There are many lighting techniques to learn, some simple, some complex, and they all offer something a little different. One of my personal favorites is scalloped lighting and in this video learn how to do it and when it will work especially well.
I’ve always found the name “clamshell light” a bit misleading. While the lights are set up so that one above the subject is facing down and one below the subject is facing up, that is not at all in the shape of a clamshell; it should be the other way around! Still, the result is beautiful and it’s a really favorite setup for me.
Butterfly lighting, as it is sometimes called, is when the light shines directly above the subject, tilts down 45 degrees and creates a butterfly-shaped shadow under the nose. This is great, but for some audiences it can cause some minor problems. The lack of light means there can be more shadows on your face than you’d like.
Have you ever noticed when you are skiing or outside in the snow during the day that people’s faces look healthy and fresh? This is usually the snow that acts as a mirror, illuminating everyone. By adding a lamp or reflector according to the butterfly lighting technique, you will get a scalloped light that creates a beautiful snow-like effect.
