Aklso known as Paramount lighting, butterfly lighting is a key technique used in many stunning fashion portraits. It is commonly paired with the beauty dish, a favorite tool among fashion photographers, but it can also be effectively used with other modifiers, such as the Rotolux 53 that I use in the studio.
To achieve a butterfly lighting setup, you will require a sturdy boom arm to guarantee the safety of your model and clients. If you are not familiar with using grips (such as light stands, boom arms, sandbags, and understanding the weight tolerance of these equipments), it may be time to take a course on this topic.
To properly light the scene, position the light source above the models' heads. In the image provided, I have also incorporated two large reflectors and a hair light.
It is common to describe the setup as clamshell lighting. It is important to mention that, for this series of photos, the front diffuser of the modifier has been taken off to mimic a large beauty dish
While the method above is the traditional setup for butterfly lighting, I sometimes employ a different approach with the same configuration to achieve an exceptionally soft light and stunning gradient in the image. In this alternative technique, the light remains positioned above but is directed towards the floor, with only the edge of the modifier illuminating the subject.
Once the key light is set up, a large reflector is positioned below to soften the shadows. Occasionally, I incorporate an extra hair light or backdrop light since the light diminishes rapidly in this arrangement, causing the backdrop to darken if it's too distant from the key light.
This setup produces extremely soft light with beautiful transitions and a high level of micro-contrast, making it perfect for family photoshoots, senior portraits, general portraiture, graduation photos, and even fashion photography. It offers a stress-free lighting arrangement that allows freedom of movement for your subject, making it particularly suitable for photographing small children who are often quite active.
I consider Butterfly lighting, the most beautiful lighting for studio photography. it quickly sets you appart from other photographers that dont have a boom arm, the lighting is simply gorgeous, works with everybody and is a major plus for any photography studio, it does require investing in a strong and secured boom arm and stand that can hold the weight.
In the studio i use the Matthews mini boom arm paired with the hollywood junior roller stand,
they safely hold up the weight of my 400 watts strobe and the rotalux 53 large modifier, the light stand can go over 3 meter high with all the weight which is more that you would ever need for portraiture.
If you are interested in photo session please visit our booking page on www.gilbertcarosin.com/booking
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