In portrait photography, light is more than just a tool to brighten your subject—it is a creative force that shapes emotion, defines mood, and gives character to your image. Among the most evocative lighting styles available to photographers is split lighting. Known for its dramatic and bold aesthetic, split lighting involves illuminating only half of the subject's face, leaving the other half in deep shadow. This technique is simple to execute yet capable of producing strikingly intense and visually engaging portraits.
What is Split Lighting and Why Use It?
Split lighting is one of the most striking and easily recognizable lighting techniques in portrait photography. Characterized by a clean and dramatic contrast between the lit and shadowed sides of the subject’s face, it creates a compelling visual balance that draws the viewer in. The term "split" refers to how the light falls across the subject's face—one side illuminated, the other side in darkness—dividing the face into two distinct hemispheres. This lighting setup is not only simple to achieve but also incredibly effective for producing bold, emotionally resonant imagery.
To create the classic split lighting effect, the key light source is placed at a 90-degree angle to the subject's face, directly to their left or right. When positioned correctly, this setup casts light over one side of the face while the other remains in shadow, forming a vertical line of division straight down the middle. The look is sharp and decisive, emphasizing facial features such as cheekbones, jawlines, and the natural texture of the skin. Split lighting brings out structure, contrast, and a sense of dimension that flat, frontal lighting often lacks.
This method is especially popular in portrait genres that demand intensity and mood. From stylized editorial fashion shots to character portraits and conceptual art, the split lighting approach lends itself to themes of strength, seriousness, and inner depth. It is frequently used in commercial photography, theatrical headshots, and personal branding where a subject wants to appear confident, bold, or mysterious. Unlike flat lighting, which tends to smooth features and neutralize shadows, split lighting offers a sculptural quality that adds richness to the frame.
A major advantage of split lighting lies in its simplicity. You do not need complex studio equipment or elaborate modifiers to get started. With just one light source and a bit of spatial awareness, even beginners can create professional-looking results. It can be executed using natural light from a window or artificial lighting like a continuous LED panel, strobe, or even a desk lamp. What matters most is the light's direction and the relationship between the subject and the camera. Because of this accessibility, split lighting is a foundational technique taught in many photography courses and workshops.
Emotionally, split lighting can transform the tone of an image. It often evokes qualities such as determination, stoicism, introspection, and authority. In psychological terms, the dark side of the face can suggest complexity, concealment, or duality, while the illuminated side offers clarity and openness. This dual representation makes the technique incredibly versatile—it can suggest both vulnerability and resilience depending on how it is styled, posed, and composed.
The visual language of split lighting also lends itself well to storytelling. It can be used to symbolize internal conflict, mystery, or a character’s journey from darkness into light. In cinematic photography, directors of photography often use a similar technique to frame complex characters or scenes of high emotional tension. When translated into still photography, the result is an image that feels narratively rich and visually dramatic.
While powerful on its own, split lighting becomes even more dynamic when combined with intentional posing. For instance, having the subject look straight into the lens enhances the feeling of confrontation and directness. A slight turn of the head toward the shadow adds intrigue and mystery, whereas turning toward the light introduces softness and approachability. This subtle manipulation of gaze and angle allows photographers to fine-tune the emotional resonance of their portraits.
Another benefit of split lighting is how it accommodates different facial structures and features. It can be especially flattering for individuals with strong bone structures, as it naturally highlights angularity and depth. For softer or more rounded faces, the contrast can add definition without overwhelming the subject's natural features. With minor adjustments to the light’s height and distance, photographers can refine the shadow-to-light ratio to suit each subject individually.
It's also worth noting that the lighting ratio can be controlled by adding or withholding fill light. If the dark side of the face appears too intense, a small reflector or secondary light source can be used to lift the shadows slightly. This doesn’t destroy the essence of the split lighting effect, but it adds more subtlety and control. For those aiming for a highly dramatic, high-contrast look, the absence of fill will preserve deep shadows and stronger visual tension.
Split lighting is not confined to indoor environments. It works just as well with natural sunlight, especially during the golden hours of early morning or late afternoon when the sun is low in the sky. By positioning your subject so that the sun hits one side of their face while the other remains unlit, you can achieve the same dramatic division without any equipment. However, because sunlight is harder to control, some repositioning may be necessary to fine-tune the effect.
