Key light camera right or left??

WingsOfLovePhoto

Happy March 31st! Just wanting to pose a question to all.... Do you shoot your portraits with your key light to camera right or camera left?? For a year I have been shooting with a softbox to camera right. I was told in a workshop that it should be camera left. Sooo... I tried it but ended up with some weird shadows. could have been a weird reflection from my reflector or something else in the room that I didn't notice but where do you all put your key light and why? Even for outdoor portraiture using an off camera flash... is right or left best in most instances? Thanks for your input

dogwood

There was an intense discussion about this over on dpreview based on one of my photos (I tend to shoot with the key camera right too).

Here's that thread

Pay particular attention to UKPhotographers comments-- in the end, I had to admit he had a point. But I still think it merely depends on your subject and there's no 100 percent rule.

jeffreaux2

I dont do studio work, but do use off camera lighting. There is no hard answer for this. The shape of a persons nose can be one factor in this decision. A crooked nose can be straightened if lit from the correct position....and that can be either right or left depending on the person. Many of the old "classic" portraits are keyed from subject right. That may be where their camera right directions come from.

IMO your subject's face should determine where the key is located. This from a Ron Zucker book I reference on portraits and lighting.

http://www.culture24.org.uk/asset_arena/0/25/31520/v0_master.jpg

http://www.worldart.com.au/images/mona-lisa1.jpg

Matt S

In the studio I have the main at camera left, mostly because there is a wall camera right that leaves little room to move the main around. As a result I tend to do the same thing on location as a result of habit.

As to a rule, I really don't know why there would be any hard fast rule. In fact I figured I was backwards to most people and that they had the main camera right. Guess I am more "normal" than I thought, though I doubt anyone would accuse me of that.

eL eSs Vee

I'd never even thought about this as a rule. I've always placed the key light on whichever side makes the subject look their best (remember: "Take the picture from my good side.") or modified to give the image the mood I'm trying to invoke. And when I'm shooting fashion, the key could be anywhere, including directly above the model's head, with fill on one or both sides of the camera; if any at all, depending on the mood I'm after.

Place the key wherever it's most comfortable for you.

Tim Kamppinen

I tend to default to camera left, but there's no good reason for that. One side is not better than the other. The decisions that should guide the placement of the light as far as right or left are

1. which way your subject is looking (this can be totally arbitrary, or it could be that your subject has a "good side" that you want to take advantage of, or even an interesting scar that you want to feature, whatever. Just decide which way you want them to point their nose and then move on to...)

2.What type of lighting you want to use. If you want short lighting, put the light on the side of their head with the ear hidden. If you want broad lighting, put it on the side of their head with the ear showing. If they're looking right at you just arbitrarily pick a side that you want the light to come from. You could shoot it both ways and pick the one you like more.

Light placement needs to be tailored to the subject and mood that you're trying to achieve. More important that right or left most of the time is the height and distance. You could produce identical portraits with the light on opposite sides as long as your subject turns his or her head in the opposite direction... who's to say which one is better? It all comes down to what you (and your client of course) like.

gavin

Who Bloody cares? Shoot with it where you want it to be. If your happy with the results then Fantastic!! That is all that matters.

Art Scott

It seems mine tend to be camera right and thisIdo believe started with my living room studio.....my front door was always camera left and so I plced the main to the right of the door so I could be nearly set up when client arrived....also all bathroom and changing rooms were to the left...........so aside from bg light on the left it was open......

Andas Gavin said....who cares....just set it up and shoot.....keeping client happy is all taht matters.............

Mitchell

Who makes up these rules?

If this is a rule, it was certainly made to be broken. How can you encourage creativity by adhering to "rules"?

pathfinder

How can one know where the key light needs to be, if they haven't even seen the subject!!


Short light, broad light, backlit, look at the subject, decide what is most favorable for them, and go with that.

WingsOfLovePhoto

Thanks for all the words of wisdom. Looks like I am going back to camera right because that is what has been working for me for whatever reason. Probably because I am left brained. When doing various lighting I do move it but usually keep on right as that what my room allows best. This of course is only as long as that is the person's "good side" but since I do mostly babies and kids they still usually haven't learned to have a preference yet! Now when doing outside work I am able to be a little more creative. Can't wait till the weather gets better and things green up a bit! Thanks again...but if there is more input keep it coming!