EyesOpen Photography

EO Education Series #001

📸 6 Essential Portrait Lighting Patterns

One of the biggest differences between an average portrait and a professional portrait isn’t the camera—it’s understanding light.

The same person can look dramatically different depending on how the light is positioned.

In this guide, I break down six of the most common portrait lighting patterns:

✓ Loop Lighting
✓ Rembrandt Lighting
✓ Butterfly Lighting
✓ Split Lighting
✓ Broad Lighting
✓ Short Lighting

Each pattern creates a different mood, emphasizes different facial features, and serves a different purpose.

Whether you’re a photographer, content creator, model, or business owner investing in professional imagery, understanding light helps you create stronger visual impact.

Which lighting pattern is your favorite?

Save this guide for future reference and share it with someone learning portrait photography.

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EO Education Series #001

📸 6 Essential Portrait Lighting Patterns

One of the biggest differences between an average portrait and a professional portrait isn’t the camera—it’s understanding light.

The same person can look dramatically different depending on how the light is positioned.

In this guide, I break down six of the most common portrait lighting patterns:

✓ Loop Lighting
✓ Rembrandt Lighting
✓ Butterfly Lighting
✓ Split Lighting
✓ Broad Lighting
✓ Short Lighting

Each pattern creates a different mood, emphasizes different facial features, and serves a different purpose.

Whether you’re a photographer, content creator, model, or business owner investing in professional imagery, understanding light helps you create stronger visual impact.

Which lighting pattern is your favorite?

Save this guide for future reference and share it with someone learning portrait photography.

Kalamazoo Central Senior Prom Class of 2026 came with STYLE this year 🔥📸

This young man definitely understood the assignment. The custom details, the confidence, the color coordination, and the unique fashion choices made these portraits stand out immediately. I love seeing young people express themselves creatively and step outside the box.

The statue garden backdrop paired perfectly with the energy of the suit and gave everything a timeless editorial feel ✨
Suit: Kee Wilson

If you know him, tag him below 👇
Please like, share, and follow EyesOpen Photography to help support local creatives and help these students see their images!

I’ve been photographing prom season for about 12 years now, and honestly it’s becoming harder to stay connected because many of the people I grew up around no longer have children in high school. So every like, share, tag, comment, and follow truly helps keep EyesOpen Photography visible in the community and helps these moments continue reaching families 🖤

Currently booking:
✨ Senior Sessions
✨ Headshots & Branding
✨ Weddings & Engagements
✨ Events & Parties
✨ Creative Editorial Portraits

📩 DM EyesOpen Photography to book your session.

Creatively capturing the essence of every detail.
We can’t wait to see you.

Another young king from Kalamazoo Central Senior Prom Class of 2026 🔥📸

What made these moments special for me is I actually remember him from back when I first started photographing sports for the Kalamazoo Jaguars around 2018. Seeing these young men grow up, mature, and step into their own style and confidence is honestly a blessing to witness.

The light blue suit was clean, the details were sharp, and he carried himself with confidence the entire time ✨

I’ve been photographing prom season for about 12 years now, and honestly it’s becoming harder to stay connected because many of the people I grew up around no longer have children in high school. So every like, share, tag, comment, and follow truly helps keep EyesOpen Photography visible in the community and helps these moments continue reaching families 🖤

If you know him, tag him below 👇
Please like, share, and follow EyesOpen Photography to help support local creatives and help these students see their images!

Currently booking:
✨ Senior Sessions
✨ Headshots & Branding
✨ Weddings & Engagements
✨ Events & Parties
✨ Creative Editorial Portraits

📩 DM EyesOpen Photography to book your session.

Creatively capturing the essence of every detail.
We can’t wait to see you.

One of the most beautiful parts of yesterday was unexpectedly running into the beautiful daughters and wife of my lifetime friend, John Young 🖤📸

I’ve known John for at least 38 years, so seeing his family all together, celebrating this special milestone, honestly meant a lot to me. Time really flies. Watching your friends build beautiful families and watching their children grow into young adults is a blessing in itself.

Kalamazoo Central Senior Prom Class of 2026 definitely brought elegance, love, and unforgettable memories yesterday ✨

I’ve been photographing prom season for about 12 years now, and honestly it’s becoming harder to stay connected because many of the people I grew up around no longer have children in high school. So every like, share, tag, comment, and follow truly helps keep EyesOpen Photography visible in the community and helps these moments continue reaching families 🖤

If you know them, tag them below 👇
I’d love to make sure they see these images!

Currently booking:
✨ Senior Sessions
✨ Headshots & Branding
✨ Weddings & Engagements
✨ Events & Parties
✨ Creative Editorial Portraits

📩 DM EyesOpen Photography to book your session.

Creatively capturing the essence of every detail.
We can’t wait to see you.

Had about 30 minutes in between jobs yesterday and this young lady absolutely caught my eye 🔥✨

Kalamazoo Central Senior Prom Class of 2026 definitely showed up. The elegance, confidence, and energy were unmatched. And honestly… her mother was out there looking just as beautiful and proud watching it all unfold 🖤📸

I’ve been photographing prom season for about 12 years now, and honestly it’s becoming harder to stay connected because many of the people I grew up around no longer have children in high school. So every like, share, tag, comment, and follow truly helps keep EyesOpen Photography visible in the community and helps these moments continue reaching families 🖤

Moments like this are bigger than photos. They become memories.

If you know her, tag her below 👇
I’d love to make sure she sees these images!

Currently booking:
✨ Senior Sessions
✨ Headshots & Branding
✨ Weddings & Engagements
✨ Events & Parties
✨ Creative Editorial Portraits

📩 DM EyesOpen Photography to book your session.

Creatively capturing the essence of every detail.

Grateful for breath, clarity, and another month to create with intention.
Black history isn’t something I look back on — it’s something I live, witness, and document in real time.

This work, this vision, this patience to see things clearly — that’s the foundation of EyesOpen Photography.
February is about gratitude, presence, and honoring the stories still being written.