When I first started doing studio work, I followed all of the “guidelines” for studio lighting.  I placed my main (key) light at a 45-degree angle from my subject and about 2-3 feet above my subject’s head at a 45-degree angle.  I used a white foam core reflector on the opposite side of the main light next to the model to bounce light back at the model to minimize shadows.  I often used a hair light on a boom above the model’s head.  I think I used this set-up for about a year.  I typically used softboxes as modifiers.  This set-up is fine for headshots and basic portraiture, but I’ve found that it’s a bit too vanilla for editorial work.

My best advice about studio lighting is that you need to EXPERIMENT! If you ask some of the most successful photographers in the world about their lighting set-ups, you’ll get different answers from all of them.  That’s right.  As you become a more experienced photographer, you’ll want to experiment with different and unique lighting set-ups to help create your signature style.  I have no desire to go into a detailed lighting tutorial since I fundamentally believe that you will learn what lighting set-ups and techniques work for you and your style by experimenting with lighting.  Don’t be afraid.  By breaking the stuffy rules of the past, you’ll quickly discover that your lighting options are infinite.  Now, get out there and shoot!!!