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Lighting & Flash

Broad Lighting

A portrait approach in which the side of the face turned toward the camera is the lit side.

In depth

Because the larger, camera-facing plane of the face is illuminated, broad lighting makes a face appear wider and fuller. It suits narrow faces and gives an open, approachable feel, but it flattens features on a round face and is generally the less common of the two options in classical portraiture.

Examples in practice

Turning a thin-faced subject away from the light so their near cheek is fully lit visibly broadens the face.