Devin Blaskovich is an NYC based Fashion Photographer who also happens to work at H’s Brooklyn office.

He shares us some useful tips to learn three-point lighting when working in a studio.

Three-point lighting is one of the most common lighting setups used for both photo and video. It’s one of the essential ways that you should be able to light your subject or know if you want to work in a photo set.

Three Main Elements of Three-Point Lighting

1.) Keylight

The main source of light that shapes the face and dominates the angle of shadows. Additionally, it illuminates your subject, and it is placed in a 45-degree angle from the camera.

2.) Fill Light

By adjusting the fill light to different intensities, you can make the shadows more even or more dramatic, depending on the mood of your image.

3.) Backlight, Hairlight, or Shoulder Light

That’s the accent that comes behind the frame that gives the subject 3D. Rendering. It can be placed behind the subject or off the frame at a 45-degree angle.

Additional Tips

Three-point lighting isn’t a strict set of rules you need to follow every time. There are many different ways to arrange your three-points of light to create different effects. Whether it be moving the lights from different angles or using modifiers like a softbox, umbrella, or shapes of lighting you can always create what you feel comfortable using.

What are some of your favorite studio lighting techniques that you use when you are shooting? Are you a beginner trying to find the best lighting equipment? Check out our recent article HERE.