Setting Up Split Lighting for Striking Portrait Results
Split lighting is one of the simplest and most effective lighting patterns in portrait photography. It delivers high-impact visual contrast, sculpting your subject's features in a dramatic and evocative way. One of its key advantages is its accessibility—you don’t need an expensive setup to achieve compelling results. Whether you're shooting with natural light or using artificial sources, the core principles of this lighting style remain consistent. With a little spatial awareness and attention to detail, you can use this classic lighting approach to elevate your portraits and create a lasting impression.
Understanding the Key Principle of Split Lighting Setup
The core of split lighting lies in the placement of the light source. The light must hit the subject from the side at a 90-degree angle to the camera lens. This means you should position your light directly to the left or right of the subject, so it illuminates only one side of their face. The other side, turned away from the light, should remain largely in shadow. The resulting image appears divided vertically down the center of the face, hence the term "split lighting."
The success of this setup depends on symmetry and precision. A perfectly aligned setup ensures that the division between light and shadow is clean and deliberate, without accidental gradients or spillover. To fine-tune this effect, you may need to make slight adjustments to your light placement, the subject's pose, or the camera angle. Even a few degrees of variation can change the lighting result dramatically.
Positioning the Light Source: Height, Distance, and Angle
Begin by having your subject sit or stand facing the camera. Position the light source so it is perpendicular to the subject—directly off to one side. The light should be roughly at the same height as the subject’s head or slightly above. This angle allows the light to fall naturally across the face without creating unwanted shadows under the nose or chin. Angling the light downward at about 15 to 30 degrees can help define the cheekbones and jawline while still keeping the lighting even across the lit half of the face.
Distance plays a crucial role in light intensity and shadow depth. A closer light source will result in harder, more pronounced shadows and stronger contrast, while a light placed farther away will create a gentler, more gradual transition between highlight and shadow. You can control this depending on the tone and mood you want for your portrait. For a high-drama portrait, keep the light source close. For something more subdued and contemplative, pull it back slightly or diffuse it with a softbox or reflector.
Choosing the Right Light Source for the Setup
Split lighting can be achieved using various light sources—natural daylight, speedlights, continuous LED lights, or strobes. If you're shooting indoors and want full control, an LED panel or strobe with a modifier such as a softbox, umbrella, or grid will give you the best results. The type of light will also affect the overall mood. Hard light, such as from an unmodified flash or bare bulb, emphasizes texture and adds bold shadows, while soft light smoothens features and blends transitions.
Natural light can be just as effective when used creatively. If you're working near a window, have the subject sit sideways to it, allowing the daylight to fall on only one side of the face. Make sure to turn off any overhead or ambient light that might fill in the shadows. This approach can deliver soft yet clearly defined split lighting, especially during times of day when the sun is lower in the sky.
Adjusting the Subject’s Position and Pose
Small adjustments in the subject's position can significantly influence the effectiveness of the lighting. To maintain a crisp division between light and shadow, the subject’s face should be aligned squarely with the camera. Any turn or tilt may disrupt the balance and allow light to spill into the shadowed side or cause unwanted highlights.
Ask your subject to keep their chin level and look directly at the camera lens. If needed, instruct them to shift slightly toward or away from the light to fine-tune the effect. This becomes particularly important if you're using broader or softer lighting that spreads more easily. For more dramatic or artistic portraits, you can have the subject turn slightly into or away from the shadow, depending on the mood you wish to evoke.
Managing Light Spill and Background Control
One often overlooked aspect of split lighting is background interaction. A well-lit subject placed in front of a bright background can reduce the perceived contrast of the portrait. To preserve the power of the split effect, consider using a dark, neutral, or non-reflective background. This will enhance the contrast and prevent light from bouncing back onto the shadowed side of the face.
If your background is reflective or too close to the subject, it may unintentionally fill in the shadows. To prevent this, move your subject farther from the wall or use flags (black foam boards or cloths) to absorb stray light. Alternatively, you can create a more stylized look by intentionally placing a rim or background light for separation. This helps maintain focus on the face while keeping the composition balanced.
Adding Fill Light or Reflectors (If Needed)
While pure split lighting uses no fill on the shadow side, some photographers prefer a slightly lifted shadow for a more balanced image. If the dark side of the face is too intense, consider using a subtle fill light or a reflector positioned opposite the key light. This will soften the transition and allow for more visible facial features without sacrificing the overall split effect.
