This article was updated in December 2023 with contributions from John McIntire and Russell Masters.

Lighting can make or break a portrait. In my experience, it’s often what turns an ordinary snapshot into a professional-looking image. Clamshell lighting is a technique that’s simple yet powerful, and it can take your photography to the next level.

But what is clamshell lighting? And how can you master clamshell lighting setups for stunning results?

In this article, I explain the ins and outs of this simple – yet incredibly powerful – two-light portrait setup. From experimenting with different modifiers to playing with light positions and beyond, I’ll explore all the details to help you master this wonderful lighting technique. By the time you’re finished reading, you’ll know how to create clamshell-lit portraits like a pro (no matter your lighting gear!).

So if you’re ready to become a clamshell portrait master, then let’s dive right in, starting with the basics:

What is clamshell lighting?

Clamshell lighting is a simple, two-light configuration: You place both lights facing your subject at a 45-degree angle, one angled up, one angled down. Note that your key light (i.e., your primary, brighter light) should point 45 degrees downward, while your fill light should point 45 degrees upward. Your camera should sit between the two lights, facing your subject.

When viewed from the side, the two lights resemble an open clamshell (imagination may be required!):

A clamshell setup provides beautiful, soft light with faint shadows and glorious catchlights. Clamshell lighting works well on pretty much everyone; I’d say that it’s flattering for men and women of all ages, so it’s a great setup to have in your back pocket.

Note that clamshell lighting is just like butterfly lighting, except that you add the fill light below the subject (which eliminates any heavy shadows caused by the key light). So if you’re already doing a butterfly setup, you can always add in a clamshell look at the end for some variation!

How to create a clamshell lighting setup: step-by-step process

Creating a clamshell lighting setup is simple, and as long as you have two working lights, you’re practically guaranteed to pull it off. Here’s what you do:

Step 1: Select your lights and modifiers

Clamshell lighting requires two light sources, and these can be studio strobes or speedlights, modified or unmodified.

Personally, I’d recommend you use studio strobes. Although speedlights are also fine, they take slightly longer to recycle between shots, so you won’t be able to do rapid-fire portrait photography. (Another benefit to strobes is that they generally include modeling lights, which are low-powered continuous lights that illuminate your subject while you get set up and can help you identify the perfect lighting angles.)

I’d also recommend you use modifiers – these will help soften the light for a more flattering effect – and grabbing a pair of similarly sized softboxes is a great starting point. (If you don’t have softboxes, you could try using an umbrella for the main light, instead.)

That said, if you don’t have any modifiers or you prefer a harder look, then work with an unmodified light! If you really embrace the effect and sculpt it as needed, you may get a great result. Plus, it’s your photoshoot!

Step 2: Position your key light

Grab your key light (i.e., your main light source). The goal is to place it in front of your subject and slightly above; angle it down so it points directly at the subject’s nose.

If you want a softer effect that features fast light falloff, bring the light in close to the subject’s face. If you want a harder effect that lights the subject more broadly, move the light farther away.

Next, meter for your desired aperture (we’ll use a hypothetical f/11) and take a test shot.

If everything is set up correctly, you should produce a decently lit image with deep shadows under your subject’s nose and chin. (If the image is too dim, feel free to brighten your light, and if the image is overexposed, do the reverse.)

Step 3: Add your fill light

Now it’s time to add in the second light; take your fill light and place it directly underneath your key light, pointed upward toward your subject at 45 degrees.

Adjust the light’s brightness until it sits two stops below the key light. (If you wanted to shoot at f/11, you could meter your fill light for an f/5.6 result.) Then take a second test shot.

If the effect is too strong and your fill light is obliterating the shadows, turn down the light power. If the light isn’t doing enough, turn it up. The main thing to look out for is the fill light overpowering the key light, as that would result in a very unflattering image that’s lit from below.

Step 4: Capture your clamshell image!

At this point, you should have two lights sharing the same vertical space, and the light on top should be roughly two stops brighter than the light on the bottom.

