How to get Perfect Rembrandt Lighting: Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey

Learning studio lighting patterns for portraits isn't an essential skill but using them a a starting point for your photo shoot is a great idea both for experienced and beginner photographers. Of all the lighting patterns you could try, Rembrandt lighting is one of the most timeless and popular. In this video Gavin Hoey walks you through exactly how it's done with clear and simple instructions.

Gavin also covers the potential pitfalls of Rembrandt lighting and demonstrates just how quickly the look you've so carefully crafted can simply disappear. He goes on to show how Rembrandt light can be created with hard light, in profile portraits and with soft light.

Products Used:

Olympus E-M1 Mark ii

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.2

Flashpoint eVOLV 200

Glow HexaPop 24" Portable Softbox

Benro GoPlus 28c Tripod

Flashpoint R2 Pro Transmitter

Production Equipment Used:

Olympus E-M1 Mark ii

Olympus M. Zuiko Digital 17mm f/1.8 Lens

Olympus LS-P4 Audio Recorder

Sennheiser Wireless Lavalier Microphone System

Studio Essentials Brown Pop-Up Background

Godox 100W LED light

Model Beth Smith

Photos by Gavin Hoey

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[martinwerge]

The simplest, correct demonstration of Rembrandt Lighting I have seen anywhere on YouTube or anywhere else! Bravo 👏

[Tom_YouTube_stole_my_handle]

Excellent. Really appreciate Beth engaging fully and not looking bored as models do in so many instructional films. Makes a huge difference.

[ericsensible]

I never unstood Rembrandt lighting until now!, Thanks Gavin
Eric, Pa USA

[vladimirm]

What a hell of a teacher! Always informative! I could even watch his "how to switch your camera on/off", and again will find something to step me up! Thanks G

[MD-cuwq]

Gavin Hoey, Daniel Norton, Mark Wallace, Sean Tucker - all time favourites! (In no particular order!) thanks for your work!

[vernonguidry]

One of the best illustrations of a photographic method I have seen. Hoey's movement of the modeling light to demonstrate how the lighting effect changed made the point directly and instantly. Well done.

[AlergicToSnow]

Gavin is the Best. Yet another practical topic that nobody else covers

[aussiegoosebumps]

Thanks Gavin, a great lesson to get perfect Rembrant Lighting. 40yrs ago I learnt this from NYI by correspondence learning. Also, how to place the shadow under the nose when doing this type of Lighting. When the main light is correctly placed, this shadow will travel diagonally from the bottom of the nose to the outer edge of the lips. You have done this without saying it. That's the way I was taught. Thanks again.

[mfreeman]

Nicely done. There was one short side shot at 8:51 he goes out on that really tells you _why_ people like Rembrandt lighting. Just gorgeous. It's also valuable to say it doesn't always come off, and it's super valuable to say turn the room lights off or down. Lots of people learning lighting don't realize that on their own and struggle until they do.

[unni.]

Easily THE best tutorial I have seen on photography!!!

[RickLincoln]

If I were not a photographer, I'd still watch Gavin's videos. Cheerful, educational and focused on the viewer, not the educator. So well done!

[klausnielsen]

So fantastic to see that you don't need to use a fancy studio to take fantastic pictures... Just ad a heater and a leaf blower and you're set to go.... Very cool and great inspiration.

[Muhammadfathi]

You are the most genius photographer I've ever seen. You give me a lot of joy whenever I watch any of your fantastic tutorials. Thank you so much ang God bless you.

[Photoshopuzr]

Nobody does like Gavin. Excellent. Big thanks.

[yogibses]

Your illustrations always fascinate me Gavin. Thanks

[TheFede]

I’m passionate about Rembrandt lighting and this is a very clear demonstration. Thank you very much Gavin

[phlotographer]

Have read a few of the comments. However, Split lighting is normally done at a lower level of light and also provides light in the shadow side eye. The intonation almost makes "loop/modified butterfly" seem to be something inferior. However, unlike Rembrandt lighting which is almost impossible to create without a modelling light, it is relatively easy to create modified butterfly using no modelling light which is generally available with small electronic flashes.


A couple of other things noticeable particularly the first time at the area of 5:25 when turning the subjects face toward the right (photographers left) is the facial view is well past a correct 2/3 view and thus the subjects nose becomes elongated and not exactly attractive. With this subject, it is very noticeable and not a facial view that a subject later would appreciate.


Also, without direction, the subject makes use of hands that sometimes show the palms which don't show hands to their best. Ideally, the hand closest to the camera is known as the "show hand". This subject does generally show the edge of the hand but non models likely will more often show the back of the hand which is just marginally better than the palm and generally should be avoided.


Now of course this was a tutorial related to Rembrandt lighting but the position of the model is square to the camera which is not ideal whereas a body position of either turned to the left or right of the camera in a 2/3 body position provides a nicer look to the subjects body.


HTH

[Narsuitus]

Thanks for an excellent video.

I understood Rembrandt lighting but before your video, I did not understand loop lighting.

[TheTawong]

Thank you for simplifying how to define what Rembrandt lighting is!

[joeyc]

Gavin that was terrific!! Adorama TV (you especially) is reason that I buy ALL of my lights from Adorama - seven Flashpoints and counting! You’ve helped me get so much better with lighting over the years, thank you!