The fill should be minimal—just enough to add detail without flattening the image. A silver or white reflector placed a few feet away can do the job. Alternatively, a dimmed secondary light set at a lower intensity can provide controlled illumination while preserving the shadowed atmosphere.
Using Split Lighting with Different Camera Angles
Although the traditional split lighting method calls for a head-on camera angle, experimenting with your composition can add more dimension to your portrait. Moving the camera slightly off-center while maintaining the 90-degree light setup can create asymmetry and a sense of perspective. This can be effective when trying to portray intrigue, mystery, or layered personality traits in your subject.
Shooting from a higher or lower angle can also change the way light interacts with the facial structure. For example, a slightly lower camera angle combined with downward-angled lighting can highlight the forehead and eyes, adding dominance and strength to the subject’s posture.
Fine-Tuning Through Trial and Observation
Achieving the perfect split lighting setup often comes down to observation and iteration. Once your basic setup is in place, take a few test shots and evaluate how the light falls across the face. Look for balance, check for unintended light bleed into the shadowed areas, and adjust accordingly. A slight turn of the face or minor repositioning of the light source can make a significant difference.
Keep an eye on details like nose shadows or highlights on the lips. If anything appears distracting, adjust your setup until the visual flow is smooth and natural. Mastery of split lighting comes not from complex gear, but from your ability to read light and sculpt it deliberately.
Using Window Light for Natural Split Lighting
Split lighting doesn't always require professional photography gear or artificial lighting setups. In fact, some of the most effective and naturally compelling portraits can be achieved using something as simple and accessible as window light. Whether you're an amateur working from home or a professional on location, mastering natural split lighting through a window can add a beautiful and cinematic dimension to your portrait work. This approach provides soft shadows, flattering highlights, and an organic quality that's often difficult to replicate with artificial tools.
Why Natural Light Works So Well for Split Lighting
Natural light from a window behaves as a large, diffused light source, making it ideal for portraiture. It offers smooth tonal transitions and a pleasing softness that highlights facial features without appearing harsh. When used for split lighting, this type of illumination creates an elegant balance of contrast and subtlety, revealing depth and emotion in your subject. Because natural light doesn’t produce abrupt hotspots or intense glare like a direct flash, it allows you to sculpt the subject’s face gently while still achieving that essential half-lit, half-shadowed effect.
Window light is dynamic, changing in tone and direction throughout the day, which means it can be used creatively to produce different moods and styles. Early morning or late afternoon light tends to be warmer and more directional, providing the ideal conditions for effective split lighting.
Best Time of Day for Window Split Lighting
Timing is crucial when relying on natural light. The best results are typically achieved during the golden hours—shortly after sunrise or just before sunset. During these periods, sunlight enters through the window at a low angle, giving you the directional quality needed for split lighting. The lower sun casts light more horizontally, allowing for precise control over which side of the face is illuminated.
Midday sunlight, on the other hand, can be too harsh or overhead, making it difficult to create the clean vertical split required for this technique. If midday is your only option, consider using sheer curtains or a diffuser to soften the light and reposition the subject until the angle mimics a side-lit setup.
Positioning the Subject for Optimal Effect
For natural split lighting to work, your subject should be positioned with one side of their face directly facing the window while the other side faces away from it. The camera should be placed straight in front of the subject to capture the even divide between light and shadow. This alignment is essential for achieving a classic split lighting look.
Depending on the window's size and height, you may need to adjust the subject’s position up or down slightly. A taller window may light more of the body or background, while a smaller window may require close placement to maintain adequate brightness. To enhance precision, have your subject rotate their face subtly until the light falls evenly across one half, leaving the other in shadow.
Minimizing Light Spill and Distractions
One challenge when working with natural light is controlling its spread. Since daylight tends to bounce off walls and nearby surfaces, it can unintentionally fill in the shadowed side of the face, weakening the contrast of the split effect. To manage this, turn off any artificial lights in the room and block reflective surfaces if necessary.
Dark-colored walls, curtains, or foam boards can help absorb excess light and prevent it from softening the shadows. If you're using a light-colored room with lots of ambient bounce, consider repositioning your subject or adjusting the angle of the window light by partially closing curtains or blinds. This will allow you to concentrate the light on one side more precisely.
