Free Portrait Lighting Cheat Sheet | Perfect Picture Academy

Free Concert Photography Checklist: walk into the photo pit ready. The 8-page checklist Mark Kaye uses before every gig.

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Ellie Goulding black and white portrait on a white background, portrait photography by Mark Kaye

Life coach Helen S Rigby portrait in natural open shade by a barn, portrait photography by Mark Kaye

Raye black and white portrait with soft side light, portrait photography by Mark Kaye

Charlie Hunnam low-key black and white portrait, portrait photography by Mark Kaye

Bride Katie portrait in window light on her wedding day, portrait photography by Mark Kaye

Jon Bernthal dramatic side-lit portrait in a hood, portrait photography by Mark Kaye

Photos by Mark Kaye

We’ve all been there. You line someone up for a portrait, take the picture, and it falls flat. Dark eyes, harsh shadows, a face that looks nothing like the person in front of you. More often than not, it isn’t you or your camera. It’s the light.

Most photographers think about camera settings first. I don’t. The first thing I look for is the light, so I turned the way I read it into one simple cheat sheet.

It covers the five questions I ask before I lift the camera, the four lighting patterns worth knowing, and how I use a softbox, a window, open shade and the sun to create portraits I’m proud of.

Save it to your phone and take it with you on your next shoot. It’s free.

Mark Kaye
Founder, Perfect Picture Academy

Click Here To Get Your Free Cheat Sheet

This Free Cheat Sheet Will Help You With…

Finding the direction: Move around your subject and see what the same light does to a face.

Getting the height right: Why light just above eye level is my starting point.

Hard or soft: A five-second test using the shadow under the nose.

Lighting patterns: Butterfly, loop, Rembrandt and split, and how to create each one on purpose.

Using what you’ve got: A softbox, a window, open shade or the sun, and where to put your subject.

The eyes: Where to look for catchlights, and why they bring a portrait to life.

Save it on your phone so you have it on every shoot.

WHO IS MARK KAYE?

Mark is a recognised tour, portrait and street photographer, as well as the founder of Perfect Picture Academy. His work has received recognition at the International Photography Awards receiving honourable mentions, official selections and a winning entry over recent years. Mark is also the creator of the SIMPLE system, designed to take all of the guesswork out of photography.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE PORTRAIT LIGHTING CHEAT SHEET AND READ THE LIGHT ON YOUR NEXT SHOOT

The five questions I ask before I lift the camera, the four lighting patterns worth knowing, and how I use a softbox, a window, open shade and the sun. Keep it on your phone, glance at it before your next shoot, and start seeing the light other people walk straight past.

Enter First Name & Email To Get Your Free Cheat Sheet.