Three-point lighting is a traditional method for illuminating a subject in a scene with light sources from three distinct positions. The three types of lights are key light, fill light, and backlight. Key light is the primary and brightest light source in the three-point lighting setup.

This technique can be used to eliminate shadows cast by foreground elements onto the background, or to draw more attention to the background. It also helps to off-set the single eye nature of the camera, this means that it helps the camera give depth to the subject.

When taking 3 point lighting images, The key light should be pointed towards the subject’s face. Then position your fill light to the side of the subject at a 45-degree angle. The fill light should be 3-feet away from the subject. Finally, place your backlight behind the subject and 3-feet away.

3 Point Lighting Photoshoot:

Before taking images, we had to setup the studio. We placed one light source in front of the model at an angle, another light source behind the model and then a reflector to the side of the model in which the light from the first light source could bounce off of and then hit the subject’s face from the other side. I then got the model to experiment with different hand gestures, positions and angles.

Once I had taken my images, I imported them into Lightroom. I first gave each picture either a black flag if I didn’t like it then a white flag if I did. Next, I gave all the images which I had just given a white flag to a rating out of 5 (5 being the best and 1 being the worst). Finally, I assigned a colour to each of my images: green=good, yellow=okay and red=bad. This process helped me to narrow down my images so I could display only the best ones. Once I was left with my best images, I adjusted the contrast, exposure, highlights, shadows, black and whites of them until I was left with an photo I was satisfied with.

I like how this photoshoot came out due to the subject’s variety of facial expressions and use of hands which helped to make each image unique to itself. I tried to capture the model in a variety of ways. For example, some of the images are more closer up and focussed on the face whereas some of the images include her whole body. I think I successfully managed to create 3 point lighting as one of the main focusses of this lighting type is the lack of shadows seen in the images which is also seen in my work too.

I then decided to experiment with my photos more and turned them black and white.