Freelance Photographer
Seeing things differently
A taker of Photographs - A creator of images

Butterfly Lighting...

To create butterfly lighting he main light is positioned directly in front of and above the subjects face creating a butterfly shadow directly under the nose...

The use of an optional fill light (as shown below) or reflector to reduce these shadows can be placed under the main light at about head height...

The thought of shadows under the nose may at first seem off putting but if they are controlled they give an image a sense of depth... This technique is most effective for female subjects with a normal oval face and produces a glamour effect...

It is not usually used on male subjects as it tends to highlight the ears producing an uncomplimentary effect...