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How to shoot creative
candlelight portraits

It's time to give your low-light photos a little heat.

A woman looks at a long, burning match in a neon marketplace. Master it. Creator classes.

When it comes to portrait photography, candlelight is the hack of all hacks. It can help you achieve all kinds of looks, from an ethereal aura to a soft, romantic glow. Executing it well, however, requires a special set of skills — and here to teach them is Team Galaxy member and photographer Marilyn Hue (@marilynhue). Read on to see how she gives candlelight portraits her own unique twist using Galaxy S22 Ultra.

How to Shoot Creative Candlelight Portraits / @marilynhue

Plan your location and gear

For candlelight shoots, location is super important. You’ll want a darker space with minimal ambient light so you can play up the contrasts and achieve a moody tone. For safety reasons, look for an area with no wind and keep a fire extinguisher on set, just in case. For gear on this shoot, Marilyn brought her Galaxy S22 Ultra and an atmospheric aerosol spray¹ (used at least ten feet away from any flames). She also recommends bringing a secondary light source like an RGB flashlight.

First: A young woman in a marketplace holding a match while a photographer takes her picture. Second: Silhouettes of people and equipment at a photoshoot.

Actual UI may be different.

Perfect your settings for candlelight

Candlelit portraits are all about capturing the darkness of your location while letting in just enough light to see the subject. To accomplish this, you’ll need to adjust your phone camera’s ISO and shutter speed. That's easy with Galaxy S22 Ultra’s Pro mode.

ISO is the camera’s sensitivity to light, so for a dark candlelight photoshoot, you should bring it down. This will keep the low-light feel and reduce the risk of image graininess. Shutter speed controls how much light gets let into the image. A longer shutter speed will help you capture the limited light at your candlelit shoot. It may also increase the risk of image blur. To fix that, Marilyn recommends using a tripod or Galaxy S22 Ultra’s remote shutter function. Capturing your perfect candlelit portrait involves fine-tuning these settings until you get just the look you’re going for.

Spark something original

With so many ways to use candlelight for a portrait, Marilyn likes to go beyond the usual. “Don’t be satisfied with cookie-cutter results,” she says. “Experiment with different angles, filters, lenses and lighting. The best shots are usually the ones that surprise you.”

Woman dressed in black behind lit candles with dripping wax.

Woman dressed in black behind lit candles with dripping wax.

Traditional
candlelight portrait

The mood of a portrait can change based on where the candle is positioned. If you hold the candle below a subject’s face,² it will create a mysterious vibe. For this shot, Marilyn positioned the candle at eye level, which gives her subject a soft, warm glow.

A woman looks at a candle in a lantern with a neon light in the background.

A woman looks at a candle in a lantern with a neon light in the background.

Portrait with
background light

To add more depth to your portrait, try adding another light source in the background. An RGB flashlight will work in a pinch. If you’re lighting a subject from behind, be sure to also light them from the front so you don’t get a silhouette (unless that’s what you’re going for).

4

Traditional
candlelight portrait

The mood of a portrait can change based on where the candle is positioned. If you hold the candle below a subject’s face,² it will create a mysterious vibe. For this shot, Marilyn positioned the candle at eye level, which gives her subject a soft, warm glow.
Portrait with
background light

To add more depth to your portrait, try adding another light source in the background. An RGB flashlight will work in a pinch. If you’re lighting a subject from behind, be sure to also light them from the front so you don’t get a silhouette (unless that’s what you’re going for).

Expert RAW

Get more editing control with 16-bit RAW files.

Give yourself some editing flexibility

When shooting candlelight portrait photos, it’s good to capture as much detail as you can so you're able to play with the contrasts and colors later. Marilyn enjoys the Expert RAW app and its 16-bit RAW files. “Shooting in RAW is the best way to preserve detail and image information,” she says. “By pushing the limits of shadows and highlights, I can make the photo as dramatic as I want.”

Ready to light up your portrait photos?

Capture every face and flicker with the Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Galaxy S22 Ultra

Learn more

Rear and angled front view of burgundy Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Rear and angled front view of burgundy Galaxy S22 Ultra.

FEATURING

Marilyn Hue

Photographer and creative director

@marilynhue

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Samsung Galaxy icon

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¹Atmospheric aerosol spray is odorless, non-toxic, clear and does not stain.
²Use caution when handling any open flame
'All photos captured with Galaxy S22 Ultra and edited with Adobe Lightroom. Samsung's Expert RAW camera app used in some photos. The Expert RAW app is available only at Galaxy Store for Galaxy Z Fold4, Z Fold3, Z Fold2, Galaxy S22 series, S21 Ultra, S20 Ultra and Galaxy Note20 Ultra. Adobe Lightroom must be download and/or purchased to edit photos

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