5 Tips for Studio Portrait Photography

Monday 19 January 2026, 23:32 by Elja Trum | 2,082 views | 0 comments

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

When you start taking portrait photos in a studio for the first time, a lot comes at you. It will take a little while to get used to the equipment. Here are five tips to help you get started.

1. Build your lighting setup step by step

It can be tempting to use all the available flashes straight away during your studio session. After all, you are in the studio with all that equipment for a reason.

It is smarter, however, to build your lighting setup step by step. This way, you can see exactly what each lamp does in your image.

Start with one flash, the main light on your model, and make sure you can already take photos you are happy with. You can do a great deal with one flash.

Main light + Hair light + Background light (Model: Lisa)
You can then add a hair light, for example, or a light on the background. Or a reflector on the other side of your model to lift the shadows.

By making just one adjustment at a time, you discover what each light does. This is a great exercise for learning how to create good lighting setups. Once you have a little more experience, this will help you quickly create lighting setups for the photos you have in mind.

2. Check your histogram

Every time you adjust the lighting setup or your model moves, it is smart to quickly check the histogram on your camera. Take a photo in the new situation and look at its histogram.

Make sure there are no blown-out pixels in the image, unless you have a light source in the frame. So there should be no pixels touching the right edge of the histogram.

Histogram with overexposure
You also want to make sure that your histogram is filled far enough. So that it reaches far enough to the right. Otherwise, you have an underexposed photo. You cannot rely on your screen, especially in a dark studio. Check the histogram, or use a light meter.

3. Fill your frame

Of course, this does not just apply to portrait photography in the studio, but it probably stands out even more there. Make sure you do not have a lot of empty space above your model in the photo. I often see this go wrong in studio photos.

Often because the central focus point is still being used. Or simply because you are busy with your lighting and directing your model.

Fill the frame with your subject
So before you take a photo, look through the entire viewfinder image on your camera. Is the composition you have chosen really the right one?

Of course, you can still crop out empty space afterwards, but you could also have used those sensor pixels to capture more of your model.

4. Light your model and background separately

If you have enough space in your studio, it can be smart to leave plenty of distance between your model and the background. I often place my model three or four metres in front of the background.

Light your background separately from your subject
This way, you can see the light on your model completely separately from the light on your background. That makes it easy to make your background darker or lighter, or blue, while your model remains properly lit. You also avoid getting your model's shadow on the background.

5. Experiment

Do not just do what you have done before. Take the photos you know will work out well, but always try something new as well.

For example, you could try a very high or very low viewpoint, have your model take on an unusual pose, use a light modifier you made yourself, play with colour filters or try an unusual composition.

Experiment
It does not matter if it does not work out, as you have already taken some great photos. But your experiment will often be a success too. It might even be your favourite photo from the shoot.

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