Butterfly lighting is a lighting pattern used in portrait photography where the key light is placed above and pointing down on the subject’s face. This creates a dramatic shadow under the nose and chin that looks like a butterfly
as the light is above a person, the shadows are more dramatic under the nose, cheekbones, and under the jawline.
The butterfly lighting will effect a portrait drastically , the intensity of the light above will increase the shadows. The quality and intensity of the light can drastically change the effect of the butterfly lighting.
My own results employing butterfly lighting technique:
