WHAT IS BUTTERFLY LIGHTING?
Butterfly lighting is a portrait lighting pattern where the key light is placed above and directly centred with a subject’s face to create a shadow under the nose that resembles a butterfly. The lighting is soft on the face. This lighting is often seen in glamour shots and particularly with headshots.
WHY DO PHOTOGRAPHERS USE BUTTERFLY LIGHTING?
Photographers use this method to take flattering, glamorous portrait photos. It is a popular setup because it has the effect of slimming the face due to shadows that are created on both sides of the face. This provides a flattering look that emphasizes a subject’s facial features, highlighting the eyebrows, cheekbones, and nose in a photogenic way. Another reason why photographers use this lighting pattern is that it is easy to set up, doesn’t require a lot of fancy equipment, and it creates a natural but strong look.
EXAMPLES OF BUTTERFLY LIGHTING:
LIGHTING SET UP:
To achieve this lighting, first, we placed the main light source above the subject at a higher angle, pointing down towards the subjects face. We then placed the camera directly under the light source on a tripod. Lastly, we used a reflector to bounce the light back up and soften the shadow under the chin and under the nose. To do this, we positioned the reflector under the subject’s face. The only other thing we used was a black backdrop.
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