Headshot Lighting: The Ultimate Guide to Pro Portraits

2/26/2024

In this guide written for both beginners and experienced photographers, you'll learn all you need to know about headshot lighting, including:

What are the best headshot lighting setups for different types of headshots (actors, models and business professionals)
How to light headshots with natural light and artificial light setups
How to build your first professional lighting setup without breaking the bank
And much more...

By the end of this article, you'll know all you need to know about lighting for headshots, plus specific, actionable steps you can take to set your studio up quickly. No fluff in this guide, just real, actionable advice.

Ready to get started?

Related article: Professional Headshots: Do they make a difference?

Headshot Lighting

4 Headshot Lighting Setups for Pro Results

#1: Three-Point Lighting (3 light headshot setup)

The three-point lighting setup is the most well-known and time-tested headshot lighting setup for headshots and portraits. It tends to work best for corporate headshots, such as LinkedIn profile photos and website team page images. The 3 lights should be softened using umbrellas or soft boxes and adjusted accordingly depending on the subject's height and facial features:

Key light: The brightest light, or Key Light, should be positioned in front of the subject, at about a 45 degree angle to one side, and pointing towards their opposite shoulder. The key light should be adjusted so the light still somewhat hits the shadow side of the face. The angle can range from 15 to 70 degrees to the side of the subject, depending on their height and distance from the lights.
Fill light: Also positioned in front of the subject, the Fill Light stands opposite to the key light, also at about a 45 degrees angle. Dim the fill light so it softens the darkness of the shadows being cast from the Key Light. The main purpose of a Fill Light is to lighten up the shadows so we can see more detail. In headshots, too much shadow can make it difficult to get a sense of what the person looks like, so a fill light should almost always be used to some extent.
Back light: The Back Light, often called the Hair Light, should be placed behind your subject, also at around a 45 degrees angle. It should be raised up high, shining down to illuminate the back of the head. Note that for some people who have very light hair (or no hair), a Back Light might not be necessary as it can cause too much shine on the head.

See the 3-point headshot lighting diagram below:

Make sure you avoid the following mistakes when positioning your lights for three-point lighting:

Positioning the key light too far past 45 degrees: Doing this will put one side of the subject's face in shadow, including one of the eyes. Instead, you should angle the light across the face so that both eyes are lit up.
Positioning the lights too high above the subject: In general it's best to keep the light low enough to completely light up the eyes. The higher you raise the lights, the more shadows that are created under the eyes (although this can also help slim the subject's face a bit).
Positioning the lights too far away: The further away the lights are, the less dynamic they'll look. A good rule of thumb is to have the lights as close as you possibly can to the subject without them being in the shot.
Powering the fill light too high: When lights are too bright, they will spill into the other light sources and negate the effect you're trying to create. It can also make the subject squint and feel uncomfortable.

An example of 3-point lighting

#2: Clamshell Lighting (2 light headshot setup)

The clamshell lighting setup is a 2 source headshot lighting setup. It works best for actors and modern business headshots, and can be especially helpful for slimming the face. This headshot lighting creates a flattering and evenly lit effect.

For this setup, you need both light sources coming from directly in front of the subject, one coming from above and the other coming from below, creating a “clamshell” effect:

Key light: positioned directly above the photographer and angled down at about 45 degrees.
Fill light: positioned directly below the photographer and angled upwards. Adjust the angle and intensity of the fill light accordingly to the shape of the face and features for the desired effect.

Many of the images on our actor headshot website were done with clamshell lighting.

Example photo showing clamshell lighting

You can adjust the positioning and intensity of the lights to shape the subject’s face and enhance their features:

Be sure that you see catchlights at the top of the eyes when positioning the key light. A catchlight is simply the term to describe the reflection the key light creates in the subject's eyes.
To add more dimension to the face, decrease the intensity of the fill light. This will increase the shadows on the face and slim the subject more. Be careful not to overdo this or the subject's eyes will start getting too dark.
To hide skin imperfections, raise the intensity of the fill light. Doing this will smooth out the skin and hide blemishes.
To define the jaw, position the key light higher to cast more shadow under the chin, or lower the position of the fill light.

As an alternative, you can also create the clamshell lighting effect with a single light setup:

Replace the fill light with a reflector to create the same effect using only one light source. This alternative setup can be used with artificial light or natural light, if you shoot outdoors for example and have skylight coming down from above.

#3: Two-Point Edge Lighting (2 light headshot setup)

The two-point edge lighting is a more advanced and intense-looking 2 light setup that tends to work well for actor and model headshots. To achieve this effect, you need 2 light sources:

Key light: positioned in front of the subject, about 45 degrees to camera right or left.
Edge light: positioned behind the subject and slightly below the height of the subject’s face, on the opposite side of the key light. This edge light is positioned similarly to the back light or hair light in 3-point lighting, but instead of being raised up high, the light is much lower down, at the same level (or even slightly below) the height of the subject's head.

This setup can be done in-studio or outdoors with battery powered lights.

