Headshot

On-Axis Soft Headshot

Lighting setup

A large soft source directly over the lens lights the face evenly and frontally, dropping a single catchlight at the top of each eye and keeping the whole face open — a clean, dependable corporate headshot with no side shadow.

Lighting breakdown

1
On-Axis Soft Key
A large soft source directly over the lens and slightly above eye level lights the face evenly and frontally, placing a single soft catchlight at the top of each eye; the light is broad enough that the shadow side stays open with no loop or side shadow.
Large soft source over the lens · 0.9
Octabox

Smiling woman in a black blazer and pearl studs on a grey seamless, soft light from camera-left wrapping her face with a gentle falloff on the far cheek.

Base setup

Straight-on, soft, and clean — the reliable headshot.

Front elevation

Complete setup · 1 light

Learning path

This setup appears in curated assignments — continue the sequence when you are ready.

Step 4/8Beginner portrait lighting
Aim the edge of the modifier at the face instead of the middle — you lose brightness and gain evenness, and the background stops getting lit for free.
Light Builder Next: Short Light Turned Head Portrait →

Lights: 1
Contrast: 2:1 – 3:1 (soft, even)
Catchlight: Single soft catchlight at 12 o'clock in both eyes
Key position: On-axis and slightly above, catchlights at 12 o'clock.
Mood: Soft / Commercial
Quality: Soft Light
Subject: Female Beauty
Environment: Studio

Mood variations

Smiling woman in a black blazer and pearl studs on a grey seamless, soft frontal light across the face with only a faint shadow under the chin. — Under-Chin Bounce
Add a white bounce under the chin to lift any neck shadow — it changes nothing about the on-axis look.

Smiling woman in a black blazer and pearl studs on a grey seamless, very soft even light wrapping the face with large catchlights in both eyes. — Softer, Closer
Move the source closer for an even softer wrap and brighter catchlights while keeping it centred over the lens.

Smiling woman in a black blazer and pearl studs on a darker charcoal seamless, soft frontal light with a little more falloff at the cheeks. — Darker Backdrop
Light the grey backdrop less, or pull the subject forward, for a moodier headshot while the frontal key stays the same.

Final look

Base setup

A big soft source on the lens axis wraps light around the nose and cheeks almost symmetrically, so there is no loop and no strong shadow to distract from the expression — exactly what a headshot wants. Because the source sits just above the eyes, the catchlights land at twelve o'clock and the forehead reads a touch brighter than the chin, giving gentle shape without breaking the even, approachable look. An even grey backdrop keeps all the attention on the face.

Camera & framing

Exposure

ISO

ISO 100

Shutter

1/160 – 1/200s

Aperture

f/5.6 – f/8

Lens & framing

Lens

85 – 105mm portrait

Camera height

Eye level

Framing

Head and shoulders, full face in frame — chin, forehead, and both ears visible; comfortable headroom; no edge crop

Try these settings → Key : fill ratio →

Key notes

1Put one large soft source right over the lens, raised just enough to place the catchlight at the top of the eye.
2Keep it frontal — if a nose shadow angles off to one side you have made a loop; recentre until the face is even.
3Light the grey backdrop evenly (or let a bright even source spill onto it) so it reads as a clean, uniform tone.
4Optional: a white bounce under the chin lifts any neck shadow — it changes nothing about the on-axis look.