Classic

Short Light Turned Head Portrait

Lighting setup

Head turned about 30° camera-left, softbox key at 45° camera-left lights the far cheek — short light — while the near cheek falls into shadow; Broad Light tab crosses the key to the near cheek with the head locked.

Lighting breakdown

1
Short Softbox Key
Softbox at ~45° camera-left, slightly above eye level. With the head turned ~30° camera-left, the far cheek carries the key and the near cheek is the shadow mass — short light.
Softbox · 1
Softbox

Portrait subject — Short Light Turned Head Portrait lighting setup.

Top view

Complete setup · 1 light

Learning path

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

Step 5/8Beginner portrait lighting
Turn the head ~30° camera-left, then key the far cheek — short light slims the face; Broad Light tab stays held until a pose-locked pair ships.
Light Builder Next: Octabox Corporate Headshot →

Lights: 1
Contrast: 4:1
Catchlight: Soft rectangular softbox catchlights
Key position: Softbox ~45° camera-left, slightly above eye level (elevation ~20°); head turned ~30° camera-left
Mood: Dramatic / Fashion
Quality: Soft Light
Subject: Female Beauty
Environment: Studio / Dark Background

Final look

Base setup

Short and broad are the same head turn with opposite key sides. Short lights the far, narrower cheek so the camera sees more shadow mass and the face reads sculpted; broad lights the near, wider cheek so the face reads fuller. We lock the pose and cross the key left↔right so one page teaches both — Scheme and 3D follow the active Look when the key crosses.

Camera & framing

Exposure

ISO

ISO 100

Shutter

1/160 – 1/200s

Aperture

f/5.6

Lens & framing

Lens

85mm

Camera height

Eye level

Framing

Head-and-shoulders portrait, full face with comfortable headroom, head turned ~30° camera-left

Try these settings → Key : fill ratio →

Key notes

1Keep shoulders nearly square and turn only the head ~30° camera-left — match the Base photograph; do not invent the opposite yaw in the scheme.
2Base is short light: softbox camera-left keys the far cheek. Scheme and 3D show that Base placement on Base.
3Broad Light (when published) crosses the softbox to camera-right on the same locked head turn — Scheme and 3D must move with that tab.
4If the near cheek is brighter on Base, the head turn or key side is wrong — fix the photograph, do not rename the lesson.