Shooting Headshots with Constant Lighting – Behind the Scenes
This week I shot a series of headshots using only constant lighting – no flash, no strobes, just LED video lights. It was fast, flexible, and perfect for building natural, flattering images that work for everything from LinkedIn profiles to creative portfolios.
Here’s a look at how I lit the session, step-by-step.
The Setup
I used a classic clean white background look, but with a bit of shape and separation to make each portrait feel polished but still natural.
Camera: Nikon Z8
Lens: Tamron 35-150mm, shot at 85mm for great compression
Settings: f/5, 1/100s, ISO 200
Backdrop: White fabric backdrop (Manfrotto)
Lighting Breakdown
All lighting was done with video LED fixtures — no flash involved. Here’s how I layered the light:
Step 1 – Expose for the Background
I started by lighting the background separately using two Kino Diva 31 lights positioned on either side of the white backdrop. The goal was to overexpose the background just slightly, creating a clean, consistent white.
To check it, I placed the subject in front and made sure they appeared in silhouette — this confirmed the background was hot enough without spilling onto the subject.
Step 2 – Add the Key Light
Once the backdrop was lit, I brought in my SmallRig 220D as the key light, fitted with a large softbox. It was placed at about a 45° angle to the subject, slightly above head height. This created a soft, directional light with enough wrap to flatter skin but still define facial features.
Step 3 – Add Fill Light
For fill, I used a Diva 31 light set to around 60% brightness on the opposite side of the key. This gently lifted the shadows and gave more balance to the exposure while keeping depth in the image.
This three-light setup gave me a crisp, professional look without needing to rely on high-speed sync or strobes — and because I could see the lighting in real time, adjustments were quick and intuitive.
Why Constant Lighting?
Using continuous LED lights for headshots offers a few big advantages:
What You See Is What You Get: You can adjust shadows, background exposure, and catchlights live.
Perfect for Video/Hybrid Shoots: You can shoot video and stills in the same setup.
Quiet & Non-Intrusive: No flashes popping — great for clients who feel nervous in front of the camera.
Posing & Lens Choice
I shot most headshots at 85mm, which is right in the sweet spot for flattering facial proportions. f/5 gave me plenty of sharpness while still isolating the subject from the background. I used a mix of seated and standing poses and gave simple prompts to keep clients relaxed.
Clients sat on a tall stool for comfort, and I directed them to turn slightly toward the key light, then bring their eyes back to camera. This gave clean light fall-off and natural-looking expression.