Three-point lighting

What it is

Key, fill and back light each do one job; the subject reads clean and dimensional.

When to use it

Interviews, dialogue and commercials where faces must read clearly.

When not to

Moody, naturalistic or dramatic scenes; it can look studio-staged.

Often confused with

• Rembrandt lighting

  Rembrandt uses weaker fill and leaves a cheek triangle.

Common generation mistakes

• SymptomThe image looks flat, like CCTV.

  FixState a key from the front side, a dimmer fill and a back light.