Lighting setups for shooting

If you're looking to take your photography further you'll probably want to learn how to use off-camera flash. In this tutorial app we show you 6 simple studio light setups that will help you capture some of the classic portrait lighting effects.
What's more, these lighting techniques will provide you with a solid foundation from which you can start experimenting to find your own style.
In our lighting setups cheat sheet below you'll learn how to use high contrast light at a 90-degree angle; diffused light and a reflector; high contrast light at 45 degrees; high contrast light at 45 degrees with a reflector; low contrast light at 45 degrees with a reflector; and finally rim lighting from behind.
In classical portraiture there are several things you need to control and think about to make a flattering portrait of your subjects, including: lighting ratio, lighting pattern, facial view, and angle of view. I suggest you get to know these basics inside out, and as with most things, then you can break the rules. But if you can nail this one thing you’ll be well on your way to great people photos. In this aplication we’re going to look at lighting pattern: what is it, why it’s important, and how to use it.
Lighting pattern I’d define as, how light and shadow play across the face to create different shapes. What shape is the shadow on the face, in simple terms. There are four common portrait lighting patterns, they are:
Split lighting: It is often used to create dramatic images for things such as a portrait of a musician or an artist.
Loop lighting: Loop lighting is made by creating a small shadow of the subjects noses on their cheeks.
Rembrandt lighting: Rembrandt lighting is identified by the triangle of light on the cheek. Unlike loop lighting where the shadow of the nose and cheek do not touch, in Rembrandt lighting they do meet which, creates that trapped little triangle of light in the middle.
Butterfly lighting: Butterfly lighting is aptly named for the butterfly shaped shadow that is created under the nose by placing the main light source above and directly behind the camera.