How do you get eyes like this?

Is this catchlight? Must you use anythign other tham natural light to get it? Can it be done in PPing?

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Yes, example of two catchlights in each eye, from Main light source to subject left and Fill is to subject right.
It could be window light and reflector, it could be one source and reflector, it could be two artificial sources.
Softness of light and the catchlights themselves reveal large relative size of both Main and Fill

Look at the small pupils. If flash were used, the shooting area had lots & lots of ambient light.

Wilt wrote in post #9183965
Yes, example of two catchlights in each eye, from Main light source to subject left and Fill is to subject right.
It could be window light and reflector, it could be one source and reflector, it could be two artificial sources.
Softness of light and the catchlights themselves reveal large relative size of both Main and Fill

Thank you! Do you know of a good beginner source for me to learn about how to do this (position, types, etc)?

Many, many books on lighting. In fact, too many! Have you tried looking in your public library first?

Wilt wrote in post #9186682
Many, many books on lighting. In fact, too many! Have you tried looking in your public library first?

No, like you mentioned there are so MANY! I was hoping someone through experinece knew of a good beginner source, like Bryan Peterson's book on exposure....

Take a stroll through the people/kids section. There are some fantastic images of kids w/ brilliant eyes. A lot of them will post their setup. Also you can look through the Talk About section of people/kids.

Some fundamentals of portraiture lighting to be learned before even looking at a lighting book...

Sit your SO on a stool with a simple bare AC lightbulb fixture in a metal reflector (desk lamp) and sit the person at a slight angle to your right. See how the light looks when illuminating the side of the face farthest from your own position, and then how the light looks when illuminating the side closest to your own position.

Now have them turn 90 degress so they are at an angle to your left. Repeat the illumination of each side of their face. See how the light looks when illuminating the side of the face farthest from your own position, and then how the light looks when illuminating the side closest to your own position.


Note particularly they one side of their face looks more attractive than the other side (unless you are viewing a very attractive face whose image is quite symmetrical!)

Illumination when the main light source illuminates the side closest to camera position is 'broad lighting', and is typically NOT what you want with fuller faces; this works OK for slim faces. Illumination when the main light source illuminates the side of the face farthest from the camera position is 'short lighting' and is typically what you want for fuller faces.

You have have a primer of lighting for portraiture. Now go find a book that analyzes lighting and does not merely give you a "put your light here" parroting of a single setup, which likely does not work for every face you would shoot!

Wilt wrote in post #9191094
Some fundamentals of portraiture lighting to be learned before even looking at a lighting book...

Sit your SO on a stool with a simple bare AC lightbulb fixture in a metal reflector (desk lamp) and sit the person at a slight angle to your right. See how the light looks when illuminating the side of the face farthest from your own position, and then how the light looks when illuminating the side closest to your own position.

Now have them turn 90 degress so they are at an angle to your left. Repeat the illumination of each side of their face. See how the light looks when illuminating the side of the face farthest from your own position, and then how the light looks when illuminating the side closest to your own position.

Note particularly they one side of their face looks more attractive than the other side (unless you are viewing a very attractive face whose image is quite symmetrical!)

Illumination when the main light source illuminates the side closest to camera position is 'broad lighting', and is typically NOT what you want with fuller faces; this works OK for slim faces. Illumination when the main light source illuminates the side of the face farthest from the camera position is 'short lighting' and is typically what you want for fuller faces.

You have have a primer of lighting for portraiture. Now go find a book that analyzes lighting and does not merely give you a "put your light here" parroting of a single setup, which likely does not work for every face you would shoot!

Aye, aye,cap'n! Seriously I appreciate all that info and I WILL do it! Now, to throw a little monkey wrench in, I mostly do outdoor shooting, candid shots of kids mostly at this point....I know the basic rules of lighting will still apply, but I'm wondering if there's like an easy, portable system photogs use outdoors?

asysin2leads wrote in post #9190952
Take a stroll through the people/kids section. There are some fantastic images of kids w/ brilliant eyes. A lot of them will post their setup. Also you can look through the Talk About section of people/kids.

Good suggestion, thanks!