When we think about portrait photography, soft light often comes to mind—big softboxes, diffusers, and all the tools that help us create that flattering, even light. But is soft light always the best choice? In this video, we explore the often-overlooked benefits of hard light and how it can be a powerful tool for storytelling in your portraits.
Soft light, with its low contrast and gentle transitions between light and shadow, is perfect for creating a smooth, flattering look. But don’t overlook the drama and character that hard light can bring to your images. By using smaller modifiers, bare flash, or focusing tools like grids or snoots, you can create bold portraits with higher contrast and more defined shadows—perfect for showcasing strength, character, and mood.
I’ll share my experiences using hard light to achieve a film noir-inspired look and how it can be just as effective as soft light, depending on the mood and story you want to tell.
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