Lighting and Post-Production for a Dramatic Headshot

Utilizing a 3-point light setup in studio allows portrait photographers to effectively control the highlights and shadows on his or her subject and background. For this dramatic headshot, New Jersey photographer Andrew Foord uses the 300-watt Strobelite as his overhead key light, modified by an Octabank without diffusion for a specular output.

To add dimension to this portrait, Andrew utilizes two 24″ x 32″ rectangular softboxes as fill lights. Both fill lights are modified with both diffusion cloths and grids, which soften and direct Andrew’s light source. These lights are powered slightly higher than main overhead light, creating a distinct highlight on his subject’s cheekbones and shoulders.

During the post-production editing of this dramatic headshot, Andrew uses both Adobe Photoshop and Alien Skin Exposure 6 to perfect his image.