Mastering Multiple Continuous Lights

Photos © Jerry Ghionis

We often see pictures with multiple off-camera flashes but not usually more than one continuous light. Although off-camera flash creates a striking look, continuous light can be less intimidating and faster to work with, as you can see what you are doing. You simply have to move the light into a position that achieves the lighting and desired result you’re looking for. I’ve often said that when you have one direction of light and two people are interacting with each other, one person usually suffers (with respect to the lighting on them). That is, one person is in more flattering light than the other. In most situations, I will usually “sacrifice” the king for the queen. In this example, I wanted to have Georgia and Josh interacting by embracing each other. Georgia is the main point of interest for this portrait, so she needs to be illuminated with a brighter light. And Josh will have less light on him and play a supportive role. 

I often favor short lighting, photographing someone on the shadow side of the face. You can either place someone in a pose or position them in order to take advantage of existing light, or you can create the light and direct it in a position so that you are photographing your subjects on the shadow side of the face. By photographing your subjects on the short side, it will slim the face, offer depth and dimension, and define the cheekbones and jawline, among other things.

In this example, the ambient lights from Melbourne’s Bolte Bridge provided the perfect separation of the couple from the background. The lights provide a romantic-looking backdrop and that is echoed in their pose as they are romantically embracing. With this kind of pose, we usually only see the back of the groom’s head. In this case, I wanted to see the groom as well, so he had to extend his face beyond her shoulder and hairline in order to be visible to the camera. Notice the warmth of his hands whilst still not hiding the thinnest part of her waist. Although Georgia has a slim figure, this would be a great pose for a plus-size girl because her left arm is totally hidden and her right arm is tucked under Josh’s arm. Her hair also softens her shoulders.

I placed the horizon of the bridge just underneath their chest line and above their elbows. This notion was developed centuries ago when sculptors would create their busts in this manner (head and shoulders on a pedestal). I worked out the exposure for my background first and then dimmed down the power on the two Ice Lights and worked out how far I wanted them from the subjects. I used one Ice Light to illuminate the bride, but I wanted a little less light on the groom. I could have easily used the barn doors to cut away light on the groom, but instead I inserted the Ice Light back into its sleeve/case, which was also an easy way to minimize the light falling on Josh. Although the lighting on them is beautiful, always remember that a pose without expression is just a pose. A pose with expression is a beautiful moment!

Jerry Ghionis is widely regarded as one of the best wedding/portrait photographers and educators. He is a USA Nikon Ambassador and has won more awards than any other photographer at WPPI, where he became the first Grand Master. 

Camera: Nikon D4s
Lens: 70-200mm f2.8 lens
Aperture: f2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec
ISO: 5000
Lighting: X Ice Lights

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Related: Watch Jerry Ghionis Shoot On-Location Portraits With the Ice Light [RF Video of the Week]