Lighting setup

Soft & Clean Portrait with Overhead Octabox

1-light Soft, diffused front-top lighting with enhanced contrast from v-flats. lighting setup for catalogue / e-commerce with a Professional, polished, clean mood using large octabox, black v-flats.

1 lightSoft, diffused front-top lighting with enhanced contrast from v-flats.Professional, polished, cleancatalogue
Lighting diagram
Soft & Clean Portrait with Overhead Octabox — lighting diagram

Complete setup guide

What this setup creates

This video demonstrates a 1-light setup using a large overhead octabox as the key light, positioned slightly in front and above the subject. Black v-flats are used for contrast, creating soft, diffused front-top lighting on a female model against a seamless white background. A fan is used to create movement in the model's hair for the final shot.

Light placement

One large overhead octabox positioned slightly in front of and above the subject. Black v-flats are placed on either side of the subject to enhance contrast.

How to build it

A fan was used to create movement in the hair. Model is wearing a black blazer, fishnet stockings, and boots.

Lighting style
Soft, diffused front-top lighting with enhanced contrast from v-flats.
Key light
45 degree
Light quality
Soft light, Diffused, Low contrast
Shadows
Clean shadows, Flat lighting
Background
Seamless backdrop, Pure white
Colour
Neutral, Warm tones
Visual mood
Commercial clean, Natural

Camera settings

From the tutorial
Aperture
f/8
Shutter speed
1/160s
ISO
125
Focal length
24-105mm
White balance
Flash

Settings extracted from the lighting diagram at the end of the video. White balance inferred for studio strobe setup.

Gear & modifiers

  • large octabox
  • black v-flats
Watch tutorial
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