Classic Hollywood Using Speedlights
Capture Timeless Classic Hollywood Portraits using Speedlights
Written on the 13th of March, 2023
I reached out to my cousin Khaled AlMutawa to set up a photoshoot to capture portraits in the Classic Hollywood style. Rather than utilizing the typical Fresnel lights often linked with that nostalgic look, I intended to use Speedlights as my main lighting source.
As I prepared for the shoot, I used a grid attachment on the Speedlight to control the spread of light. My main objective was to create a harsh, direct light, similar to the intense illumination typical of Fresnel lights seen in Classic Hollywood photography.
In the first pair of images, I utilized a single Speedlight positioned strategically to achieve the desired effect. The light emitted from the Speedlight is beautifully reflected off a white wall, creating a gentle illumination that softly brightens the shadows on the darker side of the subject.
In the final image, I positioned two Speedlights directly opposite each other at a 180-degree angle. For the first Speedlight, I chose not to use any modifiers, allowing it to produce a harsh, direct light that created sharp shadows and emphasized the subject's features. In contrast, I attached a softbox to the second Speedlight. This setup provided a gentle, diffused rim light on the side that was otherwise unlit, adding a subtle and pleasing glow that enhanced the depth and dimension of the subject.
The Gear I Used
