1. When and why would you as an art director or a photographer chose traditional portrait lighting with a main light, fill and background light for a portrait? When you’re trying to achieve a traditional portrait, there isn’t much expression (not too much happiness or dullness), just a ‘class portrait’ type emotion. When taking a traditional portrait, short side and broad light are best for this lighting.

2. When and why would you as an art director or a photographer chose side light for a portrait? Are there any disadvantages to side light? Sidelight is perfect to emphasize texture, dimensions and shapes/patterns. You can see the contour of the subject’s face. Some disadvantage is filling some dark areas with light (that might be too bright).

3. When and why would you as an art director or a photographer chose front light for a portrait? Are there any disadvantages to front light? Front light helps illuminate the subject’s face. It brighten’s up the face. Sometimes it can be too harsh of the lighting and will be unbalanced.

4. When and why would you as an art director or a photographer decide to use wide-angle distortion in a portrait? Wide angle distortion is a unique perspective that applies when the subject’s face is closer to the lens which makes them bigger while the rest of the subject is smaller (and away from the camera).