Enhancing Split Lighting with Background Control
The background plays an essential role in the overall impact of your portrait. To emphasize the contrast created by split lighting, it’s often best to use a dark or neutral backdrop. A background that is too bright or colorful can distract the viewer from the main subject and dilute the effectiveness of the lighting.
If you're shooting in a small room and don’t have access to a seamless backdrop, a solid-colored curtain, piece of fabric, or even a shadowed corner of the room can work just as well. Keeping the background simple allows the eye to focus on the interplay of light and shadow on the subject's face, enhancing the storytelling element of your portrait.
Using Curtains and Diffusers for Light Shaping
Even though window light is naturally softer than direct artificial sources, it can still be adjusted further for creative results. Sheer curtains, frosted glass, or purpose-built diffusion panels can scatter the light, producing a more uniform and subtle gradient across the subject’s features. This is especially useful when the window light is too strong or when you're aiming for a more refined or contemplative mood in the portrait.
If your window has blinds, you can manipulate them to direct light more narrowly, simulating a softbox or strip light effect. This adds more control and helps maintain a clean light-to-shadow division.
Adjusting Exposure and Camera Settings
When shooting with window light, camera settings need to be dialed in carefully to maintain the natural feel of the light while preserving detail. Since one side of the face will be brightly lit and the other much darker, it’s important to expose for the highlights. This prevents blown-out areas while still allowing you to recover shadow detail in post-processing if needed.
Use spot metering to expose for the lit side of the face, and consider underexposing slightly if you want a high-contrast, moody effect. A wide aperture, such as f/2.8 or f/4, can help blur the background and draw more focus to the subject. A low ISO will ensure clean image quality, especially in well-lit rooms, but don’t hesitate to increase ISO slightly if the room is dim and you want to avoid motion blur.
Making the Most of Overcast Days
Contrary to what some might believe, overcast days are perfect for window-lit split lighting. The cloud cover acts as a giant diffuser, softening the sunlight and reducing contrast without eliminating the directional quality. On such days, the shadows on the subject's face will be smoother, and the gradient between light and dark will appear more natural and pleasing.
This is ideal for portraits that require subtle emotion, elegance, or intimacy. If the light appears too flat, you can move your subject closer to the window or use darker surroundings to maintain the integrity of the split effect.
Creative Variations and Natural Enhancements
Once you're comfortable with standard window-based split lighting, you can explore creative variations. Adding a colored curtain, for example, can cast a warm or cool hue onto the lit side of the face, subtly influencing the portrait’s mood. Reflective surfaces, like a mirror or white wall on the shadow side, can introduce controlled fill light that lifts the shadows just enough without flattening them.
You can also try photographing your subject in profile or from an angle that exaggerates the shadow, creating silhouettes or artistic expressions of identity and form. These variations open new creative directions while still maintaining the essence of split lighting.
Mastering Studio Split Lighting with Artificial Equipment
Split lighting is a technique that shines when you have full control over your environment—and nothing offers more precision and consistency than a well-set-up studio. While natural light can yield beautiful results, studio lighting gives photographers the flexibility to repeat, modify, and refine their setups without waiting for the perfect moment of daylight. Whether you're using budget-friendly LED panels or high-end strobes, artificial lighting allows you to fine-tune light intensity, direction, color temperature, and quality to achieve professional-level split lighting results with minimal guesswork.
Selecting the Ideal Light Source for Studio Work
When it comes to split lighting in the studio, your primary concern is choosing the right light source. Continuous lights, such as LED panels, are favored by many photographers because they let you see changes in real time. Unlike flash or strobe systems that require test shots, LEDs illuminate the subject continuously, enabling immediate adjustments to position, distance, and angle.
LEDs with adjustable color temperatures are especially beneficial, as they allow you to shift from cooler daylight tones to warmer hues without physically changing bulbs or adding gels. If you're using flash units or strobes, ensure they are color-balanced to daylight standards—around 5500K—to avoid unpleasant color shifts in your portraits. Most modern studio strobes come with built-in modeling lights, which provide a preview of how shadows will fall, even if the primary light is triggered by the shutter.
Understanding Light Modifiers and Their Impact
The character of your light—whether it's soft and flattering or hard and contrasty—depends on the type of light modifier you use. For a classic split lighting look, a bare bulb or standard reflector dish produces sharp contrast, creating a bold division between light and shadow. This is perfect for dramatic or moody portraits where you want to emphasize skin texture or bone structure.
