Flash photography tip: Low-key en profil portrait

Thursday 1 February 2024, 16:08 by Elja Trum | 3,384 views | 8 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

A great way to create a dramatic portrait is to photograph someone 'en profil' against a dark background. The trick is to show only a rim of light on your model, so that their profile is clearly visible.

f/10, 1/160s, 100 ISO @ 31mm
Use a black background and have your model look to the side. Place your flash next to your model, so that they look straight into it, and then move it another metre backwards, closer to the background. You are effectively flashing behind your model.

In the photo above, I photographed my family this way. I photographed each person separately in the same way and then combined them in Photoshop. At Photofacts Academy, I show in a video how to combine them in Photoshop.

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About the author

Elja Trum is the founder of Photofacts and online photography course website Photofacts Academy. He has been writing about photography since 2006. Elja is also the author of (Dutch) books on composition, black-and-white photography, flash photography and portrait photography.

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8 comments

guest wrote on Friday 2 February 2024 at 21:10 | reply
beautiful image, I’m planning to photograph the grandchildren like this. Just a little more patience because the youngest just turned 3.
Translated from Dutch.

Elja Trum wrote on Tuesday 6 February 2024 at 13:19 | reply
My daughter was probably even younger than three here. In the photo, she was being held by my wife so I could take the photo. Hands just outside the frame.
Translated from Dutch.

Vbruggeman wrote on Tuesday 6 February 2024 at 11:42 | reply
Wow 🤩 Beautiful photo! Nice that you provide the explanation with it, both the setting (guideline) and the way the photo came about, namely 4 separate photos. I’m still just a beginner amateur. I suspect that this photo couldn’t be taken in 1 go? May I ask why you took this in 4 photos and not in 1 photo? I’m crazy about low key and high key photography, but this discipline is still a ‘very far from my bed’ show. I received the Flash Bible in the autumn and still need to delve into the subject.
Many thanks in advance!
Translated from Dutch.

Elja Trum wrote on Tuesday 6 February 2024 at 13:24 | reply
Combining four separate photos makes it easier. In theory, it might be possible in one photo. However, you'd then be crammed closely together with a good chance that there will be a lot of difference in the size of the heads (because of the depth).

The chance of a lot of shadows is also very high then. That we end up in each other's light.

By now taking a photo of everyone in the same place with the same light (actually several, so that I could select the best one afterwards), you keep everything under control.

Taking low-key photos isn't as difficult as it seems. Make sure you have a dark room and place one light behind your model (often to the side). Then adjust the exposure for that light and start shooting.

Also just a matter of trying and seeing what you like working best.
Translated from Dutch.

Martin Keuter wrote on Tuesday 6 February 2024 at 12:29 | reply
Not very informative or educational when it’s shown as quickly as it is here. Pointless, then!

By the way, a nice photo!
Translated from Dutch.

Elja Trum wrote on Tuesday 6 February 2024 at 13:26 | reply
What information are you missing, Martin?
I thought I explained it fairly well. A bit of basic knowledge of working with a flash is expected, but then I think it should work with the information in this article.

And for putting the photo together, you can click through to the video, which can simply be viewed publicly by anyone with this link.
Translated from Dutch.

J.R.Postma wrote on Tuesday 6 February 2024 at 12:44 | reply
Hello Elja,
It has nothing to do with photography but there is a difference between a truck and a trick.
Translated from Dutch.

Elja Trum wrote on Tuesday 6 February 2024 at 13:17 | reply
Oh yeah, you're right.
I've changed it.
Translated from Dutch.

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