In the previous lesson you learned how to use a second light as a fill light compliment to your key light. Here, we’ll discuss the application of a third light. Three lights are often used in both video and still photography in a configuration called, Three-point lighting. Three-point lighting not only looks professional, it also has very practical applications. And each light has a specific purpose.
The key light defines the subject of the portrait. The fill light helps control contrast on the shadow side of the portrait. The third light in a three-point scenario usually serves as a backlight or hair light. It’s purpose is to create a highlight or outline around an area of the subject to help visually separate them from the background.
In this lesson, we’ll build up a three-point lighting scenario and show some variations on this type of setup.