Stand behind the lights and shoot through the gap. Note: If there isn’t much of a gap to work with, raise and/or lower both of your lights until you have enough room to shoot in the middle. To be safe, you may want to take another meter reading.

Of course, once you’ve grabbed a shot or two, check your camera’s LCD for exposure issues and other concerns. And if you have the capability, I recommend tethering your camera to your laptop; that way, you can review your images instantly on the big screen.

And that’s all there is to it! Clamshell lighting is really easy to do, and with a bit of practice, you’ll be able to get the two-light setup running in a couple of minutes.

Clamshell vs butterfly lighting

Butterfly lighting and clamshell lighting are often discussed together, but they’re two very distinct lighting patterns.

A basic butterfly lighting setup uses just one light, positioned above and angled down toward the subject. Since there’s no fill light, the shadows on the nose and chin remain heavy, giving more dramatic and intense results. It’s an effect that can be particularly well-suited for fashion photography.

Now, let’s compare this to clamshell lighting. Clamshell lighting involves placing a second light below the subject, softening the shadows. This produces a gentler, more soothing effect, so it’s often seen in conventional headshot photography or applications with far less drama.

Pro tip: If you’re uncertain about the final look you want, you can always start with butterfly lighting. Experiment with the shadows and angles, then simply add a fill light to achieve the clamshell look if you desire something softer. This way, you can play around with two different lighting styles with very little effort. It’s a convenient and creative approach to portrait lighting.

Clamshell vs Rembrandt lighting

Another classic lighting technique to consider? Rembrandt lighting. The Rembrandt pattern involves placing a light off to the side of the subject – often around 45 degrees – to create a clear triangle of light on the subject’s cheek.

Because it covers so much of the face in shadows, Rembrandt lighting is known for its dark and moody qualities. It’s a favorite among those seeking a dramatic, theatrical style in their images.

So how does clamshell lighting stack up against Rembrandt? Clamshell lighting is the better choice if you want a more cheerful, detailed shot. By positioning lights both above and below your subject, you can illuminate the face more evenly and reduce harsh shadows. This brings out more of the facial details and gives the image a livelier, more approachable feeling.

In short, if drama and moodiness are your goals, Rembrandt lighting may be the way to go. But for a more uplifting and detailed portrait, clamshell lighting fits the bill. Understanding the nuances of these lighting techniques will allow you to choose the right style for each unique portrait session. Experiment with both, and see what you think!

Clamshell photography setup: a few quick tips

You know how to capture a basic clamshell image. But how can you take your shots even further? Here are a few of my top tips to help you out:

1. Experiment with different modifiers

When you’re first starting with clamshell lighting, softboxes can be your best friends. They provide a gentle touch that’s perfect for beginners. But as you get more comfortable, you might find yourself wanting to explore other options. This is an excellent idea.

Have a pair of strip boxes you want to use? Go for it. Want to use a beauty dish as your key light and an umbrella as fill? Sure. How about a snoot and a small softbox? Absolutely. Use what you have at hand. Pretty soon, you’ll be able to improvise like a pro.

Beauty dishes, for instance, create a harder look that can add drama to a portrait. Their focused light can accentuate textures and details. On the other hand, umbrellas can really soften up the shadows. By throwing around a lot of light, they make everything feel more diffused and ethereal.

By testing out different modifiers, you’ll learn how they affect your images. So don’t be afraid to try something new. Just remember to keep the essence of clamshell lighting in mind: that beautiful, flattering glow that makes portraits shine.

2. Try repositioning your lights

Light position matters in clamshell lighting, and even an adjustment of a few inches can dramatically change the final image.

Move the lights closer to your subject, and the shadows will soften and become more gradated for a gentle and delicate look.

Move the lights farther from your subject, and the shadows will harden and become sharper. This can add a sense of depth and drama to the image.

But it’s not just about distance. You can move your key light higher to create longer shadows or lower to create shorter shadows. You can do the same with the fill light.

Just be cautious not to go overboard. The 45-degree positions that I discussed in my initial step-by-step section are designed to look flattering. Playing with the positioning is great, but don’t lose sight of your original goals!

3. Add more lights

Once you’ve set up your clamshell lighting just right, you might think you’re done. But there’s more you can do to enhance the scene and create striking images.

For instance, you can add rim lights behind your subject, either on one side or both, to create a delicate sliver of light around the head. This effect will help your subject pop off the background and make the image more dynamic.

A hair light can add depth to your photograph. Positioned above and behind the subject, it shines subtly on the hair to separate it from the background.

Don’t hesitate to experiment with background lights, as well. Placing a light behind the subject (that’s pointed at the backdrop) can create a beautiful cone of light that adds extra depth. It’s how many photographers combine a well-lit subject with a well-lit background!

Bottom line: By adding these additional lights, you give yourself more creative freedom and open up a world of possibilities in your clamshell lighting setups.

4. Convert to black and white

Clamshell lighting produces wonderful images that can look stunning in both color and black and white. Converting your shot to black and white will emphasize the interplay of shadows and highlights while potentially adding a layer of three-dimensionality to the photo.

If you shoot in RAW, and I highly recommend you do, you have the flexibility to photograph using your camera’s Monochrome mode and still convert back to color if needed. Or you can start in color and convert to black and white later on.

The black-and-white conversion can make the features of the face stand out in a unique way. It might bring out textures, emphasize contrasts, or even create a mood that color doesn’t capture. Experimenting with this conversion allows you to explore a range of visual expressions within a single lighting setup, which is always a good idea!

5. Watch the catchlights

Catchlight is that magical spot of light in the subject’s eyes, one that’s created by a reflection from the light source. It brings life to the eyes; without a catchlight, the eyes – and the entire portrait – can appear flat and lifeless.

Therefore, it’s important that you always make sure your clamshell photos include catchlights! If a catchlight isn’t present, you may need to ask your subject to angle their head, or you may need to make slight adjustments to your lights. Make sure to review each test shot on your camera’s LCD to ensure that the catchlight is just as you want it.

Note that with clamshell lighting, since it involves two lights rather than one, you might notice a double catchlight. This is a feature some photographers love, while others are less enthusiastic.

If you’re not a fan of the bottom catchlight, don’t fret! It can always be cloned out during post-processing.

Clamshell lighting examples

Now let’s take a look at some clamshell examples. You can use them as inspiration, though don’t limit yourself – these are just a handful of the many clamshell setups you can create!

First, we have a nice black and white portrait. Notice the soft shadows on my subject’s cheeks:

Next, we have a brighter, more upbeat clamshell image with a well-lit background:

Then another black and white with a slightly darker background:

To pull this final shot off, I added a third light, pointed toward the background. Note that you can experiment with different head turns:

Clamshell lighting: final words

If you’ve made it this far, you should understand the power of a basic clamshell lighting setup.

Of course, you can always take your clamshell setups to the next level with additional lights and modifiers, but even the basics are guaranteed to get good results.

So head into your studio and try some clamshell lighting out for yourself!

Now over to you:

What subjects do you plan to shoot using a two-light clamshell setup? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

First things first—check out this list of high-profile films and TV shows released over the last two years:

• Dune
• John Wick: Chapter 4
• The Nun II
• Stranger Things: Season 4
• The Batman

All of these films were shot on digital cameras and created with digital technology. Several of them were even shot with the same camera system. And yet, they all look incredibly different from each other. Ever wonder how filmmakers achieve this? While, of course, production design, costumes, and lighting all play a major role in how footage will look and feel, ultimately, a lot of it comes down to color grading.

Color grading is a process. It’s an art and a science. It’s how a colorist alters certain aspects of an image—the original colors, contrast, saturation, and more—to achieve a desired look. And using LUTs is a significant aspect of color grading.

