Studio Lighting 101: Using Your Main Light in Conjunction with Supplementary Lighting

Studio Lighting 101: Using Your Main Light With Supplementary Lighting

Hello there! Meet Cammi, our trusty mannequin assistant. Today, Cammi is showing how supplementary lights work with your main light. One light at a time, we add a fill light, a backdrop light, a hair light, and a rim light, so you can see exactly how each one shapes your subject and adds depth, dimension, and drama to your photographs.

Each section explains what the light does and where to place it, then shows the setup followed by a before and after: the main light on its own, then with the extra light added. At the end, we switch on all the lights together.

Start With Your Main Light

Every setup in this guide starts with the main light, also called the key light. It is the brightest light in the scene, it provides most of the light on your subject, and it sets the overall look and mood. Usually placed to one side of the subject, it creates the highlights and shadows that give a face its shape.

Everything else is supplementary. Each extra light has one job, and it should support the main light, not compete with it. To learn how the balance between your main and fill light controls contrast, read Studio Lighting 101: Main Light vs Fill Light.

Fill Light

A fill light reduces the shadows created by the main light, giving you a more balanced, evenly lit scene. It softens harsh shadows and brings back detail in areas that would otherwise look too dark.

Where to Place It

Place the fill light opposite the main light, or slightly off to the side, depending on the look you want. It usually sits closer to the camera than the main light and runs at a lower intensity, so it fills the shadows without overpowering the main. The goal is natural, flattering light that complements the main light while keeping a pleasing balance of light and shadow.

Backdrop Light

A backdrop light lights the background behind your subject, creating separation and adding depth to the scene. It stops the backdrop from looking too dark or underexposed in the final image.

Where to Place It

Place the backdrop light behind the subject, aimed at the background at an angle. The exact position depends on the effect you want and the size of your backdrop. Position it so it lights the backdrop evenly without spilling onto the subject or causing unwanted glare, then adjust the height and angle to fine-tune the look.

Hair Light (Sorry, Cammi)

A hair light adds highlights to the subject's hair or outlines their silhouette, separating them from the background. It shows off the hair and adds depth and dimension to the overall image. Cammi may be a little short on hair, but the effect still shows.

Where to Place It

Place the hair light behind and above the subject, aimed at the back of the head or the shoulders. The exact position depends on the effect you want and the subject's hairstyle. Aim for a subtle glow around the edges of the hair without harsh shadows on the face or unwanted glare, adjusting the height and angle until it looks right.

Rim Light

A rim light, also called an accent light or backlight, separates the subject from the background by outlining their edges with a subtle highlight. It adds depth and dimension, emphasises the subject's contours, and creates a three-dimensional effect.

Where to Place It

Place the rim light behind and to the side of the subject, aimed at the edges of the body or face. The exact position depends on the effect you want and your composition. Aim for a narrow strip of light along the subject's edges, without spill onto the background or unwanted glare, and adjust the height and angle to suit the shot.

All the Lights Together

Here is what happens when every light is switched on. The main light shapes the face, the fill opens up the shadows, the backdrop light lifts the background, and the hair and rim lights carve Cammi out from the scene. The result is a fully lit portrait with real depth.

Quick Reference: Each Light and Its Job

Build Your Setup One Light at a Time

Switching on five lights at once makes it hard to see what each one is doing. Build the setup step by step instead, checking the image after each light.

1. Set your main light first. Get the position and the shadows on the face right before anything else.
2. Add the fill light. Raise it slowly until the shadows look the way you want, keeping it weaker than the main.
3. Light the backdrop. Bring up the background until the subject separates from it.
4. Add the hair light. Look for a gentle glow on the hair and shoulders, with no glare on the face.
5. Finish with the rim light. Add a narrow edge of light to outline the subject.

If a light is not improving the image, switch it off. Not every portrait needs all five, and many great portraits use just one or two.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• A fill light as bright as the main: the face looks flat and loses its shape. Keep the fill weaker.
• Backdrop light spilling onto the subject: it washes out the edges. Angle it so it only hits the background.
• A hair light that is too strong: the top of the head blows out. Lower the power or move it further away.
• A rim light that is too wide: the outline becomes a glow. Aim for a narrow strip along the edge.
• Moving several lights at once: you cannot tell which change made the difference. Adjust one light at a time.

In Summary

When setting up lights for photography or video, think about what each light does and where it goes. The main light lights the subject, the fill light reduces shadows, the backdrop light lights the background, the hair light adds highlights to the hair, and the rim light outlines the edges of the subject. Position each one with care, then fine-tune the height, angle, and intensity until your subject is well lit and stands out from the background.

Related Guides

• Studio Lighting 101: Main Light vs Fill Light
• Moving Beyond the Ring Light
• COB vs Tube vs Panel LED Lights
• Bowens Mount vs Godox Mount

Conrad Knuist

Head of Marketing and Photography Specialist

Conrad Knuist is Head of Marketing and Photography Specialist at CameraStuff, South Africa's specialist camera and lighting retailer. With over 18 years of hands-on experience across portrait, event, and commercial photography, Conrad helps South African photographers build studio lighting setups that work.

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