Using a large umbrella for lighting portraits can significantly change the mood and quality of your images. Whether you're after smooth, wrinkle-free skin or dramatic shadows, understanding this versatile setup is great for getting exactly the look you want.
Coming to you from Jay P. Morgan with The Slanted Lens, this practical video explores how positioning a large bounce umbrella affects your results. Starting with the umbrella directly behind the camera creates a smooth, almost wrinkle-erasing effect—perfect for clean portraits and fashion photography. Morgan shows clearly how raising the umbrella even slightly starts adding shadows under the chin and nose, making your photos less flat and more dimensional. Understanding this subtle shift is valuable if you're aiming for portraits with depth and natural facial definition. Morgan emphasizes how quickly and noticeably your images change with small adjustments.
Next, Morgan demonstrates how placing the umbrella at higher angles or closer to the subject drastically changes the relationship between subject and background brightness. A large umbrella set high can become a butterfly light, softly illuminating the face while casting gentle shadows that define features without harshness. When positioned closer, the background darkens dramatically due to exposure adjustments needed for the subject’s face, creating immediate separation and a compelling moodiness. The lesson here is clear: adjusting umbrella placement gives you precise control over both lighting direction and background exposure.
Morgan goes further, showing how feathering—pointing the umbrella slightly away from your subject—affects shadow depth and distribution. This nuanced technique opens up creative possibilities. You see how an umbrella placed almost behind the subject transforms your image into an evocative Rembrandt lighting scenario, enhancing drama and mystery. This versatility means you can quickly shift from flattering beauty portraits to high-contrast images full of character, all with simple movements.
Morgan also provides valuable practical tips on fill lighting. While a large umbrella produces soft, flattering light, adding reflectors or even small supplemental lights can enhance shadow areas effectively. He advises on the correct positioning of reflectors to subtly boost detail without over-lighting the shadows. This method ensures your portraits maintain a natural, pleasing balance between highlights and shadows.
The simplicity of Morgan's setup, combined with his methodical approach, underscores the ease of adopting this lighting style into your photography workflow. He points out common errors—such as placing the umbrella incorrectly, resulting in overly directional or uneven lighting—and explains how to avoid them through careful positioning. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Morgan.
If you would like to continue learning about how to light a portrait, be sure to check out "Illuminating The Face: Lighting for Headshots and Portraits With Peter Hurley!"
