If you look at the work of professional portrait photographers, it can be easy to be fooled into thinking that it is not possible to create high-level images with just a single light. This could not be further from the truth, though. If you are new to working with artificial light, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you how to shoot compelling portraits using just one light and a portable modifier.
Coming to you from Jiggie Alejandrino, this excellent video tutorial will show you how to shoot portraits using a single light. If you are just starting out with artificial light, it is better to start out with one light. Lighting really comes down to mastering a few technical concepts (such as source size or subject distance) and manipulating these to fit your creative vision. When you are learning, it is much easier to see the results of different changes and to build that knowledge if you are working with a single light. Once you master this, you will find your proficiency with multiple lights will come fairly naturally. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Alejandrino.
If you would like to continue learning about how to light a portrait, be sure to check out "Illuminating The Face: Lighting for Headshots and Portraits With Peter Hurley!"
