Let’s get straight to the issue. Here is a guide for you to learn how to take more stunning portraits by using the butterfly lighting technique.
To capture greater portraits, studio-portrait photographers employ a variety of lighting setups. Butterfly lighting is one of them.
While butterfly lighting is set mostly to showcase the beauty in portraits, this portrait lighting technique is one of the first ones that new photographers learn because it looks good on a variety of subjects. Additionally, it is inexpensive and simple to learn!
So, if you want to learn the butterfly lighting technique and take more amazing portraits, you are reading the right post.
What is Butterfly Lighting?
Butterfly lighting is a portrait lighting technique that places the key light above and downward toward the subject’s face. This casts a striking shadow that resembles a butterfly under the nose and chin.
Using butterfly lighting is ideal for portraiture and headshots. It is one of the best lighting methods for sculpting facial features.
Another name for it is “Paramount lighting,” after the Hollywood company of the same name that used it to highlight its most stunning and elegant ladies.
What is Butterfly Lighting Used for?
Butterfly lighting is a technique that is employed for taking portraits. It is one of the most popular lighting arrangements because it has a light pattern that virtually everyone finds attractive.
It allows you to emphasize cheekbones and cast shadows beneath them, as well as under the neck, making the figure appear slimmer.
Butterfly lighting is used for showcasing beauty, boudoir, and glamor. So, it is ideal for photographing women, men, kids, models, actors, and actresses.
How to Take Butterfly Lighting Portraits?
Lighting setups for the butterfly technique are easy. The key light is a single source that is placed in perfect alignment with the subject’s face and the camera. A reflector can be positioned beneath the subject to bounce light back up into the face if the shadows are a little too deep.
Here is how you should set up the butterfly lighting:
Butterfly lighting places the primary light at an angle just above the subject, similar to flat lighting, which shines the light directly on the subject’s face. The resulting light softens the face and casts shadows beneath the chin and nose.
As a fill light for the chin area, you may use a reflector underneath. Reflectors are excellent tools for balancing light.
What Do You Need to Capture Butterfly Lighting?
Here are the things you need to take portraits with the butterfly lighting technique:
1. Key Light
Key light is necessary for butterfly lighting and can either be a flash unit or continuous. For continuous light, you can use the sun (natural light), LEDs, strobes, and speedlights.
Your key light must be pointed at the target (subject’s face). This should ideally be a few feet in front of the subject and about a foot or so over their head.
2. Camera and Lens
Generally speaking, you can use any camera to take portraits with the butterfly lighting technique.
However, one with interchangeable lenses is the ideal option. Depending on your budget, you can use a DSLR or a mirrorless camera to take studio portraits.
The sensor size is a more significant issue. A full-frame camera will produce photographs with sharper details if your budget allows it. But you can still use a crop sensor camera to take some amazing butterfly pictures.
Regarding the lens, working with focal lengths that mimic the human eye or longer is recommended to prevent face distortion; any lens above 50 mm can be adequate.
3. Flashes and Triggers
Flashes and triggers are other things you need. Triggers are two gadgets that you can use to wirelessly activate the flash. One piece fits on the hot shoe of your camera. Your flash unit’s base should hold the other one.
This enables you to place the flash anywhere you need to create the desired lighting effect.
You need someone to hold the flash in the proper position for butterfly lighting. Alternately, you need to mount your flash. But make sure the stand is reliable and stable.
4. Modifiers
You can add a modifier if you are using flashes. Modifiers will aid in light diffusion. Softboxes and even umbrellas are typical examples if you do not want to spend on professional modifiers.
Also, if you are just starting out, keep in mind that you can rent equipment. By doing this, you can experiment with various modifiers and their results to see which ones you prefer before buying your own.
5. Reflector
Using a reflector is an excellent method to increase light and reduce dark shadows in your butterfly lighting setup. In other words, you can better balance your light by using reflectors.
Even after you’ve set your key light and modifier, your subject’s chin may still have shadows. To reduce the harshness of that shadow, place the reflector beneath them and slant it toward their face.
If you have tight budget issues, you can use a large piece of cardboard wrapped in aluminum foil as a reflector to balance the light.
Of course, you need someone to hold the reflector if you do not have all the studio equipment. The subjects themselves can hold the reflector underneath them in this case if their arms and hands are not visible in the photograph.
Useful Tips for Taking Butterfly Lighting Portraits
- You know you can always go one step further and be as creative as you can. For instance, you can use fairy elements such as fairy lights to create more stunning portraits. Or, you can add a colorful overlay or even a snowfall effect when editing your photos.
- Go creative with the subject’s face. Try different angles. Moreover, by adjusting the intensity of the light, you can create fabulous contrasts depending on how much your subject’s face (e.g. jawline, cheekbone, etc.) allows you.
- Remember that while butterfly lighting is known to be used for professional beauty and fashion portraits, you are free to add fun and creativity to your shots.
Conclusion
Butterfly lighting is a glamorous portrait photography technique. To take butterfly lighting portraits, you can stay within your budget and your photography equipment does not need to be complicated and very professional.
It can, therefore, be a good start for beginners if they choose to take portraits using this technique. Moreover, the result is always stunning and you will be amazed looking at your work. Apart from the simplicity, you should also know that portrait photography has good potential when it comes to making money from photography.
The tips above can help you get better results when taking butterfly lighting portraits. Keep an eye on them, stay focused, and grab your camera to take your first portrait shot. Who knows – maybe that’s what you need to start selling on Instagram? Wish you the best of luck!
About Guest Author: Parichehr Parsi
Parichehr is an enthusiastic content creator. She currently writes for Nifty, which is a task management service provider. Being a travel addict and workaholic shows that she is quite well-balanced in living her one-time chance of life. She also loves music, reading, writing, and knitting.
