Two Lights. One Backdrop. A Ton of Presence - Moody Studio Portraits

This wasn’t a big production. Just two lights, one backdrop, and someone who knew exactly how to hold space in front of the camera. If you know Regan, you know this to be true.

We started on a black background — I kept the lighting tight to pull her out of the dark. One light in front, one from behind. Nothing fancy, but it worked.

I had a strip box with a grid as the key light and then a strobe with a reflector and tight grid for rim lighting. A couple looks with eyes closed, a couple strong stares — no direction needed.

Then we switched it up with a high-key white background (bed sheet) and red hair. Completely different vibe, still just as strong. This one was all about showing contrast — light vs dark, still vs loud — and letting her just be in front of the lens without overthinking it.

You really don't need much space to create moody, striking studio portraits images if you use the space and lighting wisely.