Related Guide: Actor Headshots: The Ultimate Guide

#4: Window Lighting (natural light only)

So what is the best natural light for headshots? Window lighting.

Window light is a great way to light a professional headshot when working on a budget. It works for any type of professional headshot – business profile photo, actor, model, etc. For this natural light setup, you only need a window as the sole light source:

The subject should be directly facing the window, and the photographer will have their back to the window.

Example of a headshot that used only window light (coming from camera left)

This is the best lighting for headshots at home if you don't have any lighting equipment:

Set your camera on a tripod with its back to the window, and then set a timer on your camera or use a remote control to take your own headshots.

Related guide: How to Pose for Photos: The Ultimate Guide

For the best results, be sure your window is big enough to provide enough light:

For a softer light, shoot during mornings or evenings
Use a reflector (or a white cardboard) to fill the shadows on the subject’s face.

Alternative Headshot Lighting Setups

If you're looking for more dramatic results, try the following setups with just a single light source:

Rembrandt Lighting: the light is positioned at 30° to your subject, above their head and angled down. This type of lighting is achieved by creating a small triangle of light on one cheek, where the nose and cheek shadows meet.
Split lighting: The light is positioned perpendicular to the subject (the light is directly on one side of the face). This type of lighting casts light across one half of the face while leaving the other side completely in shadow. It creates a striking, bold look and is often used for dramatic portraits.

We highly recommend taking care when using creative lighting setups like these, as having too much shadow on the face can make it difficult for someone to know what the subject looks like, that for headshots being able to clearly tell what the person looks like is very important.

Lighting and Equipment Suggestions for Beginners

The most important thing to remember as a beginner is that it's not about what equipment you have, but how you use it.

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Begin with basic artificial lighting gear: Affordable lighting kits under $100 are available on Amazon. These typically include everything you need to get started, such as light bulbs, a softbox, and stands.
Opt for LED lights for continuous illumination: They're the most budget-friendly option for artificial lighting when taking headshots.
Deciding between umbrellas and softboxes: While softboxes can be pricier, they're easier to handle than umbrellas for headshots. If cost is a concern, start with an umbrella. A larger umbrella gives you softer light, perfect for flattering portraits. On the other hand, a smaller umbrella can help achieve a more dramatic effect.
DIY your reflector: A simple white cardboard or sheet can serve as an effective reflector, brightening up your subject’s face without additional costs.
Simplify with a single light setup: Even if you're drawn to more complex two-light setups, you can achieve excellent results with just one light by using a reflector to lighten the shadows.
Standard light stands are sufficient: Though C-stands offer more flexibility and stability, they can be pricey. Regular light stands are a cost-effective alternative that still meets most needs.

If you’re on a budget, start small, and once you get comfortable using basic equipment, then you can add on and/or upgrade. Also consider the following:

Work with natural light: Shoot outdoors or utilize a window or door for natural light and shoot during mornings or evenings for a softer light, creating less shadows on the subject’s face.
The larger the ratio between two lights, the starker the contrast.

For artificial lighting, the three basic types of equipment you can use for headshot are continuous lights, modifiers and strobes (or flashes)

Continuous lights: Incandescent, fluorescent and LED are the main kinds of artificial light sources. LED's tend to be easiest to work with.
Light modifiers: equipment used to modify the light:
- Umbrellas and softboxes soften the light. They spread out the light, filling in the shadows on the subject’s face.
- Reflectors: reflect the light from the source to fill in the shadows on the subject’s face.
Battery-powered flashes: They can work well if you need to run on batteries and don't have an outlet nearby to plug into. The downside is that you'll need to shoot slightly more slowly because the lights can only flash so many times in a row before they need a moment to recharge.

Related guides:

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Begin with basic artificial lighting gear: Affordable lighting kits under $100 are available on Amazon. These typically include everything you need to get started, such as light bulbs, a softbox, and stands.
Opt for LED lights for continuous illumination: They're the most budget-friendly option for artificial lighting when taking headshots.
Deciding between umbrellas and softboxes: While softboxes can be pricier, they're easier to handle than umbrellas for headshots. If cost is a concern, start with an umbrella. A larger umbrella gives you softer light, perfect for flattering portraits. On the other hand, a smaller umbrella can help achieve a more dramatic effect.
DIY your reflector: A simple white cardboard or sheet can serve as an effective reflector, brightening up your subject’s face without additional costs.
Simplify with a single light setup: Even if you're drawn to more complex two-light setups, you can achieve excellent results with just one light by using a reflector to lighten the shadows.
Standard light stands are sufficient: Though C-stands offer more flexibility and stability, they can be pricey. Regular light stands are a cost-effective alternative that still meets most needs.

Natural vs. Artificial Lighting

The choice of using artificial or natural lighting for your headshot session depends mainly on your budget, experience and preferences:

Natural lighting: budget-friendly, easier to work with for beginners, and adds dimension to your photo, but it’s unreliable and restricts your shooting schedule.
Artificial lighting: more control over lighting, consistent, reliable and versatile, allowing a wide range of creative results, but it’s high cost and requires time and practice to master.