Studio lighting: 4 seriously simple lighting techniques to try at home

jmeyer | Photography Tips | Portraits | 29/08/2012 12:24pm

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Creating the perfect home photo studio

This basic home photo studio kit includes everything you need to get started. Here are some of the key tools you’ll be using to create the classic studio lighting techniques in this tutorial…

01 Light stands
Studio flash is all about positioning the light source away from the camera, so stands are crucial. They support the flash heads, which means they can be positioned at the right distance and angle to the subject.

02 Flash heads
Most kits have two flash heads. Along with a flash tube, there’s a modelling light. Most have a switchable ‘slave’, enabling one flash to be triggered by another, so you only need to have your camera connected to one of the heads.

03 Umbrella
A brolly is the most standard form of lighting accessory. The flash is directed into the brolly so the light is reflected back onto the subject. They are available in different reflective surfaces – typically white, silver or gold.

04 Softbox
Softboxes are slightly more sophisticated than brollies and once you’ve worked out how to assemble these tent-like devices, they create a softer and generally more flattering light, with a more even illumination.

05 Snoot/honeycomb
Both of these tools help to concentrate or ‘focus’ the light. They’re ideally suited for use as backlights or for isolating a particular part of an image.

06 Reflector
A simple reflector can be really useful in a studio lighting setup, especially if you’re only using one light. You use it the same way you would with natural light – to bounce light back onto your subject and fill in any hard shadow areas.

PAGE 1: Introduction to studio lighting
PAGE 2: Creating the perfect home photo studio
PAGE 3: Rembrandt studio lighting setup
PAGE 4: Clamshell studio lighting setup
PAGE 5: Backlight studio lighting setup
PAGE 6: Rim light studio lighting setup
PAGE 7: Final tips on studio lighting