How to Take Silhouette Photos Using 1 Light: by Lindsay Adler

Ever wondered how photographers create those striking silhouette portraits that look like they belong in an art gallery? Some of the most iconic portraits rely on nothing more than a well-placed light and a bit of creativity. Lindsay Adler knows this well and has some brilliant tricks up her sleeve. In this video, she shares two surprisingly simple ways to create a silhouette photo using just a single strobe.

Setup 1: The V-Flat Trick for a Clean Silhouette

Lindsay’s first setup is straightforward yet highly effective. She positions a white V-Flat as the backdrop and places a Profoto D2 strobe on a floor stand behind the subject, pointing it directly at the V-Flat. This creates a glowing background that beautifully outlines the subject, emphasizing form and texture without distraction.

What makes this setup particularly appealing is its flexibility. By shifting the V-Flat slightly or adjusting the subject’s position, Lindsay demonstrates how you can control how much light wraps around the subject. Turning the model one way results in soft, flattering highlights, while facing them away from the bounced light produces a moodier, high-contrast look. With a bit of fine-tuning, it’s possible to achieve a variety of effects – all with the same basic setup.

Pro Tip: To really enhance the drama, crank up the contrast when editing. Backlit images can sometimes look a little flat or hazy due to light bouncing around, but pushing the contrast in post-processing brings out deep, rich tones that make the silhouette pop.

Setup 2: Softbox for a More Controlled Glow

For a different take on the silhouette look, Lindsay swaps out the V-Flat for a large softbox. This method creates a more controlled and even spread of light, reducing the bounce and giving a slightly softer, more refined outline to the subject.

The key here is proximity. Your subject should be right up against the softbox, almost touching it with their shoulders or back. This closeness creates a gorgeous wrap-around effect, highlighting jawlines and body contours with subtle gradients of light. When combined with reflective clothing or jewelry and a reflector off to the front side, the result is pure magic.

Pro Tip: Flare can be a silhouette killer, so here are some tricks to avoid it: add a second layer of diffusion to your softbox, position your subject so they block the softbox's hot spot (usually the center), and watch your angles.

Less Is More, but Details Matter

Silhouette photography strips an image down to its essentials – shape, texture, and pose. With setups this simple, small details become incredibly important. Lindsay emphasizes careful posing to ensure clean lines and interesting compositions. A slight tilt of the head, the positioning of a hat brim, or the inclusion of textured clothing can transform a basic silhouette into a striking piece of art.

By mastering these two one-light setups, photographers can learn how to make silhouette photos anywhere. Whether using a V-Flat for a bright, high-key look or a softbox for more control, the magic of silhouettes lies in their ability to tell a story through nothing but light and shadow. Now that you know how to make a silhouette, it’s time to grab a light and start experimenting!

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