If you prefer a smoother, less intense gradient between highlight and shadow, consider using a softbox. A medium-sized softbox diffuses light evenly, preserving the split lighting pattern while softening harsh edges. A strip light can be particularly effective for split lighting because its narrow shape helps maintain vertical control over the illumination, ensuring the light doesn’t spill too far into the shadowed half of the face.
Grids, also called egg crates, are accessories that fit into softboxes or reflectors to control light direction even more precisely. They help you focus the light beam without widening its spread, reducing the risk of unintentionally illuminating the dark side of the face.
Positioning Lights for Precise Split Effect
To create the quintessential split lighting look, position your artificial light directly to the left or right of your subject, forming a 90-degree angle between the light source and the camera. This ensures that only one half of the subject’s face is illuminated while the other remains in shadow. The light should be at about eye level or slightly above, angled down just enough to cast natural-looking shadows along the contours of the cheekbones, nose, and jawline.
Distance from the subject is another critical factor. A closer light source increases intensity and sharpens contrast, while pulling the light back softens both. Keep in mind that the quality of shadows changes significantly with distance—a closer light produces more defined shadows with deeper blacks, while a distant light creates a broader and flatter falloff.
Working with Flags, Gobos, and Negative Fill
While split lighting relies heavily on a strong light source, it’s equally important to control what happens on the shadow side of the face. In a studio environment, light tends to bounce off nearby surfaces, especially white walls, which can unintentionally soften or eliminate shadows. To maintain the integrity of the split, use flags (opaque panels or black foam boards) to block reflected light. These can be placed between the light and the shadow side or even directly beside the subject to absorb any ambient bounce.
Another useful technique is negative fill. This involves placing black material, such as black v-flats or blackout curtains, near the shadow side of the face to deepen shadows and reduce spill. This is particularly effective in smaller studios where light bounce is unavoidable. Gobos, or go-betweens, can also be used creatively to shape the light further. These tools block part of the light beam, allowing you to carve out unique patterns or isolate certain facial features while preserving the split.
Choosing Backgrounds for Maximum Impact
In a controlled studio setup, your background plays a significant role in the overall aesthetic of the portrait. For classic split lighting, darker or neutral backdrops tend to work best, as they emphasize the high contrast between light and shadow on the subject’s face. A bright or reflective background may reduce visual impact by bouncing light back onto the shadow side, disrupting the dramatic effect.
To prevent this, position your subject far enough from the backdrop or use a background that absorbs light, such as black seamless paper or textured canvas. If you’re looking to add depth or separation, a subtle kicker light or rim light can be added behind the subject to highlight the edge of the shadowed side without affecting the split on the face.
Fine-Tuning Exposure and Camera Settings
Studio split lighting requires thoughtful exposure to balance highlights and shadows while retaining detail. Use spot metering to measure light on the illuminated side of the face, ensuring it is neither overexposed nor too dim. A small underexposure can help preserve highlight details while allowing the shadows to remain deep and rich.
A moderate aperture like f/5.6 to f/8 is ideal in studio settings, providing a good balance between depth of field and sharpness. Keep ISO as low as possible to reduce noise in the shadows, and adjust shutter speed according to your sync requirements if using flash—usually around 1/160 to 1/200 for most studio setups.
Creating Consistency in Repeated Shoots
One of the greatest advantages of studio lighting is repeatability. Once you find a split lighting configuration that works, you can replicate it by marking positions on the floor and noting power settings on your lights. This is particularly useful in commercial or editorial work where clients expect consistent image quality and lighting style across multiple sessions.
Use a light meter to measure the output of your key light, and if you're working with multiple lights or reflectors, test each combination to see how it affects your main split. Documenting these setups helps you develop a personal lighting formula that can be adapted quickly and reliably in future shoots.
Advanced Variations and Creative Exploration
Once you’ve mastered traditional split lighting with a single artificial light source, there’s plenty of room to experiment. Add a subtle fill light from a lower power source to lift the shadow side just slightly without compromising contrast. Use color gels for stylized effects—placing a warm filter on the key light and a cooler fill on the background creates emotional tension and dynamic range.
You can also introduce textured light patterns by placing objects like blinds or mesh between the light and subject. This technique maintains the split structure while introducing a more abstract or thematic dimension to the portrait. These creative flourishes can take your lighting from standard to spectacular with just a few adjustments.
