What are broad and short lighting in portrait photography, and when should you use each?
Asked 1/6/2011
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In studio portraiture, what do photographers mean by broad lighting and short lighting? How is each setup defined relative to the camera, and when is each typically used for different face shapes?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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Broad Lighting: Is when a subject is posed such that the main light is directed at the side of the face that is closest to the camera. Broad lighting can add weight to a thin face, but it does this by 'adding' roundness/thickness to the face, so it is not a good style of lighting to use with bigger subjects (or even 'normal' subjects with rounder faces.
Broad Lighting Example:
Short Lighting: Is when the subject is posed such that the main light is directed at the side of the face that is furthest away from the camera. Short lighting can help 'thin' a subject who is heavy, or who has a rounder face.
Short Lighting Example:
Originally by user2838. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user2838
15y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Broad lighting means the main light falls on the side of the face that is closest to the camera. Because the illuminated side appears wider, it can make a thin face look fuller or rounder.
Short lighting means the main light falls on the side of the face that is farther from the camera. The side nearest the camera falls more into shadow, which tends to slim the face and add shape.
As a rule of thumb:
- Use broad lighting when you want a narrower face to appear a bit fuller.
- Use short lighting when you want a rounder or heavier face to look slimmer.
So the difference is mainly about which side of the face is lit relative to the camera, and the choice depends on whether you want to add apparent width or reduce it.
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