Lighting setup

Dramatic Fashion Portrait with Gelled Backlight

2-light Dramatic and moody with strong separation from background. lighting setup for fashion / portrait with a Dramatic and artistic, classical or ethereal feel due to golden backlighting and smoke. mood using Grid, Snoot, Yellow gel.

2 lightsDramatic and moody with strong separation from background.Dramatic and artistic, classical or ethereal feel due to golden backlighting and smoke.fashion
Lighting diagram
Dramatic Fashion Portrait with Gelled Backlight — lighting diagram

Complete setup guide

What this setup creates

Studio portrait of a female model in traditional Indian attire, lit with a key light with grid and a gelled snooted backlight for dramatic effect, enhanced with cinematic smoke.

Light placement

Key light front-left at 45 degrees, backlight high above and behind.

How to build it

One key light with grid for soft illumination, one back/hair light with snoot and yellow gel for hard, colored light and separation. Cinematic smoke machine used.

Lighting style
Dramatic and moody with strong separation from background.
Key light
45 degree
Light quality
Soft light, Hard light
Shadows
Deep shadows, Dramatic shadows
Background
Colored gel, Seamless backdrop
Colour
Warm tones, Cinematic teal-orange
Visual mood
Dramatic, Cinematic, Fashion-forward, Luxury

Camera settings

From the tutorial
Aperture
f/9
Shutter speed
1/160s
ISO
100
Focal length
24-105mm

Focal length provided as a range; actual focal length unknown. White balance not specified but likely set for warm tones given the yellow gel.

Gear & modifiers

  • Grid
  • Snoot
  • Yellow gel
Watch tutorial
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