If you were to submit your portrait photography for critique or judging, one of the things you will always be judged on is the catch lights. So, um, what are catch lights?
Catch lights are reflections of the light source, seen as white shapes in the eyes of your subject. They will reveal what type of light source the photographer is using. Square and rectangle catch lights reveal windows, skies, reflectors and soft boxes, big round ones reveal beauty dishes, umbrellas or octoboxes.
Can you tell what kind of light source is used in these photos?
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Okay, scroll down for the answers.
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1. sky – if you look closely, the catch lights are blue, not true white.
2. window light on the right, reflector on the lower left.
3. reflector – the only way to get catch lights in low-brimmed cap portraits
4. beauty dish – awww, look at the perfect circle light. *swoon*
5. soft box – this one is big, 40 in x 60 in
Aim to put catch lights in all your portraits, and look for them in ads, magazines, blogs, etc. With a little practice, you’ll soon get really good at identifying the light sources.
I only got #4 wrong. I never heard of a beauty dish before. In any case, the shots are all gorgeous!
Have a super blessed weekend!
Jill
All those shots are gorgeous, of course. I love it when real photographers look at a photo of mine and comment on the catch lights. I didn’t know what they were at first, but love to “catch” them now.
Looking at a pic I just took of GD outside. There is no light reflected. can it be put in after? where? how big?
Catch lights are something you should strive for at the time – adding them in afterwards can be done with a decent hand at Photoshop. But it usually looks fake to me. I would just plan to try again next time!
That’s how it goes for me anyway… always learning… always trying to get better.
Really fantastic! Could you make this series for 62 days?
Totally agree with you! 62 days would be much better!
Hi Darcy, thanks for this wonderful post. I am a beginning photographer and stumbled upon your blog recently. I LOVE it and have spent hours here already!! I have a small sewing business, a Canon EOS Rebel, web development & graphic design background, and 2 boybarians of my own.
Your tips and posts are just wonderful. You can consider me a regular from now on. 
Sarah
Thank you thank you thank you Darcy! Both of your 31 Day Series’ have taught me sooooo much! You said you can tell the light source from the catch lights. I’ve noticed in several pics I’ve taken of my darling half-Honduran little 6 month old nephew that his catch lights look like wavy snakes going across the eye horizontally. What causes that, just his eye shape? I took a pic of my baby girl the other day and after-the-fact realized that the catch lights looked like heart shapes in her eyes. So awesome! From filtered window lighting (just a clear shower curtain over a sunny window).
Thanks again, I’m loving your tips!
Okay, I liked reading this one because I thought that someone might snob me for having the catch light in their eyes!
used a beauty dish last week with a bride – oh my goodness – iLikey
…what is a beauty dish?