Headshot lighting setups: one light, two lights and clamshell
Three headshot lighting setups that flatter almost everyone, how to place each light, and quick fixes for glasses, shine and uneven backdrops on location.
On a corporate headshot day, the best lighting is the one you never have to touch again. It needs to flatter a 25-year-old engineer and a 60-year-old CEO, with and without glasses, in the same frame, without you adjusting between people. These three setups do that.
Setup 1: one light and a reflector
The simplest setup that still looks professional.
- Key light: a large softbox or octabox (90 cm / 36 in or bigger), about 45 degrees to one side and a little above eye level, angled down slightly.
- Reflector: white or silver on the opposite side, close to the face, to lift the shadow side.
- Background: a grey or white backdrop a couple of meters behind. With one light, it will fall a little darker, which can look nice and moody.
Good for: small offices, quick setups, a classic look with gentle shadow. Watch: the reflector creeping out of position as people bump it.
Setup 2: two lights, key plus background
- Key light: same as above.
- Background light: a second light aimed at the backdrop, behind the sitter or from the side, to make it clean and even. Use a grid or a gel if you want a brand color.
- Fill: a reflector, or bounce off a white wall.
Good for: clean white or brand-colored backdrops, consistent results across hundreds of people. This is our default for conference booths.
Setup 3: clamshell
The beauty-light classic and a favorite for headshots, because it's so forgiving.
- Key: a large softbox directly in front of the sitter, above eye level, angled down.
- Fill: a second softbox or a large reflector directly below, angled up, pointing at the chin. The two form a "clamshell" with your lens shooting through the gap.
- Background: a separate light, if you want it clean and bright.
Good for: minimal shadows, smooth skin, bright eyes with catchlights top and bottom. It suits almost every face and needs very little adjustment between people.
Quick fixes on location
Glasses glare
Raise the key light and angle it more steeply, or move it further to the side, so the reflection bounces out of frame. Ask the sitter to tilt their chin down a touch. Check every pair of glasses on the first frame.
Shine on skin
Bring blotting papers and a translucent powder, and let people use them in the queue. A little more diffusion on the key also helps.
Uneven backdrop
Move the sitter further from the backdrop so it doesn't pick up their shadow, and light it separately. A backdrop light with a grid gives you control over the falloff.
Mixed ambient light
Office windows and fluorescent tubes mix colors. Shoot with flash or strobe at a shutter speed and aperture where ambient light barely registers, and set a fixed white balance (more in our camera settings guide).
Lock it down
Once it looks right, tape marks on the floor for the stool and every stand, and don't touch the power settings. Consistency across the whole team is what corporate clients care about. If someone's tall, raise the stool or have them stand, rather than moving the lights.
FAQ
What is the best lighting for headshots?
For corporate headshots, a large soft key light slightly above eye level, plus a fill or reflector below or to the side, flatters nearly everyone. Clamshell lighting is the most forgiving setup.
Can I shoot good headshots with one light?
Yes. One large softbox and a reflector give a professional, classic look. Add a second light for the backdrop when you need it clean and even.
How do I avoid reflections in glasses?
Raise the key light and angle it more steeply, move it further to the side, or have the sitter lower their chin slightly, so the reflection falls outside the lens.
