Lighting as a Narrative Tool in Photography
Blog by Jada Parrish | Article | 10/17/24
Lighting plays a huge role in photography. It’s why photographers invest thousands of dollars in lighting gear, purchase tutorials, and study breakdowns—always trying to master it and make their photos stronger.
Lighting matters, big time. It can separate your subject from the background, adding depth and dimension. It sets the mood and tone of the shoot, whether you’re going for darker, moodier vibes with low-key lighting or bright, evenly lit scenes with high-key lighting. You can even add gels, color, gobos, and optical spots to make your lighting more visually interesting.
But there’s another way to use light that you might not have considered: as a prop to enhance storytelling and create a narrative within your photoshoots.
How can light tell a story?
You can use light creatively as something your subject interacts with, adding another layer of interest and narrative to your shoot.
The main question to ask is: What does light represent in this photoshoot?
Here are a few ways to approach it:
Practical Lighting for Realism and Atmosphere
In film, theater, and photography, a practical light refers to any light source that is visible within the frame and is part of the set or scene—like a lamp, a candle, or even a computer screen. Practical lighting not only adds realism but also contributes to the mood and atmosphere by naturally illuminating the scene from within.
When you use practical lighting, your light literally becomes a prop that tells the story within the scene. In the image below, we used a black light to illuminate our subject’s face and create a sense of confusion, making the light itself an active part of the storytelling.
Create shape with light
Using tools like gobos, you can shape your light source and turn it into a visual element that your subject interacts with—almost like Peter Pan and his shadow. For example, in one shoot, we used lighting to create a darker, more ominous scene. The concept was that the model was living in a state of negativity or "darkness." In life, there’s always a sliver of light, but sometimes we become so consumed by our negative thoughts that we resist stepping into the light—we become comfortable in the dark.
We created a literal sliver of light on the set. Our subject interacted with the light as if it were something frightening yet intriguing. She pointed at it, pulled her body away as if it were hot or uncomfortable, and used it as the driving narrative element of the shoot.
Use gobos for surreal effects
Gobos (objects used to shape light) can come in a variety of designs, from simple shapes like lines or circles to intricate patterns like leaves, windows, or cityscapes. You can use them to create surreal effects in your photos. For example, dressing someone in a quirky outfit, placing them in an unusual setting, and using a gobo pattern can evoke a sense of chaos, making it feel like the subject is losing their mind.
Or, you can use gobos to transform a space entirely. In the photo below, we used a starburst gobo to give the scene a surreal, futuristic vibe.
Interact with the light source
Simply having your subject glance toward the main light source can add a lot of narrative to your images. Depending on their expression, it can evoke feelings of love and positivity, confusion, or even overwhelm and anxiety. The way they look at the light changes the whole mood of the image.
Play with shadow
Shadows add visual impact to photos, but they can also become something more—like a prop or even a secondary character. Through clever posing, you can give shadow intention and meaning. By treating shadow as an element your subject interacts with, you add complexity and depth to the image.
So, next time you’re planning a shoot, don’t just think about where to place your lights—think about how they can play a role in the narrative. Your lights aren’t just tools; they’re something your subject can interact with to bring more depth and storytelling into your photography.
