Glam Lighting 1-2-3

When it comes to glamour lighting, I'm a 3-light kinda guy. It's basic. It's simple. It most always yields good, glamour-style, results.

While traditional 3-light setups, i.e., main, fill, and back light, have been around forever, I prefer a big main and a couple of back or side lights. To that mix, I sometimes add a reflector for some some gentle fill... or not, depending on how hard (deep) or soft (gentle) I want the shadows.

The photo (above) is a straightforward example of this lighting technique. Nothing fancy. Nothing special. Easy to employ. Gets the job done. Easily done.

I'm also a "get the job easily done" kinda guy.

Obviously, moving the lights around a bit, that is, "shaking up" the lighting, yields somewhat different results. For instance, I can adjust any of those lights by moving them into different positions. I can adjust their height, changing the "look." I can bring the back/side lights forward for a more side-lit look or I can move them back so they add edge-lighting without spilling onto the front of the model's face or body. Regardless, it all yields "glamour" style results.

In the example, I'm using a 5' Photoflex Octodome for my main and a couple of small, generic, white, shoot-thru umbrellas for the back/side lights. I've also placed a white reflector, opposite the main, for some fill.

How simple is that?

Very simple.

So easy a caveman can do it. (© Geico Insurance)

The beauty of simple, 3-point lighting, or any other lighting approach that is simple, easy, and straightforward, is it affords you more time focusing on the model. (I'm not talking about focusing your lens, BTW.)

It's been my observation that many beginners and novices spend far too much time messing with their lights and other technical things. All that stuff needs to become automatic. The easiest way to make those things automatic is to make them simple.

Keep it simple, stupid.

Good advice for many.

Good advice for pretty girl shooters.

Good advice for bloggers too.

The pretty girl at the top is Jennifer from sometime last year.