Have you ever wondered how to create a nice, smooth gradient on backdrops for studio headshots? Used by many high end portrait and headshot photographers, adding a gradient to your backdrops can create a calm, soothing feel to your image. It is also a great way to add another look to your arsenal if you find yourself getting tired of using the same flat backdrop colors.
Lucky for you my great friend and assistant Philip Tieu was kind enough to come over to test a variety of light and backdrop setups at my home studio including this gradient backdrop setup. As with many of my setups, this headshot is not overly complex and can be captured anywhere from an office to a small living room apartment (where this was shot). It only requires 1 to 2 lights, a flag, backdrop, and the right modifiers.
Alright enough of me rambling. Let’t get into it. Head below to see my step by step guide of how to create this look.
Step 1: Use a modifier with a grid
The key to this look is controlling the falloff from the key light onto the backdrop. More specifically, controlling the dark (on the top of backdrop) falling off to the light (on the bottom of the backdrop) that you see behind Philip. To do this, I made sure to use a 4 foot octabox with a grid to concentrate the light more on to Philip and not spill all over the room and top of the backdrop.
Step 2: Position your key light high and straight on
Next step is to get your key light straight on with your subject and backdrop, high, and pointing down at about a 30 degree to 45 degree angle. This will create a nice butterfly light with a nice fall off of light under the nose and chin while hitting the bottom of the backdrop with the majority of the light fall off.
Step 3: Make sure your backdrop doesn’t have ripples or creases
If you can, carefully roll out a fresh roll of backdrop paper. It makes a world of difference. Otherwise you end up seeing distracting ripples/ creases. Another little tip would be using a longer focal length so that you blur out the backdrop. For reference, I shot this with a 24-70mm lens at 70mm.
Step 4: Flag off your Key Light
Once you have your key light exposure dialed in, you will most likely notice too much light spilling on to the backdrop causing you to lose the gradient. No problem. Flag off the top 1/3 of the modifier with a solid black flag. Don’t own any flags? Substitute with the black side of small 5 in 1 reflector, drape a dark blanket over the top, or tape a piece of black backdrop paper over the top of your modifier.
Step 5: Add a second light on backdrop for more control
Noticing your backdrop/ gradient is too dark? Add a second light behind your subject pointing straight up the backdrop. I used a 4 foot by 1 foot strip box with a grid on it laying on the ground and pinned some sandbags around it so it didn’t tip over.
Final Tip
If you add the second light, you may need to put your subject up on a step stool or apple box so that you don’t see the modifier behind them. Also, if you notice the shadows under the eyes, nose, and chin are to dramatic grab a 5 in 1 reflector trying both the white and silver side. Place the reflector about waste height right in front of your subject. Adjust it up and down with varying angles to see how to find the best fill.
Gear Used to Create this Image
- 2 x Godox 600 Strobes (Amazon)
- Godox 4ft Octabox w/ Honeycomb Grid (Amazon)
- Godox 1ft x 4ft Stripbox w/ Honeycomb Grid (Amazon)
- Neewer 30×36 inches 4-in-1 Flag (Amazon)
- 4 x 10ft Flashpoint C Stands (Amazon)
- Focus Gray Seamless by Savage (Amazon)
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