LUTs are the unsung heroes of video editing and color grading. They’re not just filters—A LUT (Lookup Table) is a predefined array of numerical values that offers a convenient way to streamline a particular computation. In color grading, a LUT converts input color values (typically from the camera) into the desired output values (ultimately reflected in the final footage).

Think of them as a shortcut to achieving a specific visual style, whether it’s the sun-drenched hues of a summer blockbuster or the gritty tones of a noir thriller. However, they’re not just a drag-and-drop fix. Often, your footage must meet specific requirements for them to work.

The Technical Side: Understanding LUTs in Video Editing

At its core, a LUT remaps the colors in your video footage. It’s like a translator, converting the original hues and tones into a new color space. This process can be as simple as adjusting the brightness and contrast or as intricate as altering individual color channels to achieve a desired mood or atmosphere.

However, in the world of LUTs, it’s essential to distinguish between log conversion and creative LUTs. Most modern cinema cameras will film in a log profile. This saturation and contrast-devoid profile allows for greater tweaking in post-production.

Log conversion LUTs are designed to convert this flat, log-recorded footage into a more standard, contrast-rich image, essentially serving as a starting point for color grading.

As every camera unit has its own color science and gamma curve, and most units have multiple color profiles, a specific log conversion LUT depends on the camera and profile you filmed on.

The above image was filmed on a Canon C300 Mk III in C-Log 2. If I apply a Sony S-log 2 conversion LUT, the results look like this:

Not so great.

On the other hand, creative LUTs are all about artistic expression. They’re used to impart a specific style or mood to the footage, whether it’s a vintage look, a cinematic feel, or a particular color theme.

While log conversion LUTs bring footage to a baseline for further grading, creative LUTs are used to infuse the footage with an artistic vision.

Check out the clip below to get an idea of the transformations they can create.

For those venturing into video editing, you might come across terms like “Cinematic LUTs” or “Filmic LUTs.” These pre-designed color profiles emulate the look of film stock or replicate the color grading from famous movies. They’re a fantastic starting point for beginners and a time-saver for seasoned professionals.

Want to start experimenting with LUTs? Good news! Here are 48 FREE LUTS you can download right and start using today:

Now, while LUTs are commonly associated with post-production, they’re also making their way into in-camera applications. It’s a pretty pivotal reason, as this feature is especially beneficial for visualizing the final look on set and making informed decisions about lighting and exposure.

Of course, when shooting in log, you would need a correction LUT to see the footage properly. Still, you can also apply creative LUTs for feedback, which is invaluable for directors and cinematographers striving for a specific visual tone.

Check out this behind-the-scenes video for the children’s TV show Heirs of The Night. Pay special attention starting at 2:13.

The show revolves around vampires and, as a result, the majority of the show takes place at night. However, the producers decided to shoot a day-for-night process in order to maximize shooting time during the day.

As that process is very heavy on color grading, the cinematographer utilized in-camera LUTs to give the filmmakers a clearer sense of how the end result would look. As you can see, the difference between how things looked on set and how things appeared in the final product was significant, to say the least.

With this, it’s crucial to note that in-camera LUTs are primarily for monitoring purposes. The recorded footage still retains its flat, log profile, preserving the flexibility for detailed color grading in post-production.

LUTs in Action: Software and Practical Use

When it comes to applying LUTs, video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve offer seamless integration. Each program has its own way of handling LUTs, but the underlying principle remains the same: You select a LUT that aligns with your creative vision and instantly transforms your footage’s color profile.

For instance, in Premiere Pro, you can apply LUTs through the Lumetri Color panel. While in Final Cut Pro, it’s a matter of a few clicks in the “Effects” browser. DaVinci Resolve’s advanced color grading tools take it even further, allowing for more refined adjustments.

Practical examples of LUT use are abundant. Let’s say you’ve shot a beach scene that looks a bit flat. You can instantly give it warm, vibrant tones by applying a “Summer Beach” LUT.

