Here is another low key lighting setup that builds on the setup in the previous post. This time we used the overhead speedlight with a snoot and a grid and we added a speedlight on the side with a cheap small soft box. This was done because we threw in an umbrella and if we just used the overhead light, it would likely block out most of the light. By adding the light on the side, we are able to still light our subject while still getting that overhead light.
To be perfectly honest, most light that appears to have a single light overhead usually has a second equal or weaker light down lower off to the side or up front to help soften or outright remove those downward shadows the eye sockets, forehead, and nose produce from an overhead light. Emphasis on the “most,” sometimes those shadows are what you are going for and in those cases you obviously wouldn’t use that lower light.
This time our model was dress up a bit more and despite her begging me for this photo session she wasn’t interested in smiling. So, I went for a serious look and rolled with that. She and I both liked the end result.
