How do you use lighting to create mood and dimension in your portraits?

Question

I always start by defining the mood I want—soft and dreamy, dramatic and high-contrast, or cinematic. For a dramatic look, I use a single directional light, like a beauty dish or deep softbox, positioned at an angle to sculpt the face with shadows. For a softer, ethereal effect, I diffuse light with large modifiers and bounce fill light to wrap around the subject. I also pay attention to background separation, using rim lighting or gels to create depth and contrast between the subject and the environment.

Answer 1

I always start by defining the mood I want—soft and dreamy, dramatic and high-contrast, or cinematic. For a dramatic look, I use a single directional light, like a beauty dish or deep softbox, positioned at an angle to sculpt the face with shadows. For a softer, ethereal effect, I diffuse light with large modifiers and bounce fill light to wrap around the subject. I also pay attention to background separation, using rim lighting or gels to create depth and contrast between the subject and the environment.