Why different lists give different numbers
Search for the types of lighting in photography and you will find lists of five, seven, eight and even fifty. They are not contradicting each other so much as sorting light along different axes. One list might group by source, another by direction, and another by the shadow patterns used in portraits. Once you see the axes, the lists make sense.
The sections below cover the five most useful ways to classify light. For a broader foundation, start with lighting basics for photography.
By source
| Type | What it is | Strengths | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural light | Sun, sky, moonlight, or window light | Free, flattering when soft | Changes constantly |
| Continuous artificial | LED or tungsten lights that stay on | You see the result live | Often less powerful than flash |
| Flash or strobe | A short burst of light | Powerful, freezes motion | Needs practice to judge |
Window light is a common starting point because it is large, directional and easy to see; our guide to natural light for portrait photography shows how to use it.
By quality
- Hard light comes from a small or distant source and gives crisp shadows. See direct lighting in photography.
- Soft light comes from a large source relative to the subject and gives gradual shadows.
- Diffused light has passed through a translucent material, such as a softbox panel, a curtain or cloud cover.
- Bounced light has reflected off a wall, ceiling or reflector before reaching the subject.
By direction
Light can arrive from the front, side, back or above, or from low angles. Front light is flat and forgiving, side light adds shape, and backlight creates rim glow or silhouettes. Rim light is a specific use of backlight, often a small light placed behind the subject to outline the edges.
By portrait pattern
Portraits are often described by the shadow pattern the key light makes on a face:
- Loop: a small shadow of the nose loops down toward the cheek.
- Rembrandt: a small triangle of light on the shadow-side cheek.
- Split: the face is divided into a lit half and a shadowed half.
- Butterfly: a shadow under the nose, with the light high and in front.
- Broad and short: whether the lit side of the face is turned toward or away from the camera.
Our lighting setup diagrams show where to put the light for each. Butterfly light is also the basis for clamshell lighting.
By colour
Warm light, such as tungsten or sunset light, leans orange. Cool light, such as shade or overcast sky, leans blue. Photographers also add gels or RGB lights for creative colour. See colour lighting in photography.
The three-light rule
The “3 lighting rule” usually refers to a classic three-light setup: a key light as the main source, a fill light to soften shadows, and a back or rim light to separate the subject from the background. It is a starting point rather than a requirement, and plenty of strong photographs use one light. Read about the second role in fill lighting in photography.
Choosing a type for the job
- Flattering portraits: soft, large sources, slightly above eye level.
- Texture and drama: side light, harder quality.
- Beauty and headshots: soft light from above with fill from below.
- Moody or stylised work: low-key lighting, gels or coloured light (see moody portrait photography).
Contrast also plays a role in what you choose; see contrast lighting in photography.