Enhancing Expression with Catchlights
Catchlights are small highlights visible in a subject’s eyes that result from reflections of the light source. Even in a dramatic setup like split lighting, having at least one eye illuminated with a catchlight helps bring vitality and depth to the portrait. Without catchlights, eyes can appear lifeless or dull. To ensure you capture them, angle your light source or slightly tilt your subject’s head until a subtle sparkle is visible in the lit eye. Depending on the shadow depth and face orientation, you may also catch a second reflection in the darker eye, adding more emotional depth to the image. Catchlights often go unnoticed at first glance, but they play a critical role in connecting the viewer to the subject.
Manipulating Light Intensity to Shape the Mood
The distance and quality of your light source directly affect the intensity and impact of your split lighting portrait. When the light is positioned close to the subject, the transition from light to shadow is more abrupt, resulting in harsher contrast and greater texture visibility. This setup emphasizes skin details and angular features, perfect for editorial or expressive portraits. Conversely, moving the light source farther away reduces intensity and increases the softness of the light. The shadows become less severe, and the overall look becomes more subdued and contemplative. You can also manipulate light intensity using diffusers, umbrellas, or reflectors. For portraits that call for introspection or subtle emotion, soft split lighting offers a refined alternative to stark contrast.
Experimenting with Color to Elevate Creativity
While split lighting is traditionally used in neutral or monochrome settings, experimenting with color can bring an entirely new dimension to your portraits. Warm tones such as amber, rose, or tangerine add intimacy and a classic glow, while cooler hues like indigo, teal, or cyan evoke modernity and detachment. Colored gels placed over your light source offer a simple way to introduce creative lighting themes. You can also use opposing colors—one side warm, the other cool—to create a surreal or dual-tone effect. These choices are particularly useful in conceptual portraits or fashion photography where mood, symbolism, or story plays a central role.
Converting to Black and White for Maximum Drama
Split lighting naturally lends itself to black and white conversion due to its strong reliance on contrast and form. Removing color focuses the viewer’s attention on the structure, shadows, and mood. To convert a color portrait to black and white, use editing software such as Adobe Lightroom or Capture One. Begin by adjusting exposure, highlights, shadows, whites, and blacks to achieve a balanced range of tones. Then switch to black and white mode and refine individual color luminance values to brighten or darken areas of the image. The clarity slider, texture controls, and tone curve adjustments can further enhance midtones and bring attention to skin or fabric details. The result is a refined and timeless portrait with heightened emotional intensity.
Adjusting for Different Face Types and Expressions
While split lighting is highly versatile, it may not be suitable for every face or occasion. Faces with highly symmetrical features often respond well to split lighting, while highly asymmetrical or rounded faces may require slight modifications to avoid unflattering shadows. For subjects with softer facial structures, angling the head slightly can introduce more dimension. Additionally, expressions matter—a stoic or neutral face suits split lighting better than an open-mouthed smile or exaggerated expression, which may disrupt the image’s dramatic balance. In professional headshots, this lighting style works well for creatives, performers, or professionals looking to convey confidence and individuality.
Tips for Beginners Practicing Split Lighting
If you're new to split lighting, start with a simple setup. Use a window or a single LED light and experiment by photographing yourself or a willing subject in different poses and light positions. Review your images carefully to see how minor changes affect the light-to-shadow ratio. Learn to control the balance between exposure and contrast using manual camera settings. Practice makes you more aware of how the human face reacts to light from different angles, helping you make intentional choices that enhance the subject’s personality. Keep your edits minimal at first and focus on capturing the drama in-camera before applying post-processing techniques.
Final Thoughts: Why Split Lighting Belongs in Every Photographer’s Toolkit
Split lighting is an essential technique that combines simplicity with a dramatic visual payoff. Whether you're capturing portraits for personal art, client sessions, or commercial projects, this method can instantly add weight and presence to your subjects. Its versatility allows you to adapt the look for bold fashion statements, introspective personal portraits, or evocative character studies. With a single light and a basic understanding of angles, you can produce imagery that feels deliberate, cinematic, and emotionally resonant. As you grow more confident with split lighting, you’ll start to see new creative opportunities for telling stories through light and shadow. It’s a timeless approach that remains relevant across styles, genres, and generations of photography.
