Here’s a basic breakdown of 7 distinctive lighting procedures you can execute next time you shoot portraits with studio lighting. For these precedents, we utilized continuous lights to to better illustrate it, however you can strobes too, obviously.

1. Butterfly Lighting

Butterfly lighting (once in a while called “paramount lighting” which is a way less fun thing to call it) is a standout amongst the most complimenting lighting setups for most faces, so don’t consider lighting me some other way. You will probably make a butterfly shape in the shadow under the nose. To do this, place the directly above and pointed down at your subject. This will create dramatic shadows under the cheeks, nose, and chin, and that is the tea (?).

2. Loop Lighting

Loop lighting gets its name for the circle of light cast around your subject’s face. To accomplish circle lighting, begin with butterfly lighting and afterward move your light source somewhat further to one side or left. Push it until a shadow shows up on the contrary side of the nose, making a li’l loopy.

3. Rembrandt Lighting

For Rembrandt lighting, think “cheek triangle.” Rembrandt lighting resembles an increasingly sensational circle lighting where the nose shadow associates with the cheek shadow, framing a triangle of light on the cheek. To accomplish it, push your light somewhat further to one side or left of your circle lighting setup and point the light down at a more extreme edge.

4. Split Lighting

Split lighting (once in a while called side lighting by simple gaffers who are simply endeavoring to get down to metal tacks) is ideal for making a quality of puzzle. The setup is truly straight forward. You simply put the light to the side of your subject, leaving half of the face in the shadows.

#5. Rim Lighting

Rim lighting is great for separating your subject from the background and highlighting split ends. For this setup, place a light behind your subject and tilt it up towards the back of the head. This kicker light source should be more powerful than the light that hits your subject from the front for more drama, mama.

#6. Broad Lighting

Contrary to popular belief, broad lighting is used to highlight the broad side of your subject’s face, and not just for clients named Karen who “would like to speak to your manager.” For this technique, place your light source to the right or left of your subject and tilt it down at her. Have your subject turn her body away from the light and face towards the camera. The goal is to get the broad side of the face (the side that’s closest to the camera and showing the most) covered in light and the short side of the face in the shadows.

#7. Short Lighting

Short lighting is basically the opposite of broad lighting (duh). You can easily achieve short lighting by finishing your broad lighting photo, yelling “freeze!” at your client, and then moving the light to the opposite side of her. You can also just have her turn her body towards the light, pushing the broad side of her face into the shadows.