How to control reflections when your subject is wearing glasses

 

 

A challenge you will inevitably come across in your photography career is figuring out how to capture a portrait of a subject who is wearing glasses. Whether the spectacles are needed for vision or are being used as a prop, the addition of glasses makes it difficult to light a scene without reflecting the light source in the lenses.

Here to break down how avoid unwanted reflections is Gavin Hoey of Adorama TV. In the 13-minute video, Hoey shows the basics of lighting a subject with glasses and shares the best setup to avoid unwanted reflections.

Granted, Hoey’s studio example is a bit more opportune than on-location shoots, the basic principles still apply, whether you're on-location or in a studio.

In addition to showing how to get rid of the reflection in glasses, Hoey also shares how to add a reflection in glasses. It seems counterintuitive, but when creative control calls for it, sometimes reflections of props play a vital role in how the final image turns out.

(via ISO 1200)