How to Use a Single Strobe for Striking Portraits

Creating great images doesn't always require complex setups. Sometimes, all you need is a single strobe and a bit of creativity. 

Coming to you from Mark Wallace, this insightful video shows how a basic setup can produce amazing photos. Wallace uses just one strobe with a standard reflector. Many people overlook this simple tool, opting for softboxes or umbrellas instead. However, a standard reflector can create dramatic lighting effects that are perfect for certain styles, like the retro look Wallace is aiming for in this session.

The process begins with placing the strobe directly over the camera. This positioning ensures that shadows fall directly under the subject, creating a clean, shadow-free background. Wallace uses a concrete wall for the backdrop, adding texture and interest to the photos. The subject poses against the wall, moving and changing positions to add dynamism to the shots.

Using a deeper reflector gives the light more directionality, resulting in harder shadows that accentuate the subject’s features and outfit. This method is especially useful for creating a moody, intense look. Wallace meters the light to around f/9, but notes that slight variations in aperture, such as f/8 or f/10, will still work well.

The real magic happens in post-production. Wallace demonstrates how to enhance the photos using Lightroom Classic. He starts by adjusting the basic tonality, warming up the image to around 6,800 K and tweaking the tint to achieve the desired color balance. Lowering the orange saturation helps to refine the overall color palette.

Further adjustments include opening up the shadows to bring out details in the hair and increasing contrast by adjusting the whites and blacks. Wallace also enhances texture and clarity to emphasize the details in the background and the subject’s hair. He reduces vibrance to manage the color intensity, creating a more polished look.

For a more dramatic effect, Wallace uses Lightroom's AI-powered tools. Applying the "texture hair" preset, he enhances the subject’s hair, making it pop. He then focuses on the background, increasing texture, clarity, and even adding some dehaze to bring out every detail in the concrete wall.

Wallace also demonstrates how to use the healing brush to remove distractions, like an outlet in the background. This tool seamlessly replaces unwanted elements with matching textures from the surrounding area, cleaning up the image effortlessly. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Wallace.

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!"