Portraits: Subject & Lighting

Different faces require different lighting arrangements. Below, are conventional 'fixes' to a range of facial types that can be applied when aiming to flatter the subject. An awareness of these types is useful as it adds to the control I have over the look of the photograph and clarifies my thinking in terms of how I wish to light any individual whether I am working with or against type. 

Round or Fat Face

Pose model 3/4 to the camera, use short lighting, raise camera angle slightly


Thin Face
Pose model facing the camera


Wrinkly Face, Deep Lines
Use softer, frontal lighting


Blemishes or Scars
Shadow problem areas, or reposition


Big Nose
Raise chin slightly, pose nose straight into lens


Small nose
Pose nose at an angle to camera


Square jaw
3/4 pose, higher camera angle


Multiple chins
Stretch neck, lean head toward camera


Different sized eyes
Largest eye close to camera, other in shadow, largest eye away creates evening effect


Deep set eyes
Light into eyes. Lower main light, use a low lighting ratio. 


Large Ears
3/4 pose, only show one ear, Shadow second ear


Glasses Wearers
Position glasses away from lights (See David Hobby post), bring lights in from very high, or bounce off ceiling


People with Dark Hair
Check to make sure that background doesn't show through hair, restyle if necessary.