Catchlight Shape, Does It REALLY Matter? | Gavin Hoey

Portrait photographers can become obsessive about catchlights in the eye and for good reason. That little sparkle in the eye that a catchlight brings is what brings a portrait to life. But does the shape of the catch light also matter? Phototgrapher Gavin Hoey says generally no, and shows you why a round softbox doesn’t always mean you’ll see a round catchlight in the eye. However there are times when the shape of catchlight really does matter and that’s where Gavin takes us in this video. Using a large red balloon, Gavin shows how its curved shape mimics the surface of your models eye and shares the same catch light, only MUCH bigger! And if one balloon has one catch light, Gavin expands the idea with a wall of balloons as a studio backdrop. More balloons means more catchlights and although they’re technically “specular highlights” their size and shape matter just as much as the same catchlights you see in your models eyes. Timestamps and Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:41 Testing catchlight in the eye 2:05 Making catchlights more obvious 2:31 Four catchlight shapes compared 3:40 One big balloon photo session 4:49 Wall of catchlights 5:28 Lighting a wall of balloons 7:10 Wall of balloons photo session 8:14 Conclusions and Subscribe SUBSCRIBE AND BE PART OF THE ADORAMA FAMILY: ➥ https://www.youtube.com/user/adoramaTV __________________________________ Be the first to shop our great deals and sales by signing up for emails from Adorama! https://www.adorama.com/MyAccount/Login 🔷 Save 5% Every Day† or Special Financing* On purchases of $199+ with the Adorama Edge Credit Card. Learn More: https://www.adorama.com/g/adorama-credit. __________________________________ ✘ GEAR USED: Flashpoint XPLOR 300 Pro II https://www.adorama.com/flashpoint-xplor-300-pro-ii-ttl-r2-outdoor-flash-godox-ad300pro-ii/p/fplfx300piit Glow EZ Lock Collapsible Silver Beauty Dish (42") https://www.adorama.com/glow-ez-lock-collapsible-beauty-dish-silver-42-inch-bowens-mount/p/glbdez42s OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark ii https://www.adorama.com/om-system-om-1-mark-ii-mirrorless-camera-body-only/p/iomom1m2 OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro II https://www.adorama.com/om-system-m-zuiko-12-40-mm-f-2-8-pro-ii-lens/p/iom1240pb Flashpoint R2 XPro II TTL Wireless Flash Trigger https://www.adorama.com/flashpoint-r2-xpro-ii-ttl-wireless-flash-trigger-canon-godox/p/fprrxproiic Flashpoint 40" Quick Release Turtle Base C-Stand Kit https://www.adorama.com/flashpoint-c-stand-kit-pro-turtle-base-grip-arm-chrome/p/fplsct40k Tether Tools LeverLock Plate and TetherPro Optima 10G 15' USB-C https://www.adorama.com/tether-tools-leverlock-plate-tetherpro-optima-10g-usb-c-cable/p/ttllpc15rtgo Tether Tools AeroTrac Workstation https://www.adorama.com/tether-tools-aerotrac-workstation-system-mounting-hardware/p/ttatws SpiderHolster SpiderPro ARCA Swiss Tripod Plate for Mirrorless Cameras https://www.adorama.com/spiderholster-spiderpro-arca-swiss-tripod-plate-mirrorless/p/sh156 #Catchlight #PortraitLighting #adorama __________________________________ ❐ LET'S GET SOCIAL ❏ ➥ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@adoramanyc ➥ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/adorama/ ➥ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/adorama/ ➥ X https://x.com/adorama ➥ Discord https://www.adorama.com/discord ❐ MORE ADORAMA ❏ ➥ Shop https://www.adorama.com/ ➥ Blog https://www.adorama.com/alc/ ➥ Adorama Events https://www.youtube.com/@AdoramaEvents __________________________________ Follow Gavin Hoey on https://www.instagram.com/thegavinhoey Model: Fern https://www.instagram.com/fernmaeve __________________________________ THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!