One More Nightime Cinematic Headshot
Trying to Perfect the Nighttime Cinematic Headshot
Written on the 26th of August, 2022
I had plenty of ideas in my mind that I wanted to execute. I called my friend Ali AlKhayat and explained the concepts to him, and he agreed to be my model for the day.
I started with nighttime cinematic headshots on my balcony located on the second floor. I picked this spot because the lights from stores in the distance created a beautiful blurred background. It's best to shoot from high buildings with lights in the background to get great nighttime headshots. Otherwise, the scene will be too dark, and you will miss the beauty of the cinematic headshots.
For these headshots, I typically use two Nikon SB-5000 Speedlights. The first Speedlight is attached to an octabox and serves as the key light, while the second Speedlight is connected to a softbox that acts as a rim light. I usually set the rim light to a minimal power level, just enough to illuminate the darker side and add depth and dimension to the image. Subtlety is essential to my photography style.
In the first image below, however, I set the rim light to a power level equal to or even greater than the key light. The rim light is prominently featured, reminiscent of classic Hollywood images, and the result looked fantastic. For the next two images, I adjusted the power of the rim light back to my usual preference for cinematic headshots.
The Gear I Used
