Sunset Portraits
Natural Light Versus Speedlight
Written on the 19th of July, 2022
After my cinematic headshot photoshoot with model Lucy Lofting, I proceeded to undertake a portrait photoshoot utilizing both natural light and a Speedlight. This approach of taking portraits following each cinematic headshot photoshoot has become my routine.
As the sun set, the lighting conditions allowed for optimal exposure without the necessity for high-sync speeds, as illustrated in the images provided below. The initial image was captured using the Speedlight, resulting in pronounced contrast, particularly accentuated on the right side of her nose. This led to a compelling image that effectively highlighted Lucy's features. However, I found the natural light to be superior; it offered a soft, directional illumination that produced a low contrast ratio, yielding a more aesthetically pleasing representation of her.
Hint: You can tell that I used a Speedlight by observing the catchlight in the eyes. In the first image, the octabox-shaped catchlight is visible in Lucy's eyes.
The Gear I Used
