Last Updated on 02/25/2016 by Chris Gampat
When doing headshots or portraiture and using off-camera lighting, you’re bound to face a couple of logistical challenges. Those challenges become even more complicated when a portrait subject wears glasses due to reflections. Luckily, photographer Erik Valind teamed up with ExpoImaging to create a portrait tutorial that shows off just how simple it is to get rid of those.
To light this shot, Erik sets up one main light and bounces its output off of an extra large Rogue Flash Bender. When he sees that that isn’t enough, he adds another flash with a snoot then brings in a white reflector to bounce the light output from the main flash which opens up the contrast just enough to make it easier to work with in post-production.
But the real challenge comes when glasses are added in.
What Erik does is demonstrates how the same pose he was using looks when glasses are added into the mix. His solution is rather simple, and you can check it out in the video below.
There’s more than one method though.
This image shot during my Rokinon 135mm f2 review has the light coming from camera left. As you cn see, my face is also in that direction. I generally think it delivers more flattering light. The way that I got the reflections out naturally has to do with how large the light modifier is (which is basically making the light so soft the reflection is null) and the specific positioning of it above a 45 degree angle from my face. In fact, it was almost at a true 90 degrees. This way the large light modifier is aimed directly overhead and a little bit in front. Because it’s so large, it bathes me in enough light to also fill in my face.
This method has worked more than once for me. Other methods include backlighting (which is all the rage), side lighting, etc. Essentially, you need to find a perfect balance between making the light as indirect to the glasses as possible while also illuminating your subject.
