Do It Yourself Studio Lighting for Portraits

Hang your muslin backdrop and place a posing stool about two feet in front of it. This placement allows some separation between your subject and the backdrop without creating long shadows.

Use a shop light for the main light source and put it about three feet from the subject at a 45-degree angle. Diffuse the light with a white sheet -- just hang it in front of the light. This step spreads the light out evenly and eliminates shadows. Just be sure the sheet doesn't touch the bulb creating a fire hazard.

Put the smaller light on the opposite side of the main light source This light is to fill in shadows -- use the aluminum hood to direct the light more accurately.

Use the small clip-on desk lamp as a hair light. Place it about five feet from the subject directed towards the hair. This creates further separation between your subject and the backdrop and is especially effective for dark-haired people. For more directional lighting fashion a cone shape from aluminum foil and attach the wide end to the lamp while the narrow end points to the top of the subject's head.

Take some test shots and adjust the lighting to eliminate shadows and glares. Use an extra hair light on the other side to create a halo effect and reflectors to create lights in your subjects' eyes. Just place your white poster board opposite the light source to bounce light back onto your subject.