In this video and article, we’re going to show you how to spice up an ordinary portrait using off-camera flash to simulate window light photography.
We’ll use the CAMP framework (Composition, Ambient Exposure, Modify or Add Light, Pose & Photograph) to outline the steps we took to compose, light, and capture the final image.
Our main goal here is to use the space next to the window so that we can later add an external flash and simulate window light photography for the purpose of adding visual interest to the portrait. We placed the subject to the right of the frame and far enough away from the window to create plenty of negative space. The background wall in this particular setup featured several holes and other distracting elements, but because it’s a big solid wall, removing the distractions in Photoshop will be easy.
After composing our frame, we need to dial in our ambient exposure. In our baseline image (see above), we adjusted our exposure settings to maximize dynamic range for a dramatic portrait, leaning toward the left side of the histogram because we’re going to add off-camera flash.
However, the high shutter speed (1/2000) requires the flash to use high-speed sync in order to fire, so we placed a 4-stop ND filter directly over the lens. This allowed us to slow the shutter speed to 1/200 and eliminate the need for high-speed sync.
We placed a Profoto B10 (250 watt seconds of power) about 15 feet up into the air on a light stand and pointed it through the window toward our subject. We used a zoom dish on the flash to minimize light spill and we also added a CTO gel to the flash to add a natural warmth to the light coming through the window.
Whenever we’re shooting with hard light, we need to pose our subject for that light. Direct your subject into a pose that allows highlights and shadows to create ideal lighting patterns (such as Rembrandt, used here) and capture the shot. By making micro-adjustments to the pose (as we did in this series with hands in the pockets, playing with the hat, etc.), you can further maximize your efficiency and end up with several usable images from a single scene.
The photo without the simulated window light is fine, but the added light ups the visual interest and makes for a more compelling portrait. We edited the final image using the “Hard Light” preset from Visual Flow Presets‘ new Crush Pack.
We hope you enjoyed this video and lesson on how to simulate window light with off-camera flash.
P.S. This was an excerpt from SLR Lounge‘s Lighting 4 workshop). You can find more episodes of Mastering Your Craft on Adorama’s YouTube channel and in this playlist.
About the author: Pye Jirsa is a wedding photographer based in Southern California and the co-founder of SLR Lounge. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. You can find more of Jirsa’s work here. This article was also published here.
Sometimes you can't shoot during a beautiful golden hour, with fresh light pouring through the window onto your model. On those occasions, you have to fake it.
When shooting portraits you often don't have the control over the time you shoot, particularly if the images are not just for you. And sometimes, even if you do have control over the time, the weather decides you don't deserve the light you want and you're stuck anyway. As a photographer who lives in England and shoots primarily for other people and around the subjects' schedules, I am usually in both camps. As a result, I have to use lights to create various effects.
This video shows how to create the fake window light effect which looks so damned good. I haven't used it much myself for commercial work, but it's certainly a useful tool to have. As well as shooting light through windows, you can of course use a barn door modifier on the front of a strobe to similar ends. Furthermore, don't restrict your window light to just beautiful golden beams. With a blueish hue and a softer key light you can also add the appearance of moonlight or city lights outside. In a recent magazine shoot I fired a blue LED at a large window to give the illusion of nighttime despite it being around midday.
The best part about this technique? You can practice in lockdown!
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