Behind the Scenes: Lighting Setups for Studio Portraits

WITH ANNIE MARIE

Portrait lighting does not have to be difficult or frustrating. In this guide, I am going to walk you through three simple yet effective lighting setups that you can use for your studio portraits. The three setups we’ll cover are Rembrandt Lighting, which adds a dramatic and moody effect, Signature Lighting, known for its soft, sculpted look, and Beauty Lighting, perfect for creating a flawless, glowing portrait. And they will all be on the same photography backdrop, Golden Age.

Golden Age
Beige Classic and Masters Backdrop for Photography
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Using these lighting setups as your base, you can tweak them further for even more variety in your lighting. It’s important to find what works for you and your style, master those set ups, then add more once you are comfortable. AlI of these set ups can be used with strobe and constant lights. You can even use the elements of these setups with natural window light. I will go more in-depth with each setup here.

What lights and modifiers do you need for studio portrait photography?

You can do these set ups with one light successfully. You may want to add in a hair/rim light if the subjects hair will blend into the background. You can also add in a third light to additionally light the backdrop. I use a white v-flat to add fill but you could use another light for that as well. I like to keep my lighting simple, as long as it is effective and gives the look I need. It can be as simple or complex as you want. As for modifiers, the larger the modifier, the softer the light will be, so choose according to the subject and look you want. The closer you put the light to the subject, the softer the light will be as well. You can add grids to the modifiers to further control the light spill. So play around with different modifiers and placement to get the look you love for your portrait.

Rembrandt Lighting: A Classic Setup for Studio Portraits

This is my go-to setup for most of my fine art work. This set up gives such beautiful dimension to your studio portraits. It is a great seup for a more moody feel. Also great for men’s portraits as it sculpts the face more. You can soften it as well if you don’t want to go for the full on moody Rembrandt-style portrait and avoid creating the signature, dramatic triangular patch of light, as I will explain more below.

The main light is placed close to the subject and to one side feathering in front of them. This gives a great soft yet sculpted light that wraps. The shadow side of the face is filled in a little bit with a white v-flat. I move this back and forth until I get the look I want. I may have it farther away or none at all for a more moody portrait and bring it in for a look that is for a softer Rembrandt effect as seen below.

The Signature Lighting Setup for Soft, Sculpted Portraits

This set up is the most “common” and versatile. This is probably the lighting that is most used in studio portrait photography sessions of individuals or groups. It creates a soft, even light yet has some sculpting to give some dimension.

I place the main light about 45 degrees to one side of the subject. It is raised a bit and turned down towards them. The goal is to have the catchlights at 10 or 2. This position also allows the shadows to fall downward a bit on the shadow side making it look most natural. You can use the V-flat to add fill as desired.

The Beauty Lighting Setup for Perfect Studio Portraits

I’m obsessed with this light for women and headshots. It gives the most beautiful light and glow to the subject as it wraps them in light. The placement of the light and addition of the fill from below give an even, shadowless look.

I place the main light directly in front and above the subject. It is tilted down a bit. Then, directly in front and below the subject, I add in an eyelighter reflector to bounce light back up to them, filling in any shadows. (You can use a white foam board or other reflector here as well.) This style of light gives beautiful catchlights in the eyes.

Achieve Beautiful & Simple Studio Portraits with These Easy Lighting Setups

Mastering these threes simple lighting setups will give you a solid foundation for studio portrait photography. And don’t forget to experiment with different photography backdrops—they can make all the difference in setting the mood and vibe of your portraits. Whether you're using one light or adding a few modifiers, finding the right lighting and backdrop combination will help you create stunning, professional-looking portraits every time.

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Technical Details - Camera: Canon R6 // Lens: Canon 24-70R // Light: Small Rig Constant Light (camera left) // Main Modifier: 51” Parabolic Umbrella w/diffuser // Main & Hair/Rim light: 36” Parabolic Umbrella w/diffuser // White V-Flat for fill (camera right) // Small Eyelighter