Portrait lighting: modelling in software

[LocalHero1953]

Does anyone have experience of software for modelling portrait lighting? There seem to be a couple of applications for studio lighting on the market. Are they useful, or did you revert to experience and your own skills and judgement?

For environmental portraits, or other portraits on location, tools like this would help plan ahead to allow for natural light sources and different reflective surfaces.

I guess my ideal would be an add-on to a program like Sketchup that allowed you to build and furnish a room, add natural and photographic lighting, and a model. It looks like this facility is some way off at present!

[Mark von Kanel]

Once again you have me interested! i had a look around but it had never occurred to me you could get software for this but what did immediately become apparent to me was that it would probably take longer to learn how to use the software than it would to set up the shoot and play with the gear !

I did my first environmental portrait shoot a couple of weeks ago and i learned masses of stuff very little was to do with the position of the lights though that part seemed ok for now.... i keep meaning to find the time to start a thread on the days shoot but havnt had the time....

ill get around to "drecley" as they say here abouts.

[LocalHero1953]

The immediate prompt for this that I am planning a portrait shoot in a church (C19th) of a woman reading a book with calligraphic and coloured text. So I want to make it look like it has been lit by natural light, I expect to have to provide fill-in and maybe hair light, and the book should be lit as well as her face. So I want to work out how much I can rely on light reflected from the paper or the pew/lectern surfaces to light her face, where I may get awkward reflections from my lighting etc. I can have a recce, but I can't spend too long there before the shoot. Playing around with some software would help. From what I've seen, there is nothing that could work, but I thought I'd ask the question of those with more experience.

[Mark von Kanel]

Sounds like a Rembrandt main light. that should give you a natural light from above which will light the book as well. it will also be better for an older subject as it will smooth the skin. a fill flash/reflector to reduce shadows under the eyes/nose the hair light could be from above but might look better from the broad side or even behind for rim light depending on the position of the subject we have the perfect church for you to practice in here!

[LocalHero1953]

Thanks - I already know the look I want (perhaps a more even lighting than you suggest), and how I would light it in a studio. My main concern is balancing the natural, reflected and photographic light. This time my subject is young with good skin, as well as a characterful face - she just happens to be a specialist in historical books & manuscripts!

[Mark von Kanel]

Well there you go then who needs software you have it sussed!