Creating magazine-quality portraits doesn't require an elaborate lighting setup or years of experience. A simple two-light technique can consistently deliver professional results when you need to work quickly and efficiently.
Coming to you from Ed Verosky, this practical video breaks down the exact lighting approach he developed during his editorial work for local magazines. When Verosky needed to photograph business owners and entertainers in their workplaces or homes, he couldn't rely on complex setups or long preparation times. Working alone with minimal gear, he had to produce commercial-quality portraits within narrow time frames. This constraint led him to perfect a streamlined approach using just two flash units and shoot-through umbrellas. The beauty of this technique lies in its reliability, as once you understand the fundamentals, you can walk into any environment and create compelling portraits that look natural but have that extra visual pop editorial work demands.
The setup centers around positioning your key light properly, then adding a second light behind and to the side of your subject to create a highlight effect. This second light is called a kicker or accent light, and it serves to separate your subject from potentially flat backgrounds while adding dimension to the shadowed side of their face. This cross-lighting approach transforms what could be a basic portrait into something with genuine commercial appeal. Rather than relying on TTL automation, Verosky strongly advocates for manual settings on both your camera and flash units. This gives you complete control and ensures consistency from shot to shot, which becomes crucial when you're working fast and need predictable results.
The specific settings Verosky shares provide a solid starting point for anyone wanting to replicate this approach. His example uses ISO 200, 1/250th second shutter speed, and f/4 aperture with the key light set to quarter power positioned 3-4 feet from the subject. The kicker light runs at twice the power of the key light and may or may not use a modifier depending on how you want the light to spread. What makes this technique so valuable is how quickly it can be deployed. Verosky mentions the entire setup process takes just a minute or two once you've dialed in your standard settings. The key insight here is maintaining consistent gear configurations so you're not starting from scratch with each shoot.
This approach solves a real problem many face when moving beyond basic single-light portraits but not wanting the complexity of elaborate studio setups. You get professional-looking results without needing extensive gear or technical knowledge. The technique works equally no matter what you're shooting with. Verosky's emphasis on manual control over automatic settings reflects the practical reality of working professionally, as you need predictable, repeatable results rather than hoping your camera's metering system makes the right choices. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Verosky.
