Butterfly lighting uses a single main light placed high, directly in front of the subject and angled down, so a small butterfly-shaped shadow falls under the nose. It gives a smooth, symmetrical look that is popular for glamour and beauty portraits.
What You Need
You can build this look with one light source and a few simple helpers. The main light should be soft and fairly large, because a small hard source will exaggerate skin texture and create sharp shadow edges.
- One main light, such as a flash or continuous light with a softbox, beauty dish or large umbrella.
- A light stand or boom arm that can raise the light well above head height.
- A reflector, white card or low table surface to bounce light up from below.
- A plain background, either a wall or a roll of paper.
Step by Step Setup
- Place the subject a comfortable distance from the background, often a metre or more, so the background stays separate from the light.
- Position the main light directly in front of the subject, centred on their face, and raise it above eye level.
- Angle the light down so it falls on the face at roughly forty-five degrees from above. Treat this as a baseline and adjust by eye.
- Place a reflector under the chin, just out of frame, to lift shadows beneath the chin and neck.
- Shoot from slightly below the light, at about the subject’s eye level, with the lens pointing straight at the face.
- Check the shadow under the nose. It should be small and centred, not stretching toward the lip.
Camera Settings
These figures are general guidance for a studio portrait and will change with your light output and distance.
| Setting | General range |
|---|---|
| Aperture | f/5.6 to f/8 for a sharp face |
| Shutter speed | At or below your flash sync speed |
| ISO | Lowest native value, such as 100 |
| Focal length | Roughly 70mm to 105mm on a full frame body |
Common Adjustments
If the shadow under the nose is too long, lower the light slightly or move it a little closer to the camera axis. If cheekbones look flat, raise the light a touch and add a bit more shadow. A pose with the chin slightly lifted tends to work well, because it keeps the light on the cheekbones and away from deep eye sockets.
Hair light or a subtle background light can add separation, but keep the main light clearly dominant. For different faces, small shifts in height and distance make large differences, so allow time to test frames.
FAQ
Is butterfly lighting the same as Paramount lighting?
The two names are generally used for the same setup. Paramount is the older studio term, and butterfly is the name that describes the shadow shape under the nose.
Can I use natural light?
Yes. A bright window with a white card below the face can imitate the look. Place the subject facing the window and use a reflector under the chin to lift the shadows.
The Short Version
Place a large soft light high and centred in front of the subject, angle it down, and add a reflector below the chin. Adjust height until the shadow under the nose is small and centred, and treat all numbers here as baseline guidance for your own setup.
