Definition – Butterfly lighting is a lighting technique that uses a key light is placed above and directly centered with a subject’s face.

Examples of this lighting being used:

This lighting is used for taking soft, flattering and glamorous portrait photos. The lighting forms a butterfly-like shape under the subject’s nose which gave it it’s name.

It is also very good to use for portraits because it highlights the subject’s main features such as their cheekbones and nose. This lighting has versatility for almost all types of faces which makes it easy to use on any subject.

It originates back to the Golden Age of Hollywood. It was widely used by Hollywood glamour photographers in the 1930s and 1940s to capture the beauty of Hollywood stars.

Setup

Light – The way to set up this type of lighting is by using a single light source which goes directly in line with the subject’s face and the camera. Sometimes the shadows can be a bit too deep/dark so you can use a reflector which can be placed below the subject’s face.

Lens – Because this lighting is mainly used for portraiture, you should use a 85mm lens. This focal length will help to compress the features of your subject and make them look more flattering. 

Own response to this type of lighting