For a closer, step-by-step look, check out our tutorial from Robbie Janney, who helps you walk through adding LUTs in Premiere Pro.

Exploring the World of FREE LUTs and Making Your Own

The internet is a treasure trove of LUTs, both free and premium. While we have a solid selection of 17 FREE Cinematic LUTS, websites like PremiumBeat offer a variety of LUTs for Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Final Cut Pro.

Whether you’re looking for something specific like “LUTs for Sony cameras” or more general like “cinematic LUTs,” there’s a plethora to choose from.

However, it doesn’t stop there. Once you get the hang of using LUTs, you might find yourself returning to a grading setup that works well for you. While not identical in practice, I’ve been using the same Lightroom preset for my photos for the last few years, and I can’t imagine switching to something else.

In this scenario, you can export your grade (with some limitations) to create your own LUT. This can then be used across various platforms, shared with your friends, or even considered for sale!

In the tutorial below, I’ll walk you through the process:

Conclusion: The Transformative Power of LUTs

In filmmaking and video production, LUTs are more than just tools; they are the bridge between vision and reality. As the cinematographer sculpts light and shadow, LUTs add the final touches, transforming ordinary footage into cinematic art.

They are a testament to the power of color and its ability to evoke emotion, set the mood, and bring a director’s vision to life. In a skilled editor’s hands, LUTs are the secret weapon for creating video masterpieces.

License this image via oneinchpunch.

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Photography and cinematography equipment company Tilta teamed up with Oscar-winning Director of Photography Claudio Miranda, ASC, to create The X Gift, a holiday-themed short film shot entirely on iPhone 15 Pro.

“X encapsulates the essence of Christmas, representing the notions of surprise and boundless possibilities. Its objective is to communicate that this exceptional gift serves as a guiding light of encouragement for individuals of all ages and professions. The aspiration is to motivate people to capture cinematic moments with their loved ones, seizing life’s beauty at any time and in any place,” Tilta explains. “Beyond being a mere product showcase, this film extends an invitation to spark creativity, spread joy, and cultivate a sense of togetherness during the festive holiday season.”

Alongside working with Miranda, the Chilean cinematographer known for his work on Life of Pi, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Top Gun: Maverick, Tilta also enlisted production designer Yong Ok Lee, known for her work on Minari, The Farewell, and Marvelous and the Black Hole.

The production team used Tilta’s latest product, the Khronos Ecosystem, designed for filmmakers using the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. “This cutting-edge technology played a crucial role in completing the entire shoot,” Tilta explains.

The company says its Khronos products enable filmmakers to integrate the latest iPhone Pro models into a high-level, professional cinema workflow. “Leveraging the Khronos ecosystem designed by Tilta, the iPhone has the potential to seamlessly integrate into high-level workflows similar to those found in expert productions. Even as a smartphone, it exhibits capabilities that align with the standards of professional filmmaking, approaching the quality levels of many dedicated cameras,” the company explains.

iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max incorporate many impressive cinema-oriented features, including recording ProRes RAW footage directly to an attached SSD and fantastic overall video quality.

“I mean nowadays, cameras are so simple, versus when I was starting, it was film and processing. It was a lot more of a deal. Now, people could just pick up phones and create great content,” says Miranda.

Miranda also notes the utility of Blackmagic’s new Camera App, which provides the color and exposure control the award-winning cinematographer requires.

Gene Nagata of the YouTube channel Potato Jet shot the behind-the-scenes video of The X Gift and noted that it is hard to believe the footage produced by the latest iPhone models. “If you’re just looking at the monitor, it’s very hard to think like this is coming off a phone. Really impressive actually. My first time really seeing the ProRes and the Log really pushed the limits by a cinematographer. So, it’s actually really cool to see how capable these little things are. It definitely makes me rethink the camera that I have in my pocket for sure.”

It is really incredible just how far smartphone imaging technology has come. With the aid of new apps and accessories, mobile devices have made professional-quality filmmaking more accessible than ever.

Image credits: Tilta