7 Positions of Light

CATEGORIES: Digital Photography, Tutorials, Video Tutorials | Jean Francois OKane | December 16, 2008

When shooting in the studio, don’t keep your lights in one position. You have to pick them up and move them around your subject to experiment with the effects. Here are seven basic positions for studio light.

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All I see is an ad… where’s the tutorial?

Comment by ts | December 16, 2008 @ 8:45 pm

Nevermind… just came in after watching the ad twice…

Comment by ts | December 16, 2008 @ 8:46 pm

There is also clamshell lighting. This consists of two lights - both at 12:00. One from above, then another from below at 1:1 or 1:2 ratio. This is very flattering for women.

Comment by James Katt | December 17, 2008 @ 9:02 am

[...] Click here to check out Jean Francois Tutorial by clicking on this link [...]

Pingback by Lightroom 2.2 | SVA Online | 7 Positions of Light | Layers Magazine | December 17, 2008 @ 9:29 am

Thanks for the great tutorial! I hope you don’t mind, but I posted a link to this tutorial on my blog. http://morganmessina.blogspot.com/ I want to share this tutorial with my friends.

Thanks!
Morgan

Comment by Morgan Messina | December 19, 2008 @ 5:55 pm

Very nice tutorial, however, my watch dial has the 12 at the top and the 6 at the bottom .

Since I judge the position of my lights from where I stand AT THE CAMERA (more or less), I would simply reverse his times: 12 becomes 6, 9 becomes 3 and so on. His initial off-camera position is therefore 7:30, not 1:30. Check your watch.

Comment by Rick | December 30, 2008 @ 3:21 pm

Hi Rick,

I appreciate your recalculation of time, but looking at the light from the camera point of view could send a light in front of the model and in front of you a noon, and that same light a couple of feet further become a 6 when positioned in the same angle for the model but further behind me….. But the idea here is not arguing it’s getting more creative by inviting you to move your light and explore the possibilities. You may also invent your own method for remembering your light positions.
Jean-Francois
TheStudioCoach.

Comment by Jean-Francois | January 5, 2009 @ 9:45 am

Nice tutorial, lots of good information, but your clock reference is a little off. Also that girl looks a little young for her shirt to be open like that.

Comment by Nate Davis | January 5, 2009 @ 4:14 pm

Dear Nate,
Thanks for your comments.
the clock reference is an approximation, inviting you to experiment with light and easily record your actions.
As per my model she is 26 years old since about a month.

Jean-Francois
a.k.a. The StudioCoach

Comment by Jean-Francois | January 7, 2009 @ 9:17 pm

Very good trick’s thank’s a lot for this, is help me to make great picture too

Comment by pascal | January 16, 2009 @ 12:56 am

Great tutorial, Thank you Jean-Francois

Comment by Piotr | January 21, 2009 @ 2:44 pm

very easy to remember

Comment by Piotr | January 21, 2009 @ 2:45 pm

I love your lighting and it has really helped me. I was getting very harsh shadows behind my model. Is it possible to get good pictures with only one studio light? Thank you! Acadia3

Comment by Shelly Van Camp | January 29, 2009 @ 10:38 am