All images in this lighting guide were shot using Elinchrom D

LIGHTING GUIDE
All images in this lighting guide were shot using
Elinchrom D-Lites, BXRI’s, and RX light units.
1
Portalite
2
This is what you can do with 1 Portalite, the light is positioned about 1 Foot higher then your subject to the left or right side.
Portalite
3
This 2 light setup, can be done with 1 Portalite as your key light, and 1Portalite as your fill light, with 1 stop difference between
lights.
Portalite
4
This shows what can be achieved by using one Portalite Softbox, and a 30” silver/white Lastolite reflector with an extra stand and
reflector bracket. The reflector used here is on the silver side, which is filling in at just about the same ratio as the main light.
Portalite
5
Key light(1 Portalite) is 6-8 ft. from subject, at about 6.5 ft. The Hair Light is a D-lite 4 with 7” grid reflector, and a 10 degree
grid, aimed at the models hair, it is about 1/2 stop weaker then your main light.
Portalite
6
Basically on this shot we’ve just added a 30” silver reflector , to fill in for the key light, and we have a 2nd light (7” grid reflector,
and a 40 degree grid) aimed at our background, that will let you achieve sort of a spot effect, on the muslin background.
Portalite
7
We’ve basically taken the same lighting from the previous setup, changed the grid to 20 or 10 degrees, to narrow the beam, and
dropped it on a floor stand, behind our model, this creates a halo effect with the hair, or what is called a rim light.
Portalite
8
This image is taken with 1 Portalite Softbox, and 1 Lastolite Silver and White Triflector kit.
y
e
K
BX500RI
With 7” Grid reflector
20 degree grid, to allow
for some spill on left side of
face, F-8 1/2
t
h
g
i
L
Deep Octa 100/with both diffusers
BX500RI @ F-8 1/2
9
All of the images that were seen earlier from the D-Lites, can be obtained with the same basic kit from the BX500RI’s.
In addition here we have a setup using the 100CM Deep Octa as the key light, with both diffusers. Since this was a business portrait, the image is shot at F-8 to
make sure everything was tack sharp. The Grid light coming from behind the subject, at F-8 1/2 adds some dimension and character to the portrait.
y
e
K
BX500RI
With 7” Grid reflector
10 degree grid, to allow
F-8 1/2
t
h
g
i
L
70CM Softlite Silver Beauty
dish with Gold Deflector disc
BX500RI @ F-11
10
The model was sitting on the floor, and the beauty dish was aimed down, but not to much, notice the nose shadow is sharp, which is an effect of having this direct
light off to the side. The Gold deflector adds a bit of warmth to the skin tone.
600RX
with Barn door
F-11
Key Light
600RX
with Barn
door
F-11
Elinchrom 6.5 FT Octalite
Behind Photographer
set at F-8
11
This is really a pretty simple setup, and perfect for shooting full length images or group photos. The 600 RX is inside of the 6.5 FT Octalite, with Diffuser setup
behind the photographer. The light source is so big, that you can stand in front of it to take your photos, and still get beautiful shadowless light. Here we’re
shooting the subject at F-8. Our background lights are 300 RX units, with Barn Doors. Since there is no diffusion, and they’re about 3-4 FT. from the background
they will provide a very high F-Stop. You want a combined exposure value of 1 stop brighter than your key light, at F-11. One of the key features of the Octalite,
is it’s ability to produce a very specular light, which is visible when you look at the models skin.
Ke
yL
igh
t
300 RX Deep 100 CM Octa
with Gold Deflector
600RX
with with 40 Degree
Grid Spot
300 RX with 10 Degree
Grid for Hair
12
Here we have the 300 RX with Rotolux Deep 100CM Octa. Our Key light is about 1 foot from our subject, with the power turned almost completely down, at F-8.0.
The reason the key light is so close is to produce the big catch light in the eyes. You can see this when zoomed in. Photographer is basically standing right below
the softbox. The warm deflector used without any diffusion produces a very Specular light, which you can see on the models skin. The background light is a 600
RX with a 40 degree grid spot, to light up the muslin background, with a somewhat circular patern, about 5-6 ft from the background, at about F 8.5. Last we
have a 300RX with a 10 Degree Grid spot, for the hair, on camera left at about F-5.6 1/2 to F-8 depending on how much kick you would like on the hair.
13
This slide is a 100% crop of the previous setup, so you can see the catch lights in the eyes.
600RX-on 6.5 FT Octa Lite
Key Light
300 RX-Rotalux 70X70
at 45 Degree angled up,
F-5.6
600RX-with 44CM
White Softliter-Silver
Deflector, and
diffusion F-8
This image shot with
Phase One IQ-180
14
This is called the “Clamshell”-It is a classic Beauty look. Not easy to put in a diagram. Our background light is a 600 RX w/7 foot Octa-Lite creating the high key,
background. Since we’re only shooting headshots this is a perfect background light, you have to remember to position the light behind your model, at a 45
Degree angle aimed up so that you don’t get flare. The background light is reading F-11.
Our Key light is a 600 RX w/44CM white Softlite Beauty dish, with Silver Deflector, and Lee Diffusion, aimed down at our Model at 45 degrees F-8. Right below the
beauty dish is a 300 RX w/ 70X70CM Rotalux softbox, aimed up at our model at 45 Degrees, this light is creating the nice shadow fill on the neck, chin, and lower
cheeks, at F-5.6. The camera is situated right in the middle of the 2 lights, thus the “Clam Shell”.
LIGHTING GUIDE
All images in this lighting guide were shot using
Elinchrom D-Lites, BXRI’s, RX’s, and accessories.
15