Lighting Ratios Explained (Control Shadows in Your Portraits)

Lighting ratios are one of the most important concepts in portrait photography—but they’re often misunderstood. In this video, you’ll learn how lighting ratios actually work and how they control the shadows in your portraits. By adjusting the balance between your key light and fill light, you can move from flat, even lighting to dramatic, high-contrast images. We’ll walk through common lighting ratios like 1:1, 3:1, 5:1, and 9:1 using both a simple cube demonstration and a real portrait session, so you can clearly see how each ratio affects shadow depth and overall mood. You’ll also learn how to measure and control lighting ratios with or without a light meter, and how overlapping light sources can change your results in real-world setups. 💥 The Photographer’s Journey — On Sale! For a limited time, you can download my new book The Photographer’s Journey for just $69 (normally $99) through Cyber Monday. It’s the perfect way to build a solid foundation in lighting, posing, and composition — whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up. 👉 https://johngress.com/downloads 🔦 Please click on the link https://www.elixxier.com/en/#v2=62cde650bb192 and Use Code JOHN-15 to save 15% Assisting me today is Xavier Campbell https://www.instagram.com/xaemedia/ Model https://www.instagram.com/oneka_amara/ 🧰 Gear Used Chesterfield Loveseat, Faux Leather Sofa Walmart https://howl.link/wbc6nvfifbgyi Elinchrom FIVE Amazon https://amzn.to/3Um6V61 B&H https://bhpho.to/3LcypYZ Elinchrom Indirect Litemotiv Octa Softbox 190cm (75”) Amazon https://amzn.to/3GZa45L B&H https://bhpho.to/3oOM4Oq Elinchrom Indirect Litemotiv Strip Softbox (13 x 69”) Amazon https://amzn.to/33NTasn B&H https://bhpho.to/44b7B43 Elinchrom Rotalux Stripbox 35x100cm Amazon https://amzn.to/3nUwD3M B&H https://bhpho.to/40PXZbZ Sekonic L-858D-U SPEEDMASTER Light Meter Kit with RT-EL/PX Transmitter Module for Elinchrom B&H https://bhpho.to/41dCnXc Studio Titan Camera Stand STA-01-360 MK2 B&H https://bhpho.to/3cf4RfL Canon R5 Mark II Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cJZyir B&H: https://bhpho.to/3Yc4YyB Canon BG-R20 Battery Grip for EOS R5 Mark II Amazon https://amzn.to/3B3Bg5f B&H https://bhpho.to/3XJFyaT Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM Amazon https://amzn.to/3tHbPxm B&H https://bhpho.to/3L6f1Na ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:20 - Not a Rubik's Cube, a Ratio Cube! 03:51 - Ratios when the lights overlap 06:07 - 1:3 08:13 - 5:1 09:51 - 9:1 10:51 - Overlapping Summary 12:13 - Ratios in the real world 18:43 - Final Thoughts 🔖 Hashtags #LightingRatios #PortraitLighting #StudioLighting #PhotographyTutorial #LightingSetup Click here for a full list of all the gear I use in the studio - https://johngress.com/gear/ Disclosure: This description contains affiliate links. If you use them, I may earn a commission — at no additional cost to you.