#005 - Diffused Large Light Sources
Creating a large soft window light with flash
Introduction
In this post, I break down the lighting setup I used on a shoot for the promotional content for Newton Faulkner’s latest album.
The aim was to create a lighting approach that complemented lighter skin tones while providing a wide, even spread of light to fill a large space. This gave Newton the freedom to move comfortably around the set, rather than being confined to a fixed mark.
The key was for it to feel simple and honest. I wanted to avoid harsh shadows and instead build a soft, wrapping quality of light, which could then be gently shaped using polyboards on the opposite side to introduce a touch of controlled contrast.
Set Design
The set design for this setup was deliberately simple and minimal. I kept everything reduced to the essentials, with one setup designed to act as the hero shot. The aim was to create images that could live across multiple spaces, from promotional tour posters to artwork.
After speaking with Newton and his team, three key points stood out about the upcoming album. It is his eighth studio release, they were drawn towards warmer tones, and the album title was named Octopus.
In the past, particularly when directing music videos, I often found myself thinking too literally and over developing the narrative. Lately, I have been more interested in stripping things back, allowing subtle details to hint at a very minimal story rather than spelling it out, and of course this is more obtainable when working on a stills based project.
While exploring ways to reference the eight albums, I landed on the idea of stacking eight pallets. Each pallet represents an album, while together they form a small raft. With Newton positioned on top, the structure feels as though it is drifting on the ocean, situating the set within the octopus’s natural habitat. This wasn’t a reference intended to be overt, but a quiet detail woven into the set design.
For the background, I wanted texture and character, something that felt aligned with Newton’s personality and his fashion language. Keeping warmth as a priority, I chose a beautifully rich, hand painted orange copper backdrop from Hapaca.
Alongside these elements, I asked Newton to bring a chair or stool that felt natural to him, something he was genuinely comfortable sitting on. This helped ground the more casual poses and added a personal touch to the set.
Lighting Design
From a technical standpoint, the key light was built around a 12ft 1/2 silent grid cloth draped along a t bar. Behind that, I ran two 165 cm white umbrellas with diffusion socks, each mounted on Godox QT1200 heads. This created a large, soft source that felt consistent across the set and allowed for natural movement and large coverage.
On the same side as the key, positioned slightly behind Newton, I added a 105 cm white umbrella to introduce a small amount of additional wrap and shape, further emphasising the scale of the main light source.
In selected frames, an optical snoot fitted with a window gobo was introduced very subtly, adding an additional layer of texture without drawing attention away from the subject.
I do not have the exact power ratios from the day, however I have included the original Set A Light file below for reference, which shows the base lighting ratios I built from during the shoot.
Contrast is controlled almost entirely through subtraction. Polyboards placed camera left act as negative fill, introducing subtle contrast while keeping it feeling natural and consistent.
Overall, the lighting is designed to feel unforced, as if soft sunlight is gently pouring in through a window to camera right.
Set A Light 3D - File - Download Link (click this link to download the file)
Conclusion
Ultimately, this setup was about restraint. By keeping both the set and the lighting deliberately simple, the focus remains on Newton’s character and presence. The lighting supports the subject without drawing attention to itself, offering just enough control to shape the frame while still feeling natural and unobtrusive. The result is a clean, considered set of images that promote rather than overpower.
Below I have attached a quick behind the scenes edit from the day from content kindly provided by @jhvisuals__ also a big thank you to my assistant @nanakinq and fellow creative @mrtmorgan who helped on this one and Scope Media Studios for always looking after us!
Final Images
