Shooting in Small Spaces: Dramatic One Light Portraits with Jeff Rojas

New York City photographer, author, and educator Jeff Rojas knows a thing or two about making the most out of limited space. With real estate prices sky-high and apartments often no bigger than a shoebox, Jeff embraces the challenge of shooting in small spaces. His focus in this video is showing how one light portraits can be bold, dramatic, and professional without the need for a massive studio.

Turning 60 Square Feet into a Studio

Jeff sets the stage in his own small studio space – just 60 square feet, measuring 6 feet wide, 10 feet deep, and 10 feet tall. That kind of space forces precision. Every inch matters, and so does every detail of the one-light portrait setup. Instead of being a limitation, Jeff treats the size of the room as an advantage, pushing himself to be more intentional with his portrait lighting.

How One Light Does the Heavy Lifting

The star of Jeff’s approach is the simplicity of one-light portrait photography. Using a Profoto Umbrella Deep White XL with one stop of diffusion, he demonstrates how even a single light can create a range of dramatic effects when carefully placed.

Jeff positions the modifier so the bulk of the light falls on his model while just a touch spills onto the background. This subtle fall-off creates depth without overpowering the scene. To get the right angle, he mounts the light on a boom arm – essential in tight environments where stands can eat up precious space.

Catchlights matter too, and Jeff is careful to angle the modifier so the eyes sparkle without washing out the face. It’s all about small adjustments that make a big difference in one-light portrait photography.

Window Light and Reflectors

Jeff doesn’t stop at artificial lighting. He takes full advantage of his apartment's north-facing windows, which offer beautifully soft, indirect daylight. The light drops off quickly, creating deep shadows that lend a naturally dramatic feel, but without help the shadows can be too deep.

To balance that out, he brings in a collapsible white V-Flat. This acts as a reflector, bouncing light back into the shadows and filling in the portrait without sacrificing mood. The result is a clean yet dramatic look that feels controlled, even though it’s achieved with a simple one-light portrait setup.

Check out some of the results: