👍

[@JohnGress]

Thanks!

[@shinaji08]

Thank you. This was really easy to understand and very informative. Do you have any recommendation for a book about lighting in photography for beginners?

[@JohnGress]

Thanks! I would suggest that you buy my one light lighting handbook, and it comes with my intro to lighting guide free! johngress.com/lightinghandbooks/

[@larryb0315]

Great video, John thank you very much for sharing all of your knowledge! Can you please let me know what the f/stops were that you used for these lighting patterns? I have subscribed and I look forward to learning from you. Your teaching style is great, John!

[@JohnGress]

Thanks! I am not sure, but a lot of the time I shoot between f5.6 and f8.

[@larryb0315]

Thank you very much John!

[@MylezNevison]

Great video & demonstration👍🏾 I wish Badger lighting, Cove lighting, and Checkerboard lighting demonstrations were included though.

[@JohnGress]

Thanks! I am going to have to look up with badger lighting....

[@JohnGress]

Wow.. that looks absolutely terrible!

[@jc-crafford]

Sorry i couldn't like this twice.

[@JohnGress]

Ha! Thanks!

[@muniruoluwagbemisola3462]

Honestly, I wish I could like 4times

[@lffotos_nl]

I will do the second one for you

[@liauchungren848]

Wahahahahaha me too

[@serduvelo]

great descriptive video. Im currently looking for some different backgrounds. I would like something beside cloth. What do you recommend, and where should I shop?

[@JohnGress]

Thank you so much! I mostly use backgrounds from Gravity Backdrops and they are having a 2 for 1 sale right now - gravitybackdropsus.sjv.io/DK0Nmj

[@ineedstuff8286]

Amazing info!.. thank you John 🙏2:39 I am new enough to not understand the octo box. First off, so the light can somehow go AROUND the black foam board??.. or does the octo have special characteristics that can do that? thank again 😎
EDIT: unless 3:00 if this picture is accurate. It looks like a strip of light can sneak past the left-edge of the V-fold thing. That one before it though. That guy is being completely blocked by card. Are there reflective materials hitting his front and rear?

[@JohnGress]

No worries. He can see the white material so that’s how the light is able to hit him. From the Photographer perspective, though you can position his head in front of the black fume board so you don’t have to show any of the white surface of the octabox.

[@bringard16290]

Thank you. How would one do these light patterns with folks that wear glasses?

[@JohnGress]

Thanks! If you see a reflection of your light try elevating it and angling it downwards. Imagine your client has a mirror in front of the their face. If you can see the light in the mirror you’re going to get a reflection

[@HueyPProductions]

Is there a PDF of this information anywhere? I love how you showed the clock and where to place the light.

[@JohnGress]

I believe this is covered in my intro to light guide which you get free with any of my lighting handbooks. johngress.com/lightinghandbooks/

[@JohnGress]

Thanks!

[@shantanugulaskar5511]

Some trick idia best teach base of sun we can use for port rate photo thanks sir

[@MH7_256]

Now I’m pissed that TH-cam has taken this long to show me your content 😂 Gonna stay and binge for a bit lol!

[@JohnGress]

Thanks! I am glad you are here and welcome!

[@movementmatters.]

5:32 what a masterpiece

[@JohnGress]

Thank you so much!

[@matthiasevert8484]

👍🏼

[@guglielmo_nature_photography]

Wow fantastic video, just to know … how would you approach a shoot with native Americans peoples with natural light ?

[@manojbhartigupta6555]

👍❤️👍

[@JohnGress]

🙏🏼😊🙏🏼

[@roybraym]

4:51

[@jpdj2715]

There is no "correct" English pronunciation of a Dutch name. Go to Google Translate and set it to Dutch-English. Put "Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn" in the Dutch side and click the loudspeaker icon. That's it.
While all European languages had their writing based on phonetic spelling, words got spelled as they would be pronounced based on local spelling rules. And vice versa, pronunciation did not need to be taught, once you know the phonetic rules. "English" has completely bastardised this and become like Chinese, where each word needs to be taught. Helps the dyslexic but not the majority.

[@jenniferdomenick3706]

thank you for not using mostly naked female models.

[@JohnGress]

I bet there is a video with that exact content which is kind of unnecessary since were talking about shadows on faces!

[@lovelifeimages]

Tons and tons of them.

[@BostonFeliksovich]

[@JohnGress]

Thank you so much!