Lighting setup
Clamshell lighting
Clamshell is the beauty-industry two-light setup: soft key above the camera pointing down, bright fill directly below the chin pointing up. The two sources close around the face like a clamshell — perfect catchlights top and bottom, shadowless skin, and just enough dimension to keep the face from going flat.
Setup
- Position the key. Beauty dish or 60cm+ softbox directly above the camera lens, angled 20–30° down.
- Add the fill. Second softbox or large white reflector at chest height, angled up. Keep it symmetric with the key.
- Meter the ratio. Fill 1.5–2 stops below key. Check catchlights — you want two, top and bottom.
- Shoot. f/5.6–f/8 for skin detail, ISO 100, 1/125–1/200.
When to use it
Beauty, cosmetics, jewellery-on-model, headshots for hospitality and hair. Not for character work — it erases too much skin texture and personality.
FAQ
What is clamshell lighting?
A beauty-portrait setup with two soft sources: a key light above the camera pointing down, and a bright fill (reflector or second softbox) below the chin pointing up. Together they form a clamshell around the face.
What's the ratio for clamshell?
Fill is 1.5–2 stops below the key. Any brighter and the setup looks flat; any dimmer and shadows return under the eyes.
Can I do clamshell with one light?
Yes — key above the camera plus a large white reflector below the chin. Cheaper, slower to dial in, but visually identical for a single subject.
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